Raees – the 2017 Indian action crime thriller directed by Rahul Dholakia and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Excel Entertainment – stars Shah Rukh Khan as Raees. The movie unfolds the story of a cruel and clever bootlegger, whose business is challenged by a tough cop. Set in the early 80’s and 90’s in Gujarat, Raees is a story of a man who builds an illegal alcohol empire in Gujarat and shows his rise and relationships. ACP Majmudar is in charge of toppling him off his position. How Raees tries to save himself and his character undergoes a transformation forms the crux of the story.

Raees Movie Review: Shah Rukh Khan back with raw look

Shah Rukh Khan has always been famous for doing romantic roles – the epic Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge continues to woo fans to this day. Movies like Mohabbatein, Dilwale and a host of other movies have shown the softer side of Bollywood Baadshah. In Raees, Shah Rukh Khan portrays the character that shows his “raw” side – a spectacled goon who goes on to become the top bootlegger in his town. Shah Rukh Khan goes on an attacking spree, breaking arms and legs, portraying a character that’s full of fury and energy. Tough competition to Ranveer Singh, eh?

The first half of the movie doesn’t bore you. The pace isn’t slow and the story builds up pretty fast. ACP Majumdar’s one-liners and Ram Sampath’s music keeps you on toes. Of course, there’s Sunny Leone’s Laila Main Laila! But the second half of the movie isn’t as exciting as the first – the anti-hero’s morals suddenly head for a transition and he becomes a messiah. Some fans have expressed that the film gets quite boring during the second half. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, as always, has delivered a stunning performance. But SRK’s romantic interest – Mahira Khan – isn’t as fresh as she could have been.

In short, we have a movie where Nawazuddin Siddiqui really shines and sparkles while the movie itself gets stuck between comedy and restraint. The excitement and the energy levels in the first half of the movie gradually wane as the movie progresses. The second half of the movie could have been better. Nevertheless, kudos to SRK for the insanely “raw” look!

Hope, it helps you decide whether you should watch Raees or not. Share your opinion in the comments below.