Name: Kisi Ka Bhai... Kisi Ki Jaan
Genre: Romance, Action
Released: 2023-04-21T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Salman Khan, Pooja Hegde, Venkatesh, Jagapati Babu, Jassie Gill

The opening brawl in Kisi Ka Bhai… Kisi Ki Jaan sets the tone for Farhad Samji’s misguided attempt at a family-friendly action comedy. Salman Khan’s Bhaijaan, a self-defense trainer with a penchant for violence, takes on an entire marketplace of goons in a sequence that is as frenetic as it is forgettable. This scene, designed to showcase the star’s physical prowess and the film’s commitment to over-the-top action, instead highlights its glaring flaws: a script that relies too heavily on star power, direction that lacks vision, and performances that are defiantly below par.

Samji’s film follows Bhaijaan as he navigates love and familial duty when his brothers set him up with Bhagya Lakshmi (Pooja Hegde). The premise is thin, a patchwork of tired tropes and half-baked ideas that struggle to cohere into a compelling narrative. The story revolves around four brothers—Salman Khan’s Bhaijaan, along with Moh (Jassie Gill), Ishq (Raghav Juyal), and Luv (Siddharth Nigam)—who live together in Delhi and often find themselves caught in fights. When the brothers decide to fix a match for Bhaijaan, he finds himself torn between his violent tendencies and his newfound love.

What works? The film’s action sequences are undeniably energetic, with choreography that keeps the screen buzzing. The soundtrack, composed by Amaal Mallik, is another bright spot, offering catchy tunes that elevate the film’s more mundane moments. The chemistry between Khan and Hegde has its moments, particularly in their romantic scenes, where a genuine spark flickers through the clichés. These elements provide fleeting moments of enjoyment, but they are not enough to salvage the film from its numerous shortcomings.

Salman Khan’s performance is a letdown, with the actor phoning it in for much of the runtime. His Bhaijaan is a one-note character, oscillating between sheepish smiles and frowning glares, never delving into the nuance that made his earlier roles compelling. In most scenes, Khan seems disengaged, his performance lacking the charisma and intensity that audiences expect from him. This is particularly evident in the film’s romantic beats, where his interactions with Hegde feel forced and unconvincing.

The supporting cast fares little better. Venkatesh, Jagapati Babu, and the other actors are reduced to caricatures, their performances doggedly below par. The film’s attempts at comedy fall flat, relying on lazy jokes and slapstick violence that fail to elicit genuine laughter. Even the more experienced actors struggle to find their footing in a script that offers them little to work with.

The film’s structure is another stumbling block. Kisi Ka Bhai… Kisi Ki Jaan struggles to balance its romantic and action elements, resulting in a narrative that feels disjointed. The first half meanders through predictable meet-cutes and forced comedic beats, while the second half devolves into a series of increasingly absurd set pieces. The climax, a chaotic showdown between Bhaijaan and a gang of villains, is a testament to the film’s tonal inconsistencies.

Samji’s direction lacks a clear vision, oscillating between parody and sincerity without ever committing to either. The film’s attempts at social commentary—Bhaijaan’s violent tendencies as a metaphor for toxic masculinity—are ham-fisted and underdeveloped. Instead of exploring these themes with depth, the movie settles for lazy jokes and slapstick violence.

The film’s target audience is clearly families looking for a clean, watchable entertainment option. And in that regard, Kisi Ka Bhai… Kisi Ki Jaan delivers—just barely. It’s a bland, formulaic action-comedy that has nothing new to showcase. The story is weak, with various boring elements that drag down the pacing. The actors from South India, including Venkatesh and Jagapati Babu, are serviceable but fail to leave a lasting impression.

In the end, Kisi Ka Bhai… Kisi Ki Jaan is a disappointing misfire. It’s watchable, sure, but only in the way that a car crash is hard to look away from.