Critics’ Verdict: Superstar Matin Outshines Salman in ‘Tubelight’

Here’s what the critics are saying about Salman Khan’s ‘Tubelight’.

A still from Tubelight.

Film: Tubelight
Director: Kabir Khan
Cast: Salman Khan, Sohail Khan, Matin Rey Tangu, Zhu Zhu, Om Puri, Zeeshan Ayyub

Excerpts from reviews of Tubelight:

Because it is Salman, we go in looking for a plot designed to propel him, and us, towards that light. And because it is Kabir Khan, who has the ability to layer mainstream with meaning, and who has given the star one of his most memorable films, <i>Bajrangi Bhaijaan</i>, we hope for the magic to work again.But this time around, in which the director and the star set their sights on China, it is not to be. The message is perfect, especially apt for these manic times. The messenger is far from. The effort, on Salman’s part, to come off slow-witted, shows in every frame. It’s all feels constructed, and on the surface, with no nuance. Some of the film’s more likeable moments are shared between Laxman and the little boy, who’s completely edible, and an absolute natural. But when the main act isn’t convincing, the film becomes just like the title: mostly flicker with a little late glow.

Shubhra Gupta, The Indian Express

Salman Khan’s attempt to shed his burly action hero image is courageous but Quixotic. He fared far better in his 2016 hit <em>Sultan</em>, in which he played a wrestler trying to patch up his failed marriage. In <em>Tubelight</em>, Khan is in <em>Bajrangi Bhaijaan</em> mould – the innocent who makes history because he is beyond petty politics and the chicanery of grown-ups. Kabir Khan was responsible for <em>Bajrangi Bhaijaan</em> too, but in <em>Tubelight</em>, he is unable to recreate the personal-meeting-political encounter. <em>Tubelight</em> does not have as many layers as <em>Bajrangi Bhaijaan</em>, and Laxman is far too passive, lachrymose and one-dimensional to evoke empathy or identification. <em>Tubelight</em> might actually have worked better if it had centred on a child and his knee-high experience of war and death. What if Kabir Khan had stuck more closely to the original plot, cast Salman Khan as the missing father, and allowed Tangu to do the heavy lifting? <em>Tubelight</em> might have been more lustrous than it currently is. Kabir Khan’s sincerity and his belief that humanity still has place in a divided and violent world have never been in doubt, but <em>Tubelight</em> isn’t the best platform for his ideas.

Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in

The message being sent out with this film is: poor little superstar who doesn’t know better. There might be something to that. Salman hasn’t had to actually act for a while now, though he has been making more of an effort in Kabir’s films. With this one, alas, he goes “full retard” as Robert Downey Jr dismissively scoffed in <i>Tropic Thunder</i>. While Khan could hardly be expected to pull off a <i>Forrest Gump</i>, what we get here is even worse than <i>Koi Mil Gaya</i>: <i>Tubelight</i> is the story of a developmentally disabled man whose superpower is making constipated sounds. In Hindi movies, every Khan has his day. Kabir’s came two years ago with the emotionally impactful and highly effective <i>Bajrangi Bhaijaan</i>, which I enjoyed thoroughly. This time, it’s Sohail Khan’s turn, and he gets to outshine his celebrated brother simply by keeping a straight face. <i>Tubelight</i> is a Salman Khan film that kept me longing to have Sohail back on screen, and those are words I’d never thought I’d type.

Raja Sen, NDTV

Kabir Khan gets most things right. <em>Tubelight</em> is about love, trust, magic and belief. It’s like a tonic for weary souls. You will find yourself interacting with the film and characters. For starters, it is clear that if this role had an A-list actor playing Salman’s younger brother, it wouldn’t have the same emotional quotient. Many times during the film, you may be moved to tears because the brotherly emotions blur the lines between reel and real life. Kabir and Salman have shown us with Bajrangi Bhaijaan that they work well with kids. So naturally, the scenes with the little boy Matin Rey Tangu are most endearing. Performances by Om Puri, Zeeshan, Yashpal Sharma and other supporting cast are stellar. Salman plays a innocent and a vulnerable character for the first time in his career, and nails it. There is no action in the film but he delivers a sentimental kick straight to the heart. Shah Rukh Khan in the guest appearance is one of the highlight scene of the film.

Sarita A Tanwar, DNA