The sort of blind following that this ageing superstar has commanded for so many years, and continues to command, really foxes me. When you’ve seen one Salman Khan film, you’ve seen them all. The same swagger, improbable violence, over-the-top hero-giri, near-absence of coherent story… mostly it’s the same ingredients. There are notable exceptions, but many of his films have a mind-numbing repetitive style. Why do fans accept this mediocrity? Why in fact do they continue to worship Salman Khan?
Bhai ka Birthday is the name of the song release from his upcoming film Antim and so was the highest trending hashtag.
Even this song is a typical Salman song – booming percussions, not much of a melody and lots of vigorous gyrating (or in the case of Salman himself, what passes or dancing).
Who that? His films are usually formulaic and often cater to the lowest common denominator; with many being remakes of hits from the South.
People have a sneaking admiration for how his various relationships never seem to end in marriage.
The female leads maybe half his age or less. They may be treated like objects and may barely have a speaking part. It is a bhai movie --- so it doesn’t matter.
As this meme suggests, he is the iPhone of Bollywood. Bus, naam hi kaafi hai --- because branding!
And apparently that one angry/constipated expression, this is acting.
He can pretend to be a young man. He can smash through walls with his fists. He can roll a tank through the streets of Mumbai. But it’s all OK.
He can get away with a completely mediocre script, pedestrian story, being a bad dancer, a so-so actor. He can ham it up and he can repeat the same seeti-maar lines. It’s all allowed.
He can pretend to be a Sardar and still be 100% Salman and it's OK. The story can be completely illogical and incoherent, but it’s OK. He may be found guilty of serious crimes, but that’s OK too. Being Salman is all that matters – for the true-blue Salman Khan fan.
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