How does it feel to watch a movie with a similar plot in the same year? Director Kabir Khan’s ‘Phantom’ feels a lot like ‘Baby’ which released a few months back but this one is based on Hussain Zaidi’s book- ‘Mumbai Avengers’. The tagline says- ‘A story you wish were true.’ Rightly then, may I ask is there one in the movie? Or probably, there wasn’t much impact as it isn’t presented too convincingly.
Post the attacks of 26/11 in Mumbai, RAW decides to replicate America’s mission to kill Osama Bin Laden. Chief (Sabyasachi Chakrabarty) implements the plan from a subordinate and zeroes down on Danial Khan (Saif Ali Khan) for the mission. Danial is an ex-army man living a life of anonymity for a few years now; he was court-martialled for a wrong reason. All he wants is the respect back. Thus begins a fictionalized mission; our hero tracks down all the terrorist masterminds involved and kills them one by one. He is aided by Nawaz (Katrina Kaif).
Basking in the recent huge success of ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, Director Kabir Khan does the opposite here- ‘Phantom’ isn’t about a message of peace between India and Pakistan but revenge and justice. One did feel some resemblance between this and his ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ once the trailer was out but there is none except for the fact that both are spy thrillers.‘Phantom’ begins on an unpromising note but picks up after a couple of minutes. But it remains inconsistent. The major problem with this ambitious film is that it is never racy or thrilling which perhaps it was meant to be. There is something missing in the action and even plot; you just don’t feel great watching it. Post-intermission, it remains the same and the climax does look right. But the whole movie is just too easy and contrived. A single man with just a little help does so much for the nation and it all comes to him quite simply. Another problem with ‘Phantom’ are its lead stars. Miscast in their roles, they don’t seem convincing. What works are a few scenes and the fact that you wish this was true. At over two hours and thirty minutes, it manages to keep you hooked even if it is strictly a one-time watch. If you ask me, ‘Kabul Express’ remains the director’s best work so far followed by ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, ‘Phantom’ and ‘New York’. I was expecting a lot more. There aren’t too many songs but ‘Afghan Jalebi‘ is quite catchy.
Saif Ali Khan looks out of place in a role not meant for him. He goes the Agent Vinod way and plays the spy well. But at times, you feel he must have realized- “Man! This ain’t me!”and sleepwalks through the movie. I’m a fan but there is a lot better stuff this versatile actor has done and is capable of. Katrina Kaif looks equally uninterested and can still hardly emote; forget about acting. Both Sabyasachi Chakrabarty and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub don’t work here and both are good actors.
Watch it or not: Can be watched once.
At the Box Office: Flop. Saif is not a crowd-puller and this isn’t even his kind of movie. Director Kabir Khan won’t be repeating the success of ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ for sure here.
My Verdict:
3
This Phantom isn't the The Ghost Who Walks but a Man Who Stalks... Terrorists! The problem is he just does it lazily. This is like a sequel to (Travel) Agent Vinod.
