Sardaar Ji 3 premiered in theatres worldwide and audiences were treated to a movie with none other than Hania Aamir and Diljit Dosanjh on-screen, shaking a leg, teaming up to bust ghosts and also, pulling in a global audience who just wanted a bit of laughter, a musical, some prize views of Scotland and a first of its kind Hania Aamir x Diljit Dosanjh, all-in-one watch. What’s there to not look forward to in Sardaar Ji 3?
“So what did you think of the movie?” Asked a friend, who hadn’t watched yet.
“It all depends.” I replied. “What you’re going in for.” My friend gazed at me quizically, as if I was throwing her a curved ball. You know, when you respond to a question with a question? Yeah, I hate that too. But really, that’s exactly what it is with Sardaar Ji 3! I went to the cinema to watch a Hania Aamir x Diljit Dosanjh starrer because I was still reeling from Hania’s Diljit concert appearance many moons ago. The vibe these two shared in that brief, yet ethereal moment on-reels was so precious that just for that, I was willing to purchase that ticket plus a bag of popcorn and a drink, settle in, kick off my sandals (it’s 34 degrees Celsius in not-so-cool Basel in summer), and witness a dreamy story unfold amidst rolling green hills, a cinema full of Diljit Dosanjh fans and lots of Punjabi (my first shot at a Punjabi flick).
The result? I relived the vibe all over again.
Here’s why Sardaar Ji 3 is worth a watch in cinema, and here’s why, “what you’re going in for” as I told my friend, matters!
Hania Aamir is looking strikingly fabulous. From outfits to hairdo to expressions and the songs, Hania is as Hania does. She’s herself onscreen, which Hania Aamir does best. This doesn’t mean we’re going in to watch a dimpled beauty who’s just marking attendance to make the screen look good, save yourself the judgements please. What this means is, that the cheeky Noor, played by Hania, was not your many times done over damsel in distress, and certainly not a side-kick to the main cast (she was the lead cast, and her entry in the film screamed it out in big, bold frames said it all.)
This heroine was not playing second fiddle to anyone. Hania’s presence in the film was out there for all to see. Because even as Jaggi or Sardaar Ji (Diljit’s character) stepped onto center stage, it was only to give space to his co-stars – Neeru Bajwa as Pinky and Hania Aamir as Noor. The script, plot and narrative was wide enough to accommodate the cast and as the story moved forward, one was entertained with a hummable musical score, light witticisms, and plot twists that might not be Academy Award-winning material, but then, who said they were supposed to be?
Remember what I said, “Depends what you’re going in for,”… mark my words.
Sardaar Ji 3 is a light-hearted walk down the aisle of streaming a ghost busters-like comedy where the world of spirits and real people mingle. The first and second half of the film is decidedly different where the first sets the stage for Noor, Jaggi and Pinky’s interactions and unlocks the plot plan, the second, closes in on the kill – ghost-busting with a mystery, a demonic plan and a satirical play on the villain(s) chasing diamonds and dead bodies (and don’t forget the ghosts!).
What stood out was the fact that the film did not attempt to play Diljit as the lone hero, while still playing him as the hero, mind you. That’s the magic of Diljit, he pleases his fans, knowing full well why they’ve purchased that cinema ticket (to watch him of course), and yet, he doesn’t let the stardom get to his head. He was aided by team work, Jaggi was thankfully not the cliched and done to death figure of alpha male lead we often see – Jaggi or Sardaar Ji swayed from dropping poignant truth bombs (like who never returned the Kohinoor, while Noor even took a jibe at Trump), to smile-worthy comic moments, where he romanced his new love Noor, while also having a decidedly soft spot for Pinky, his forever friend and perhaps, something more?
The interplay between the real and ghostly lives was juggled with humorous dialogue where Jaggi, the ghost buster connected with Noor, calling out her scam business exploiting his name, but subsequently, teaming up with her to split the wins.
If Pakistani actresses have often been criticized for not knowing how to move in sync with the melody, Hania Aamir seemed to jive with the beat, almost as if she was in concert with Diljit, thoroughly grooving to the dance numbers. In fact the sari-clad vision of Noor was a tad unreal and gave more Bollywood feels than Hania feels because she just seemed to wear the rest of the outfits with more of a vibrant energy that matched her innate persona. But we get it, the movie had to inject the sari feels for the Bollywood lover in fans, and we bet Hania enjoyed swinging that sari pallu in the breeze, it’s all part of the package and comes with the role.
In the styling department, both Diljit and Hania looked splendid. Diljit with his long coats and scarves fit the role as he commanded the ghost-busting operation. If anything, it was Neeru’s outfits that could have done with a face-lift. The look, the cut and the feel needed to be amped up a notch and though the contrast in Noor’s tailored cuts and Pinky’s blingy look was perhaps intentional, it seemed to want more – a smarter, more together look, just like the impactful performance Neeru Bajwa delivered throughout the movie.
Both the female leads shared great onscreen chemistry with Diljit. What was missing perhaps was the comic element in the ensemble cast which needed to be a tad funnier. Jokes often did not elicit laughter the way they should have, punch lines lacked full-on humor and felt a bit beaten, in fact, the film promo reels on Diljit’s Instagram feed were funnier and had audiences smiling from ear to ear on repeat. This is probably why, when the same audience walked into cinemas, expecting even better, the humor missed a beat or two.
But that is not to say there wasn’t any. One smiled at the overall feel of the narrative, the way Jaggi tried to win over Noor and how Noor kept her cool… the way Pinky fought for her rightful place and Sardaar Ji swayed like a pendulum from one to the other.
Gulshan Grover arrived on the scene in all his splendor, but perhaps it was a climax that needed more thrill. The villains in the movie did not villain much, though the dark comic elements did make a notable appearance.
For instance when Noor attempted to tip-toe out of the castle and escape the scene, the sight of the dead body and the entire scene that preceded and followed it, gained traction and impact. Noor calling up Jaggi and smart-talking him into coming over with promises of a lucrative ghost-busting deal added fun and energy to the plot twists. Subsequently, the mystery within the diamond mystery and Sardaar Ji taking on the ghost was both fun to watch and a tad thrilling in the final run as Pinky, Noor and Sardaar Ji come together as a team to overcome their foes.
The makers incorporated VFX to enhance visuals which worked to create atmosphere, though keeping it low-key with the fear factor, Sardaar Ji 3 being a comedy entertainer and not a horror film at large.
Last but not the least, Hania Aamir’s entry moment in the movie was perhaps the biggest win for Pakistani audiences. It was filmed with a bang, a pause moment that spoke loud and clear – SHE has arrived, and well deserving that! Time and again, whenever Pakistani actors have been cast in Indian cinema, there is a cry of disapproval from audiences that the character and actor merely paid lip-service to the casting. And the irony with Sardaar Ji 3, was that while the makers were restricted in literally spelling out Hania’s presence in the movie (a separate write-up on that one), her notable screen presence and place in the narrative and the trailer said it all – a big win for any Pakistani actor who plans to take on a role in Indian cinema in future – this is how it’s done, Hania Aamir, take a bow!
Sardaar Ji 3 is apparently performing well in Pakistani cinemas, playing to housefuls and while many might be going to watch as a loud nod to Diljit and company for going ahead with a project that starred a Pakistani actor, and for deciding to release the movie worldwide, barring Indian cinema, it can be said that watching Sardaar Ji 3 will warm your heart to a story that has nothing political on its agenda; it’s all good vibes, a story that promises nothing more, nothing less, and a lead pair that definitely make us want more from them in future onscreen collabs.
Verdict: Haan Ji!
Go watch Sardaar Ji 3 if you’re going in to sit back and take in a relaxing, feel good movie that will make you forget the worries of the world and reach for your popcorn – a weekend spent in pure unwind mode with a playlist for Diljit fans that will keep you humming as you walk out. Isn’t that what we all want, once in a while?
Credits
Sardaar Ji 3 is directed by Amar Hundal and written by Rakesh Dhawan, Dheeraj Rattan, and Manila Rattan. The film is produced by Sandeep Bansal, Manmord Sidhu, and co-produced by Gunbir Singh Sidhu. The cast includes Diljit Dosanjh, Neeru Bajwa, Hania Aamir, Manav Vij, Gulshan Grover, Saleem Albela, Jasmin Bajwa, Nasir Chinyoti, Sammy Jonas Heaney, Daniel Khawar, Sapna Pabbi, and Monica Sharma.
