Media Magick

What happens when a filmmaker who is brilliant is telling stories of small-town characters teams up with a super-duper star i.e. the Baadshah of Bollywood (Shahrukh Khan), ZERO comes out! Anand L Rai is known for winning his audiences’ hearts with films like Tanu Weds Manu series and Raanjhana, and Shahrukh Khan, in his recent years, is known for giving back to back box-office disasters. Almost 30 years ago, Kamal Haasan played the character of a midget in Appu Raja (1989), back then it wasn’t easy to shoot such a character but Kamal Haasan is known for perfection and it was phenomenally received by viewers. Let’s see if Anand L Rai can create magic with Jab Tak Hai Jaan’s team in his film Zero.

Zero revolves around Bauua Singh (Shahrukh Khan), a vertically challenged 38 years old man who keeps finding ways to take revenge from his father Ashok (Tigmanshu Dhulia) as he thinks that it was because of his father’s weak sperms that he was born as a midget. Bauua one day meets Afia Yousufzai (Anushka Sharma), a physically challenged scientist. They both fell in love and soon their dates are fixed to tie the knots. The moment it happens, Babita (Katrina Kaif), an infamous superstar enters in the life of Bauaa Singh and things start to take different turns. What happens next is what Zero is all about.

Watch Video Review of ZERO

Zero is a weak script with a plot that has too many points to make its audience engaged. Zero falls short in various departments, for instance it is too dragged and audiences soon find it boring, especially in the second half. Plus, the story is hard to digest, a guy from Meerut is so wealthy that everything is the ‘world’ (not just in India) is doable for him, besides all the challenges which his life an family have thrown at him. It looks funny and very lame i.e. supremely unrealistic.

The saving grace of Zero is the performances by Anushka Sharma, Shahrukh Khan and Zeeshan Ayyub. Anushka Sharma breathes the character of Afia and gives a very promising performance. Shahrukh Khan plays himself, one thing which he is known for, no matter which character he plays, he is Shahrukh Khan in it. That’s exactly the case with ZERO. But his fans will love him as the “cute bachcha”. Zeeshan Ayyub is a fine talent and he keeps on improving himself.

Katrina Kaif looks good, sexy and fit – that’s what her character is all about. There are sentimental shades attached to her character but she performs dances and walks with gusto, that’s it. Cameos by Salman Khan and Sridevi (late) are the highpoints. Remaining cameos are just filled for no significant reason.

On the whole, Zero is a film which will satisfy Shahrukh Khan’s fans but will hugely disappoint Anand L Rai’s fans. It’s a film with ZERO common sense and Zero intellect. So, if you want to watch a fun-filled, emotional ride which gives you flavors from Meerut to Mumbai and then to Mars… go watch it.