Sarfira Movie Review: Akshay Kumar V/S Suriya??

One actor in Indian cinema, who was once considered a guaranteed hit and the safest investment, is now facing a concerning situation. In a new interview, Akshay Kumar mentioned that when his movies flop, it brings joy to people in the film industry. Akshay sir, you’ve noticed this, but you haven’t realized that the public, who once called you ‘Content Kumar’, has gradually seen you transform into a Remake Star.

The remake factor of redoing a film that has won five National Awards seems like a huge risk. Moreover, the original film can already be watched on OTT platforms, and you can find a Hindi dubbed version easily available in the market. Additionally, considering that a brand like Suriya is involved, who is not just a South star but a significant name in Indian cinema, whose fault do you think this is? The film industry’s or Akshay Kumar's?

I watched this film on the very first day on OTT. But why would the general audience spend money on a film that is a rehash of something already seen? Aamir Khan, for instance, only appears in cinemas once every couple of years, and even then, his Hollywood remake fails to make an impact at the box office. Akshay Kumar, on the other hand, has more releases than festivals in a year. What’s the rush, man? Anyone who has watched the original film Soorarai Pottru know that if a remake is made, it can never be bad because the story is the true hero of the film, whether it’s acted by Suriya or Akshay Kumar. And the director is the same, so the chance of error is zero.

Just selling tickets for ₹1 to make the entire nation dream of flying is an incredible concept. What better content can there be than that? On top of that, it has an amazing family drama that creates a powerful connection through its story. People appreciate movies like Chandu Champion that depict a personal journey. If a film portrays a lone individual fighting for the whole country, how can it be considered bad?

Thus, Sarfira was already a masterpiece before its release. In fact, Akshay Kumar should have offered tickets for ₹1 to give everyone a chance to watch it in theaters. Just because the film is well-made does not guarantee its commercial success. The effort put into creating hype around Sarfira has been the least in Akshay Kumar's career. Even now, his fans seem to have given up defending good cinema.

Sarfira has everything you would want from a perfect film- a unique subject, a powerful story, outstanding performances, impactful emotions, and a satisfying ending. But where will you find that original feeling? Anyone who has seen Suriya in the original film will not connect with any other actor at that level, and this becomes Sarfira's biggest weakness. Polishing and selling an apple doesn’t change its taste.

Akshay Kumar’s performance in Sarfira is significantly better compared to his recent films. His victories feel like our victories, and his losses feel like our losses. There’s a strong connection, but Radhika Madan has done an exceptional job in her character, which is fiery and has even overshadowed Akshay. However, the real champion of this film is Paresh Rawal, who, despite being the villain, emerges as the biggest hero. Just a few scenes and hours of his performance are heavyweights. Paresh Rawal has become the kind of actor that in 10-15 years, if you tell the next generation about him, they won’t believe such an actor existed.

So, Sarfira gets a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars from me. I’ve already highlighted the subject, story, emotions, and Radhika’s performance; however, I must deduct one star for the remake factor. When you can cut out the public by selling old goods in new packaging, deducting a star for the remake is a minor issue. My only small complaint is that Akshay Kumar doesn’t bring that freshness and newness that Suriya radiated in every scene. There’s no hate against the film; it’s perfect cinema for family audiences, but don’t expect any magic at the box office because as you sow, so shall you reap. The movie is currently streaming on JioHotstar. #StopRemakes