WANTED (2009) Movie Review

Puri Jagannath made Pokiri, first a telugu film starting Mahesh Babu and Illeana that became history back in 2006. A year later, dance master Prabhu Deva remade the film in Tamil by the same name with Vijay and Asin. The differences between both the Telugu and Tamil versions were minimal (save for some censorship differences and the different comedy tracks and casting).

Now we have WANTED. Again directed by Prabhu Deva retaining pretty much the majority of the crew from the tamil version. The likes of VIJAYAN for stunts, and top cameraman, NIRAV SHAH (along with S.SRIRAM). This time we have Salman Khan (after a plateful of previous flops) and Ayesha Takia donning the main roles. Mahesh Manjarekar redoes Mukesh Tiwari's lust cop and Govind Nameo does Napoleon's Honest Raj with a sarcastic remarks.

But the man of the match is clearly the latest National Award winner, Prakash Raj.

Yes you read it right, Prakash Raj. Consider this his comeback

to Hindi cinema after that dud, SHART back in 2003(coincidently done by Puri Jagannath) and since then, he has dubbed himself in Hindi too (Also started in big hit multi-star film, KHAKHEE but didn't dub himself in 2004.)

The presentation and story thankfully is not crudely presented like the Tamil version was and bad casting. We really didn't need Vijay to do a mentalkanth dance and body language style while trying to break the fourth wall as well as slapstick with Vadivelu. That's what really made the Tamil version really crappy as if Vijay ghost directed the film.

By the way, Deva sticks to the ACTUAL TELUGU script for the majority while

retaining the Tamil bits. Brahmanadam's comedy track in Telugu is mostly redone (beggars not included) here while Vadivelu's encounter with the lust cop over the phone is kept. In fact, I could easily call this most entertaining. You see Salman and Mahesh Babu were excellent and suited to the gang role like a glove while Vijay just looked like a joker and clearly the outcome was pure comedy. Watch out for their dialogue delivery. But their commitment punch dialogue still retains overall.

Mani Sharma gave some decent music for the original but because Vijay interviened in Tamil, only Dola Dola and Jagadame (ironically the pick of the telugu version, got short lived as a tamil theme track), and Apple item song were reused while we got crud like Pokkiri pongal, Mambazham naa, and that Vasantha Mullai remix. Here, Salman drags in PARTNER hit duo, Sajid & Wajid Khan to whip out the soundtrack. The songs were better, but weren't great. For a film like this, it's strictly okay. Jalwa, Love Me and Dil Leke were my picks. The Hindi soundtrack did a decent job, if not mindblowing.

Deva has done a decent job and this is strictly for the mass and Salman fans and for those who want to chill. In fact, consider this a blessed remake than that crap Ghajini with Aamir "overrated" Khan. Aamir doesn't know that between building a body that looks awkward on him + the old age shows in his chemistry with Asin = Horrible remake. Surya's original was awesome. Here it's the complete opposite. By opposite, I mean ABOVE THE TAMIL version.

Rating: ***.5