Akshay Kumar's Gabbar is Back resonates with aam aadmi. On Monday Masala

Akshay Kumar-starrer Gabbar Is Back completed 7 years of its release on May 1, 2022. On Monday Masala we tell you why the film is still relevant today.

Akshay Kumar plays the crusader in the 2015 film, Gabbar Is Back, who is determined to punish the corrupt. The mass-entertainer, which released on May 1, 2015, across theatres in India, is still relevant today and will be relevant in the times to come. Why? Since we all want that superhero to rescue us from the corrupt officials, who can't function without bribes. People feel helpless when in government offices, to get one file passed, they need to move mountains. The film resonates with aam-aadmi.

Gabbar is Back is the remake of the Tamil film Ramanaa (2002). Written by A. R. Murugadoss and directed by Krish, the film also stars Kareena Kapoor and Shruti Haasan in pivotal along with Suman Talwar, Sunil Grover and Jaideep Ahlawat in supporting roles. The film borrows its name from the villain of Ramesh Sippy's superhit film, Sholay (1975).

The film begins with Gabbar kidnapping 10 tehsildars (collectors) across Maharashtra. Nine of them are released the next day, while one of them is hanged in the middle of the city along with files that contain the details of all his corrupt deeds. The police receive a CD from Gabbar, who makes it clear that he is on a spree to eliminate corrupt officers, which sends all the government officials into a frenzy. Meanwhile, Sunil Grover's Sadhu, who is also a victim of corruption, is determined to unmask Gabbar. The CBI is brought in to crack the case, as more corrupt officials keep disappearing from the city every Friday. "Like a new film release," as Gabbar says.

Gabbar Is Back is the perfect pick for cinephiles who love masala entertainers with the right mix of drama, action, comedy along with vaisa-vasool dialogues. Akshay Kumar is perfect as Gabbar mouthing powerful dialogues like 'I hate sorries', 'Ab Gabbar ka PWD chalega... power wala danda', 'Pachaas pachaas kos dur jab koi rishwat leta hai toh sab kehte hain mat le warna Gabbar aa jayega' and 'Saare kaam bhagwan khud nahi karta ... kuch kaam hum jaise shaitano ke liye chhod deta hai', among others.

The last 15 minutes were quite interesting. Akshay Kumar's speech at the end of Gabbar Is Back was moving and inspiring. The film ends with Gabbar ready to be hanged, but his death is not shown in the film. The makers can plan a sequel of the film where Gabbar returns and so does his terror among the government officials. Akshay Kumar fans will surely love the sequel.

Akshay Kumar as vigilante justice punishing corrupt officers garnered good numbers at the box office. The film earned Rs 1.35 billion worldwide. It was one of the few films that successfully took the issue of corruption to the silver screen.

PS: "Power agar galat haathon mein aa jaye toh blackout hone mein der nahi lagti," says Gabbar in the film. Wondering what Akshay Kumar would like to say about the power crisis across India due to coal shortage.