As a rule, Bollywood can’t get its crime/espionage/action thrillers right. It’s either too much emotion, too many jingoistic statements or too many holes in the script. But wonder of wonders, Neeraj Pandey gets it right. Almost.
“Baby†is a fast-paced, smartly written and well-acted film that never wavers from its subject. Even if it doesn’t always keep you in suspense, it doesn’t let you wander too far. Pandey takes inspiration from Hollywood espionage films, most notably Ben Affleck’s “Argoâ€, but adapts the genre to the Indian context, adding the right touch of patriotism, secularism and family values to make it palatable, but never cloying.
A special unit of Indian intelligence officers is on a mission to stop terrorists from infiltrating India and planning attacks on major cities. Akshay Kumar plays Ajay Singh Rajput, the man who apparently leads every single covert operation that Indian intelligence carries out. Rajput flits from Turkey to Nepal to the Middle East, eliminating threats and chasing people.
Pandey references several real-life incidents, such as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and adds enough touches to make much of the story seem realistic. Along the way, he stereotypes some communities, but thankfully, chooses not to dwell on the politics of the region too much.
Rajput and his team move between missions quickly, and cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee’s camera weaves in and out of the musty lanes of Kathmandu to the desert of Saudi Arabia.
Pandey also relies on smart repartee between the actors, and some good old action scenes, including a rare fight sequence between a woman and the bad guy, where she hits him with gusto, instead of cowering in a corner and waiting for the hero to come and rescue her, as heroines in most Bollywood films are wont to do.
“Baby†hits some false notes, especially towards the end, which stretches the climax more than is good for it. The side-plot of Rajput’s needy wife, who constantly tells him “just don’t die†seems unnecessary. Thankfully, this movie doesn’t have any songs, except for one which plays during the end credits, and very few distractions from the main plot.
This is one of those rare Bollywood movies that skips the melodrama, and for that alone, “Baby†deserves your time.
