Zanjeer movie review: Not one of the best remakes

Apoorva Lakhia takes the 1973 ‘Zanjeer' to create the same aura out of the flick which made the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan ‘The angry young man'.Film: ZanjeerDirector: Apoorva LakhiaCast: Ram Charan Teja, Priyanka Chopra, Sanjay Dutt, Prakash Raj, Mahie Gill and Atul Kulkarni Rating: **It's a confronting assignment to restructure the old drama with the same zeal which pressed the audience to throw out their money for a seat in cinemas. In the past there have been flicks like Don and Agneepath, which stood up to the expectations while Aag and Himmatwala fell upon its face badly. Apoorva Lakhia takes the 1973 ‘Zanjeer' to create the same aura out of the flick which made the legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan ‘The angry young man'.What we anticipated from the director was sheer maintenance of the old world charm with the fresh troupe of Ram, Priyanka and Sanjay but director stumbled here.Mala here isn't a street dancer while Teja as an oil mafia here is all what differentiate Apoorva Lakhia's Zanjeer form its precursor. We aren't complaining for the story all know that it's a remake, which begins with Vijay (Ram Charan) a short-tempered ACP who is transferred to Mumbai and is handed over a case of an official who is burnt alive by oil mafia's goons whose sole witness is Mala (Priyanka Chopra). In the meantime, he also faces Sher Khan (Sanjay Dutt) who deals in illegal cars. But the enmity turns into friend ship after a hand-to-hand combat between the two. Sher Khan helps Vijay to detect Teja and to destroy him from the roots.Unfortunately the crime saga isn't wrenching which moves you from beneath. Apoorva Lakhia pack all the masala ingredients into it but gives a half-baked recipe. You will find n number of loopholes in the flick but the anticipation to witness Sanjay Dutt as Sher Khan would rag you to stick in. The sole purpose to rope in Sanjay Dutt could be recognised by the fact that Agneepath was huge success where he played a devilish Kaancha but here the actor gets fewer frames to leave an impact.We could easily judge where the problem lies. Apoorva Lakhia keeps the complete story intact with its heart at the wrong place. The fast paced screenplay doesn't give you any time to emote yourself for any scene. Neither Vijay's parents' demise nor when he realizes who the killer was, there isn't any sense of emotion to it. However, the bone tickling chemistry between Ram Charan and Priyanka brings smile on your face for couple of times through those exhausted two hours runtime. Those candid moments are far better than supposed to be thrilling sequences of Teja who should have been a tormentor but is flummoxed effortlessly by Vijay. Morever, Teja's sexual conversation with his Mona (Mahi Gill) darling neither looks funny nor wicked.Vijay's anguish attitude impresses you for a while but for long it doesn't make you serious. The background score tries to bring a weighty sense to the scene but ends up bringing soreness to the ears. However there are couple of action scenes which are nicely choreographed and Ram Charan looks good in it. But neither that nor those couple of sensible performances are enough to save this sinking ship. The South actor Rama Charan Teja looks commanding. He has the aura to make one feel his strength in action sequences and pain while remembering his late parents. He gives a balanced performance.Priyanka Chopra hangs in her role of Mala. She sparkles the screen with her charm whenever gives her notorious and bubly appearance.Sanjay Dutt as Sher Khan shouldn't be compared with Late Pran. He invents his character and doesn't go overboard. Though he has limited scope but makes an impact.Prakash Raj could have much better as he isn't utilized to what he is capable of. Mahie Gill is good in her limited scenes.Music by Meet Bros Anjjan, Chirantan Bhatt and Anand Raj Anand is fine. There are no songs to remember once you leave your seats.