This epic action-adventure film has Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan in lead roles. The story Written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya who earlier directed the blockbuster hit Dhoom 3. Thugs of Hindostan movie review…
Produced by Yash Raj Films Thugs of Hindostan is set in 1795 and is a fictional story about the initial revolt by the Hindustanis during the early British Raj days when they set foot in India under the guise of East India Company.
In the film, the Britishers refer to this gang of fighters who fight the East India Company to get back their kingdom as ‘Thugs’ (Bandits). They aren’t bandits or criminals from the Indian perspective as they are fighting for what was snatched away by the ‘whites’.
Khudabaksh Azaad (Amitabh Bachchan) leads the band of Thugs aspiring to free Hindostan (the Indian subcontinent) from the cluthes of the expanding British East India Company led by its commander John Clive (Lloyd Owen). Initially the British company entered Hindostan under the pretext of doing business and then stealthily began expanding its footprints across the country. The wily commander John Clive displaces King Mirza Sikander Baig (Ronit Roy) of Ronakpur and unleashes force upon them killing his family except for his 5 years old daughter who is rescued by Azaad.
After 15 years, gathering his band of fighters, Azaad is on the mission of displacing the British from Ronakpur and give back the kingdom to its rightful heir – grown up girl Zafira Baig (Fatima Sana Shaikh). Brits get the news of this uprising and they choose Firangi Malla (Aamir Khan) to find out the hiding place of Azaad and infiltrate the troupe of thugs.
Aamir Khan as the small-time thug with cheating and betrayal running in his blood manages to entertain as he deceives the British as well as the Indians much to his selfish motives. Firangi Malla’s character is the back-bone of the film and he is superbly supported by Amitabh Bachchan as Khudabaksh Azaad.
The Dangal girl Fatima Sana Shaikh looks greatly convincing in the stunt sequences which she seems to have performed herself in her second appearance in a Bollywood film.
Katrina Kaif as Suraiyya impresses with her sensuous dances, though she is limited to a short role.
The main action of Thugs of Hindostan is set on the ships in a fictional sea-side city having a monument resembling Mumbai’s Gateway of India. Superior VFX is visible in the actions scenes.
What is unimpressive in this big budget adventure thriller are the songs, its direction and the length of the film. The narrative appears stretched (2 hours 44 minutes) and most of the action is shot in the darkness.
Cast of Thugs of Hindostan:
Amitabh Bachchan as Khudabaksh Azaad
Aamir Khan as Firangi Mallah
Katrina Kaif as Suraiyya
Fatima Sana Shaikh as Zafira Baig
Lloyd Owen as John Clive
Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub as Shanichar
Ronit Roy as Mirza Sikander Baig
Satyadev Kancharana
Abdul Quadir Amin
Ila Arun
Shashank Arora
Satyadev Kancharana
Credits and crew of Thugs of Hindostan:
Production company: Yash Raj Films
Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya
Produced by Aditya Chopra
Screenplay by Vijay Krishna Acharya
Music by Ajay-Atul
Backgroung Score – John Stewart Eduri
Cinematography – Manush Nandan
Edited by Ritesh Soni
Thugs of Hindostan movie review