Before moving into the review, I would like to state that I love MASALA MOVIES made for the masses, a lot. And in fact I used to be one of the few people in the hall who dared to shout, whistle and dance whenever their favorite hero or song came on the screen. But those were the years of the last century and the changing times have hugely changed the movie watching experience a lot (may be for the better, as they say). However from the inside, I still remain the same excited moviegoer, who readily feels the butterflies in his stomach while watching his lovable hero dancing on a HIT song being flashed on the silver screen.

For the record, I immensely enjoyed last two movies of Salman and could easily appreciate and relate with the star enigma in DABANGG. But this time, I really was unable to either appreciate or enjoy the trash served hot in the shape of READY this Friday. While watching it I was neither able to cherish the lovable Salman Khan acting his own-self on the screen nor I could take pleasure in the two HIT songs being played loud. In short, the film is a complete washout right till the end with only a few places where you are able to laugh out loud.

It starts off with a usual and needless 2 minute credit animation sequence and then after the not so happening entry of Salman you right away get the first item song. There is simply no story development in its initial hour and before the intermission, all its characters are just moving here and there on the screen with a little pinch of love, hate, action, chase and all the usual stuff. In other words, there is nothing in the name of WRITING in its first half.

The story, (if you consider it a story at all) actually starts off post intermission and then at least you get a few scenes which make you smile and laugh with your loved hero. But then the climax as expected from the director Aneez Bazmee, is another bizarre one from him where the villains get beaten in a comic style and they even enjoy the shower of little boys delivering from the first floor. The film simply reveals the lack of vision in its Captain of the ship despite of the fact that he had the TELUGU original in front of him as a base to work upon. The director in a very silly and questionable manner keeps following the South flavor of the subject and makes no changes at all as per the likings of the Hindi Film viewers. For instance few of his earlier films were a remake of their South Originals too, yet you never felt that while seeing them. But strangely while watching READY in the first half, I had the feeling as if I was watching a dubbed South Hit film on a Cable TV Channel.

Its no-doubt a Salman film all the way, but somehow this time I even couldn't enjoy Salman's performance too as he doesn't seem to be acting in the movie at all. To be straight, Salman plays his character in a very cool but careless kind of style which even looks a bit over- confident and over the top at times. For instance, just watch out the scenes where both Salman and Asin are hanging from a tree or when Salman turns over declaring the intermission. Though I did enjoy some realistic kind of dialogues and one liners by Salman in the movie but overall it surely cannot be included in the list of the actor's better performances of his career ever.

Asin on the other hand looks both ravishing as well as tired in her various sequences. May be she should blame her stylist and make-up artist for that. Paresh Rawal tries hard but doesn't get any good lines or scenes (making an entry post interval). And the entire rest of the cast do more of shouting than acting. Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Arbaaz Khan, Chunky Pandey and Kangna don't add any extra value to the film in their one scene appearance. But Zarine Khan looks hot in her item number. Musically the two HIT songs of the film give their much required support to its overall impact on the audiences especially through their superb choreography. Whereas its Cinematography and Background score, both just serve the purpose.

Summing up, I would like to say that in India, since star worship is the main guiding force towards film-making, therefore READY would surely be seen and loved by all Salman fans as a must. But the film certainly would not get a unanimous positive response as earlier enjoyed by few Salman releases. And for this I don't blame SALMAN and neither I blame the producers or actors of the film. For this feeble and unexplainable kind of attempt I entirely blame its director Aneez Bazmee who constantly keeps giving us films like these and this time he even fails to encash one of the biggest craze of our nation, Salman Khan.

So if you love Salman, then do watch READY only to satisfy your star- love. But truly speaking I enjoyed watching Mahesh Manjrekar & Sudesh Lehri more in the film than anybody else along with the gorgeous Asin.

With the box office smash Dabanng, expectations are high for Salman Khan's Ready, with news reports of sold out sessions across India that made me wonder why the fervour wasn't propagated to this part of the world at least in Sunny Singapore, with tickets still largely available in one of the biggest halls screening Hindi films. Ready was scheduled to be part of Screen Singapore which touted its world premiere with lead actress Asin in attendance, but that was not to be since it's actual premiere was a week earlier in Dubai instead. Whether or not Asin will make an appearance for the local event remains to be seen, but from what I experienced with Ready, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.

I was all set and ready for Ready, only for Ready to disappoint badly, with a note to self that Anees Bazmee has yet to convince me of his directorial efforts, and a reinforcing point that Hindi comedies in general would work well for anyone who speaks the language, because the wordplay in its dialogue gets sorely lost in translation. So while most of the audience members in my screening were rip roaring with laughter, I was left bewildered for the most parts since the English subtitles failed to capture the essence of the dialogue's wit. Still that doesn't mean that I can't follow the plot nor enjoy the performances of the stars, but then again, what plot?

The story was all over the place, and was excellent only in sporadic moments. A remake of a Telugu film, Ready began brilliantly after a catchy opening credits song of Character Dheela which had Zarine Khan, Salman's co-star in Veer, sizzling the screen as the item girl. We get acquainted with Salman's Prem (very popular name for at least nine other Salman Khan roles in his filmography) Kapoor, a rascal of sorts who assists friends in their relationship needs, though he's not quite Hitch in dispensing with good advice. Ready throws up a slew of cameo appearances within the first 10 minutes with the likes of Akay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt and Kangana Ranaut amongst others, and just as you're lulled into thinking the film has enough surprises to keep you engaged, it's an unfortunate spiral all the way down from there, failing to build up from the kick ass introduction.

One thing I noticed about Hindi comedies, or at least the one that I managed to catch, are that they can't seem to steer clear of fake identities contributing to a major plot point, from Housefull all the way down to Ready, now with Asin's Sanjana Singh pretending to be Prem's bride to be in taming the rascal with her appeal to his family, but in fact turning out to be using an opportunity to escape from her own marriage to the mob. So a plot got hatched of course for some long winded rescue of the damsel in relationship distress and reconciliation between feuding mob families, as well as for Prem to romance Sanjana for real, and to show off in some set action pieces that once again proves to be Salman's forte in almost every character he tackles.

This is undoubtedly a Salman Khan one man vehicle, where his star power alone guarantees a large box office opening, with fans turning up in droves to catch and lap up everything he throws on screen, be it a swagger, an attitude, an inside joke or two from his previous films (such as the names of two minor characters adopted from his flops),and in essence having no fear to even parody himself. And a shirtless moment will never be absent too, though here it was played off in a jokey day dreaming sequence (which I have to admit it worked).

But what Salman Khan brought to the table with Ready, and I believe will begin a fad and a trend on the dance floor, are his moves in the song Dhinka Chika, which sort of aspired to be the equivalent of Dabangg's belt play, but here having the hands move a little below the belt into the pockets and groin area to well, play with the fabric covering the pelvic area, combined with pelvic thrusts and bum massages. Other than that, Salman was being purely Salman the major star, playing a character he can tackle with his eyes firmly closed, or in this case, firmly hidden behind shades.

In her second collaboration with Salman Khan after London Dreams, I think Asin may probably want to relook into her choice of movie roles from Bollywood, having to make that breakthrough in Ghajini opposite Aamir Khan, but never quite finding that same stratospheric footing with roles that don't do her acting abilities much justice, other than to show that she doesn't have two left feet from the numerous musical numbers in Ready. Other supporting characters aren't worth a shout out, because they're fairly one dimensional caricatures in treatment, with the cast going through the motions.

I know as a crowd pleasing Masala film this had served its objective, but seriously, a proper storyline won't hurt would it, and to have the locales and backgrounds a little bit more consistent, rather than to rely on green screen that drew attention to itself for poorly rendered landscapes that made Ready look a little cheap. For Salman fans only, otherwise watch at your own peril as Ready doesn't even quite match up to a fraction of Dabangg.

A Remake of a South Blockbuster, 'Ready' directed by Anees Bazmee has a terrific first hour working all the way on it's advantage, but a loud and long second hour is not up-to the mark. What stands tall in this film, more than it's music and one-liners, is Salman Khan - The Superstar.

This tale of a Boy trying to win back his Girl from her greedy uncles, unfolds wonderfully in the first hour. The second hour loses pace, though Salman never fails to deliver.

While The First Hour is entertaining and packs in several terrific moments, it's The Second hour that loses pace. Though the Climax is good, the film loses pace and becomes loud. I feel, if shorter by at least 20-25 minutes, this comedy's impact would have enhanced big time.

Anees Bazmee's direction is fair. Cinematography is perfect. Editing could've been sharper. Music by Pritam & Devi Sri Prasad, is awesome. All the songs are hummable and memorable.

Performance-Wise: Salman is the LIFE of the show. He delivers a stylish and lively performance, that holds your attention from start to end. He manages to hold you even the second hour. Asin is okay. Mahesh Manjrekar, Manoj Joshi & Manoj Pahwa are first-rate. Sharat Saxena & Akhilendra Mishra are loud, but that's the demand of their characters. Arya Babbar is good. Anuradha Patel, Gargi & Eva Grover are passable. Paresh Rawal is Fantastic, like always. An Actor who never disappoints! Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn, Kangna & Zarine Khan appear in brief cameos.

On the whole, 'Ready' is entertaining, but what makes this film stand tall, is Salman Khan. If you LOVE Salman, then missing this comedy is your loss.