Bollywood fans, brace yourselves for another high-octane ride with the return of supercop Bajirao Singham in Rohit Shetty’s latest addition to the Cop Universe – Singham Again. Ajay Devgn once again dons the khaki uniform, this time as a senior superintendent in Kashmir, to take on an expanded criminal network that has spread its wings beyond India’s borders. But will this third outing prove to be a thrilling blockbuster or a tired retread of familiar tropes?
Star-Studded Selection Box
One of the major draws of Singham Again is its impressive ensemble cast. Alongside Devgn, the film features a galaxy of Bollywood stars, each trying to make their mark in Shetty’s action-packed universe:
- Kareena Kapoor Khan as Mrs. Singham
- Deepika Padukone as a regional commander
- Ranveer Singh reprising his role as the gabbily irritating Simmba
However, according to a close source, the screenplay fails to provide these talented actors with enough substance to sink their teeth into. Kapoor Khan’s role, in particular, is reduced to mere damsel-in-distress gestures, while Padukone’s character gets lost amid the testosterone-fueled crossover chaos.
Devgn’s Low-Energy Cool
Ajay Devgn slips back into the role of Singham with ease, his trademark stoicism and low-energy performance style being interpreted as a form of nation-saving cool. However, Shetty’s fawning treatment of the character leaves little room for dramatic complexity or nuance, especially given the current socio-political climate.
Middle-aged attempts to update the cop’s jargon prove cringeworthy, while the offhand Islamophobia is troubling.
Action Over Substance
Singham Again leans heavily on its action sequences and nationalist undertones, often at the expense of a compelling narrative. The film’s opening even includes a special shoutout to the Jammu & Kashmir police, setting the stage for a heavy-handed, flag-waving affair.
Shetty’s signature style, harkening back to the slaphappy mass cinema of the 1970s and ’80s, is on full display here. But what worked in the franchise’s smaller-scale debut feels overblown and hollow in this bloated sequel. The action setpieces, while undeniably bombastic, are ultimately forgettable, relying on shopworn tropes and clichés.
Verdict: A Tired Rehash
In the end, Singham Again proves to be a disappointing addition to the Cop Universe. Despite its star power and grand ambitions, the film fails to deliver a compelling story or memorable characters, instead opting for a tired rehash of familiar beats and nationalist posturing.
While die-hard fans of the franchise may find some enjoyment in seeing their favorite stars share the screen, casual viewers are likely to be left underwhelmed by this puffed-up pablum. As the reviewer aptly notes, “Shetty is surely hoping that holiday audiences will be forgiving when presented with a selection box of star names, but this doesn’t deserve a paying crowd so much as exasperated punctuation bolted to its title by way of a warning. We’re doing this again?!”
Singham Again may roar into theaters this Diwali, but its bark proves far worse than its bite. Perhaps it’s time for Shetty and his team to reevaluate their approach to the Cop Universe and inject some much-needed originality and depth into their future endeavors. Until then, audiences might be better off skipping this tired third outing and revisiting the franchise’s more enjoyable earlier installments.
