Apne
Boxing Joe’s and Daddy’s Woes
By Vishal Verma

Rating:- * *1/2

What is it?
After Desh Bhakti, Anil Sharma shifts his preference towards family bonding or to be precise pita bhakti. Got it? Never mind. In simple words, Anil Sharma in his latest endeavor brings his favorite Deols together to churn out an emotional tear- jeaker blended with boxing.

APNE, Anil Sharma emotional curry does creates some Tehelka as far as the bonding between the real into reel life father and sons saga, which has all the ingredients of a Bollywood family entertainer.
But the problem is, the dish though it’s tasty is served in excess.

The second half is too lengthy and during the climax when the viewer thinks it’s all over the writer and the director unnecessarily try to moist your eyes again with the unwanted liver transplant tamasha. Anyway, it does not take away the credit from director Anil Sharma in making Apne a good family watch.

Whats it all about?
Baldev Singh Choudhary (Dharmendra) is an Olympics silver medalist who had made India proud. Baldev ‘s only dream is to make history by becoming India’s first World Heavy weight Champion. But sometimes dreams shatter before they can be realized and make the heart bleed forever.

When in the US fighting for the World Heavy Weight Championship, the betting mafia conspires against him and gets him framed in doping charges. As a result Baldev is    banned from Boxing. Now, Baldev wants to get rid of this worst stigma and pain for an athlete, he eyes his elder son Angad (Sunny Deol) as the future World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and trains him for the historical moment that has eluded him, but destiny has another story to tell.

Angad has some other dreams, some other aspirations. On the other hand, Karan (Bobby Deol), the younger son, a musician at par, finds himself helpless in wanting to fulfill his father’s dreams. Cause he is handicapped by one hand.

What next? Here the narration is unconvincing.  Karan gets his hand moving in the same old dramatic off repeated situations which we have seen in numerous flicks. The logic behind this sudden improvement as explained by the medical expert is hard to believe.

Anyway, an upcoming singing star eventually becomes the new boxing sensation of the nation. He makes India proud and his family, especially Daddyji goes ga ga over his putar’s achievements. But pitaji still carries the grunge against his elder son Angad who in spite of being a family man is still a betrayer in the eyes of papa. Cause, boxing is worthless according to bade bhaiya.  Undesirable situations force Angad to take the gloves and settle the scores with the world champion Luca and papa.

What to look out for?
An out and out desi flick by heart with added boxing and Punjabi tadka. On screen chemistry amongst the three deols is the major highlight.  A different experience all together to watch a subdued sunny. In this emotional boxing flick, sunny is a plesant surprise. He does not box your ears and brakes bones unnecessarily. It’s a Dharampaji’s film altogether, the veteran shines in this emotional boxing packed drama.

Bobby gets a meaty role and does a fine job. Victor Bannerjee excels. Aryan Vaid in a short role looks convincing.  Jhonnie Brown as Luca is good. Action by Tinnu Verma is superb. Boxing scenes choreographed by Chris Anderson are well shot.  Kabir Lall’s photography is well toned. Production values are excellent.

What Not?
2nd half is stretched too long. Bobby’s transformation into a boxer is weak. The climax is dragged till the unwnted liver transplant episode. Where did Aryan Vaid disappear?  It seems editor Ashfaque Makrani may have forgotten his scissors. Shilpa Shetty, Katrina Kaif, Kiron Kher, Divya Dutta, all are sadly wasted.

On the whole, Glamour Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. And Prime Focus Ltd’s APNE being produced by Rahul Sughand and Sangeeta Ahir, directed by Anil Sharma is a family ticket to your nearby cinema hall. Business will improve by word of mouth especially in North.