The 2006 Bollywood heist movie called 'Dhoom 2' starring Abhishek Bacchan, Bipasha Basu, Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan, etc., features a master thief called 'A' who uses his supremely fit physique and hi-tech gadgets to pull off sophisticated burglaries of rare and valuable treasures. Reminds me of a 2004 Hollywood film 'Ocean's 12', with a thief called the 'Night Fox' who does the same.
The difference between these 2 Hollywood and Bollywood stories is that Bollywood demands a "suspension of disbelief". Consider this -
1. Why would the Queen of England be travelling through the Namibian desert in a lone train with just 2 security guys guarding her priceless crown?
2. How could Mumbai's iron sewer cover get disintegrated with acidic chemicals from 'A's shoes, drop him through the sewer, and blow him out (with no mud or excreta on his body) from another sewer opening?
3. How could vehicles with ramps be waiting at Mumbai's traffic lights, at convenient points, so that 'A' can simply launch himself by using them?
4. How could 'A' effortlessly flip from one side of the tracks to the other side behind a speeding train? Wouldn't the tracks get in the way of his board?
5. How could 'A' create a magnetic arm that can attract soda cans? Soda cans are made of aluminum and cannot be magnetized.
6. Why...?
7. How...?
The questions go on.
Allow me to simply state this - this is pure entertainment for Abhishek, Bipasha, Aishwarya, and Hrithik fans. Hrithik is indeed the "coolest" (as Abhishek describes him) due to his gorgeous looks, superior dance skills, and stunt performing abilities. Based on a loose storyline, 'Dhoom 2' is basically a drool fest with minimal acting, bad dancing (by Abhishek), awesome dancing (by Hrithik), and sexy outfits modelled by the actresses.
The music is so-so, mainly being variations of the same old Dhoom theme - one bar repeated over and over again, with no developments or riffs or complementing tunes.
The only original part of 'Dhoom 2' was the build up of the love story between Sunehri and 'A'. Sunehri has cut a bargain with the Indian police to ensnare 'A', in return for a life free from imprisonment. So, she does her best to create a situation where the police can catch 'A' in the act. However, her feelings keep getting in the way and it appears that 'A' is aware of this fact, and he never fails to remind her to not act with her heart. It was good to watch this layered, slightly more complex relationship than the usual bandalbaas comedy of Ali and Monali.
The chemistry between Aishwarya and Hrithik is electric and palpable. It is similar to their relationship in 'Jodha Akbar', minus the thrust and spar of their swordfight. Instead, here one sees them challenge each other in a choreographed basketball game. When was basketball popular in India? The director must have thought that it increased the 'cool' factor, hence...
Somewhere near the finale, Sunehri shoots 'A' dead, and he falls over a waterfall into a ravine, lost to the police forever. She says that she did it for love. That concept really spoke to me because it was so poetic, and dark. To kill a star-like person to save them from humiliation and execution because one loved them so much. Wow. Sunehri was prepared for lifelong hell on earth to save 'A' from the same fate. This seemed a powerful ending to me.
Unfortunately, in true Bollywood style, 'A' and Sunehri resurface in Fiji. For those of you who can manage to sit through this movie, go figure!