‘Mr. Bachchan’ Movie Review: A Comparison of Ajay Devgn’s ‘Raid’ and Harish Shankar’s Commercial Approach

The standout highlight of the film is undoubtedly the music composed by Mickey J Meyer. He impressively delivers catchy beats that perfectly complement the masala film vibe.

“Mr. Bachchan marks the third collaboration between director Harish Shankar and actor Ravi Teja, following their earlier films, Shock (2006) and Mirapakay (2011). Known for his entertaining remakes, Shankar returns with this adaptation of Ajay Devgn’s Raid (2018). The original film is a tightly woven thriller with minimal room for error, making it a significant challenge to remake. However, the director sidesteps this challenge by opting to infuse additional scenes for entertainment purposes. The film aims to be both an energetic entertainer and a serious commentary on illicit wealth, but does it succeed? Perhaps a more fitting tagline would have been “For the hopeless” rather than “The only hope.” Set in the 80s, the story follows Mr. Bachchan (Ravi Teja), a dedicated Income Tax Officer who faces suspension after a raid on a powerful businessman. He returns to his hometown and falls in love with Jikki (Bhagyashri Borse), a Marwari girl from Andhra Pradesh. Just when he settles into his new life, he receives a call from a superior, instructing him to return to duty for a raid on the notorious Muthyam Jagayya (Jagapathi Babu), a feared MP. The unfolding events during the raid and how Mr. Bachchan uncovers the hidden wealth drive the narrative. Without a doubt, the highlight of the film is the music composed by Mickey J Meyer, who delivers catchy beats that are perfect for a masala film. The track ‘Re’…

It’s impossible to discuss this film without addressing the noticeable age difference between Ravi Teja and Bhagyashri Borse. Despite the filmmakers defending this choice by referring to screen age, Ravi Teja appears to be his actual age on screen. His pairing with a 25-year-old actress led to some awkward laughter among viewers during several intimate scenes. The issue isn’t just the age gap; it’s the film’s failure to allow audiences to overlook it. The romance lacks the charm to escape the relentless trolling and isn’t engaging enough for viewers to enjoy. Bhagyashri Borse has a natural chemistry with the camera and knows how to captivate the audience with her expressions, yet her potential feels underutilized in this film. I don’t want to place blame solely on the director, as he previously delivered a beautifully subtle love story in his debut film, Shock, with the same actor. The song ‘Madhuram Madhuram’ remains a lovely piece with enchanting lyrics, making one wonder where it all went awry. After the romance, the raid begins toward the end of the first half, and the film struggles to balance both elements. One moment, Mr. Bachchan is portrayed as a dedicated IT officer; the next, he’s dancing to classic ANR songs in front of Annapurnamma’s character. He oscillates between following the rules during the raid and then suddenly resorting to violence to assert his heroism. These abrupt tonal shifts feel disjointed and confusing. While it’s true that logical inconsistencies in a commercial film are often overlooked, the execution here leaves much to be desired.

In the original film, even a brief scene featuring Saurabh Shukla casually sipping his chai exudes a chilling sense of his character’s ruthlessness. In contrast, Jagapathi Babu’s portrayal of Muthyala Jaggayya is characterized by loud outbursts that fail to leave an impression, especially when faced with the unstoppable presence of Bachchan. Additionally, the humorless segments involving Chammak Chandra, Annapurnamma, and Sathya are quite tedious to endure. Considering this is a director known for his comedic flair, who previously delivered the wildly entertaining Antakshari scene in Gabbar Singh (2012), this decline is quite disappointing. Aside from the lively cameo by a popular actor and some catchy songs, the film lacks engaging moments. Mr. Bachchan could have easily embodied the quintessential commercial entertainer—one that social media users might mock, yet secretly enjoy watching for the comedic moments. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t elevate itself beyond its muddled screenplay. Had the director chosen not to embark on another remake, he might have crafted a more entertaining piece. If he had focused on paying tribute to Amitabh Bachchan and the iconic ‘angry young man’ era, as he initially intended with the nods to 80s pop culture, he could have created a nostalgic blockbuster alongside the energetic Ravi Teja. Despite the wave of criticism, it’s important to acknowledge the filmmakers’ determination to create the film in their own style. Here’s hoping that director Harish Shankar returns with another engaging commercial project rather than another lackluster remake.