Rocky Handsome – Same old formula packaged in a new cover

The John Abraham starrer Rocky Handsome reminds us a lot of the Hollywood film The Man From Nowhere, but nevertheless it still has power packed action sequences, a gripping storyline and a whole lot of emotional drama. But it still doesn’t impress us much as we have already seen this formula of a brooding vengeful trying to seek revenge for a loved one.

So, John plays Kabir a stranger with a mysterious past living in Goa.

He develops a bond with an eight-year-old girl called Naomi (Diya Chalwad) who is his neighbour. The girl becomes the joy and sunshine in his life. It is she who fondly christens him as Handsome. She gives him the much needed solace that he is secretly seeks and yearns. The story unfolds when she goes missing and Kabir tries to track her down. In the process, he must take down Goa’s mafia ganglord Kevin Pereira played by the film’s director Nishikant Kamat and his psychotic brother Luke (Teddy). The movie also takes on the issue of organ trafficking, child trafficking and drug peddling.

One would go to the theatres thinking that movie helmed by Nishikant Kamat who had directed the award winning and critically acclaimed Dombivli Fast would have something new to offer. Shruti Hassan plays John’s love interest, but she has a special appearance and does not have more than 5-10 minutes of screen time. However, it is John who is otherwise the saving grace of the film. He fits in the role of Kabir a brooding and a vengeful man perfectly. Naomi adds the emotional elements in bits and pieces. But overall the movie has nothing new to offer. How many times have we seen a man take on the underworld to avenge the murder of a loved one.