Cast: Dhananjaya, Sanchitha Shetty, Achyuth Kumar, Prakash Belawadi, Suchendra Prasad, Ramesh Bhat, Pannaga Bharana, B Suresha
Director: Akash Srivatsa
Rating: 1.5 stars
Just like the hero (Dhananjaya), who’s signature dialogues — “no time for introductions and keen on playing games,” goes on and on, let us also skip the introduction and jump straight into delving into why Badmaash is such a painstaking cinematic experience. The irritation kick-starts on an incredulous note when the director creates his own version of history, stating that the British (he says foreigners) came to India in search of diamonds! Yet, historians claim it was trade purposes, especially spices. That’s the cinematic freedom of an ignorant kind at play in this film!
The director Akash Srivatsa’s wild imagination further continues with his knowledge of one of the most precious diamonds — one even more valuable and popular than the Kohinoor. He calls the red stone Vajra Vaidurya! What follows for almost two-and-a-half hours is a plot that tests one’s patience and could easily get an entry into the heights of irritation onscreen. After a brief but twisted history and the diamond, the story introduces the Badmaash, who is the centre of attraction. Even this hero had a girl friend, separated from her when he was much younger, is left with just one memorabilia from her — a simple spinning top. Meanwhile, the two grow up, one is an RJ (Sanchitha Shetty) and our hero is a smart baddie working in the cricket betting business. After a lavish fight and a build-up song, the two meet and finally fall in love, again.
It’s then time for the introduction of another disturbing character — the king (Achyuth Kumar) , who is a home minister and only lives on the advise of his personal astrologer. His aim is to become the next chief minister, and will do anything to attain this. By now, many might be perplexed about what actually impressed Bollywood star Salman Khan about this film. All the characters are strangely linked thanks to their past, including the couple, politician, diamond and even a police constable! Watching this can have a soporific effect, yet, for risk takers, it is still a challenge to stay awake and find out what happens to the king and the rare red diamond.
