A flimsy jugalbandi

Nonika Singh

Disclaimer first; nothing in this Jackie Chan- starrer, including its chief villain played by our very own Sonu Sood, is meant to be taken seriously. So, once you submit yourself to suspension of disbelief, let the director Stanley Tong take over and take you from India to China to Dubai and back to India. And of course, the title Kung Fu Yoga is merely to emphasise that it’s an Indo-China production. Sure enough there are a whole lot of Kung Fu moves. So, what if Chan isn’t that young or that he plays a professor of archaeology… don’t forget once a master of Kung Fu always one. And keeping him solid company is Aarif Rehman, who like Chan is a Hong Kong actor, and gets his fair share of action especially in the scene with hyenas on his leash. But if you think our super-fit hero Sonu will match their Kung Fu with some action, powered by the ancient Indian practice of yoga...  alas tough luck. Power of yoga does find suitable mention and there is a minor sideshow of its breathing technique underwater as well.

Only the actor who takes you there is Disha Patani. A princess masquerading as a professor, her link to the plot is on the expected lines and doesn’t do much to the actor in her. By the way she has a meatier and longer part than Sonu’s, who too is not even half as impressive as he normally is, even in a regular Bollywood masala fare. 

With some cheesy lines like “I am the government here,” and some interesting ones such as “Don’t teach me about the law of my country” he lacks spite and the menacing spirit of an antagonist. Actually, he seems most comfortable shaking a leg in the finale.

Indeed, the real focus is on Chan, who for most parts, even the downright ludicrous ones with a lion in the backseat of his car, doesn’t disappoint. He is endearing and gives you several moments to smile. Indian clothes and Indian dance too suit him to the hilt. Lest we forget, the film has a story too, even if rather sketchy of lost treasures and ancient Indian empire, no less than Magadh Kingdom of India. A prologue of sorts establishes the India-Chinese connection. The treasure hunt creates some stupendous cinematography, some breathtaking action and the usual Indian trope of rope tricks, snakes and princesses. 

There is some talk of Shiva’s third eye. At a very superficial level there is wisdom too, need to take care of national treasures and what real wealth truly connotes. But most of it is mumbo-jumbo once again not to be taken seriously. Certainly not the best of the civilzational connect, but with running time of less than two hours it doesn’t weigh heavy on your mind. If you are okay with films with no real takeaways, this one will work for you. Our verdict certainly this coming together of Bollywood actors and the phenomenon called Jackie Chan could have been rather a more satisfying affair. In the present avatar this tadka is just about lukewarm.