BROTHERS

Director: Karan Malhotra
Writers: Gavin O'Connor, Cliff Dorfman
Stars: Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff, Sidharth Malhotra
Strength: Incredibly detailed action shots, Acting
Weakness: Slow first half.
Runtime: 156 minutes
Rating: 3/5

Plot: Two estranged, street-fighting brothers square off against each other in a mixed martial arts tournament.

Review: Gary Fernandes (Jackie) is a prize-fighter married to Maria (Shefali) and have a son, David (Akshay) - and then, Monty (Siddharth), born from Gary's extra-marital affair, is revealed.

When Monty's mother dies, the boy has nowhere to go and so, Maria accepts him into their home. David becomes Monty's protective big brother - but relationships shatter when Gary's drinking causes a tragic accident. The brothers bitterly split - only to face each other in a prize-fight years later.

This film features Akshay Kumar in one of his best roles. He is grimly severe here, using tense muscles and intense silences rather than the Gabbar Is Back-style bombast. With greying hair and soft, sad eyes, Akshay carries Brothers on his shoulders, meriting applause for a vulnerable, memorable performance.

Siddharth Malhotra remains an enigma wrapped in a mystery, with few dialogues and limited expressions. The lack of fire in Siddharth's Monty just doesn't build up a sense of furious clash - instead, it makes the brothers' face-off curiously flat.

By contrast, Jackie Shroff's Gary melodramatically blusters around, first soaked in boozy arrogance, then weeping wretchedness, but neither grips. As David's wife Jenny, Jacqueline's pretty but inconsistent.

The cameos work better. In a brittle little role, Shefali conveys trembling, conflicted emotions while Ashutosh Rana as a cheeky manager and Kiran Kumar, a martial arts promoter covered in mystery and cigar smoke, pad this drama well.

On the plus side, Brothers adapts Hollywood hit Warrior with a Bollywood beat. The script builds a powerful contrast between a bleak first half and a lively second. Following brothers-mothers movies like Deewar, Brothers revisits Bollywood's 'Ma' obsession, offering action, adrenalin and abs too.

However, its angst could have hit a much harder punch - for when blood sours, it explodes. Despite the shortcomings, this is still a good watch.

Reviewed by Intisab Shahriyar