Filmy Friday: Phantom Review!

The maker of Kabul Express, New York, and most recently, Bajrangi Bhaijaan presents to us with Phantom. Director Kabir Khan has a knack for making films which involve India-Pakistan and a couple other current political issues. I think in today’s generation, it’s important for us to be aware of worldly events and most importantly understand the meaning behind ‘patriotism.’

Phantom is originally a ‘spy-film.’ Actor Saif Ali Khan plays the role of Daniel Khan who is an ex-Indian soldier who takes on a mission to fight for justice. The story of the film and concept was beautiful, it was focused on the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack and seeking the terrorist who caused the attack to happen. It was very intriguing, yet intense to watch. I personally haven’t seen anything in Indian cinema in a while like Phantom. Saif specifically really grasped my attention from beginning to end, his past couple films have been a disappointment to me, but his role as Daniel Khan was unique and powerful.

I was not impressed by Katrina Kaif at all who played the role of Nawaz Mystry. Her acting was dull and boring, her expressions were expressionless and dialogue delivery was very irritating to watch. Her character specifically was very important in the film, but I don’t think she lived up to the importance of her role.

The supporting actors though were amazing. Each individual character was intertwined into one another in some shape or form, which was very interesting on the writing side of the film.

What lacked in Phantom though was that I wasn’t convinced as the audience. The events that occurred happened to quickly and ‘easily’ you could say. Even though it’s fictional, there is so much realism to the story and ideas presented on celluloid, but it was not convincing enough to me. I wasn’t as emotionally engaged in the film as I expected to be until the last fifteen minutes, and this may have to do with Arijit Singh’s song Saware playing as the background score during this point of the film.

In-short, a film that was about bringing justice did not make enough justice viewing it. But I definitely enjoyed the patriotism that was projected through the film, it’s something that is rarely seen in today’s cinema.

Urban Asian’s review of Phantom is

Check out my favorite track from the film!