Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) is one of the most widely seen Indian films ever made, and its subject is the most sensitive question in the region. A six year old Pakistani girl who cannot speak is separated from her mother in India. Pawan finds her: a devoutly Hindu man, simple, honest, and incapable of lying. He decides to take her home across the border himself. The film's real subject is religion and the border. Pawan is Hindu and the girl is Muslim. His reaction on learning that, and what he does afterwards, carries the entire argument. At a moment of high tension between India and Pakistan, this film went out showing decent people on both sides. Salman Khan is not playing his usual action persona. Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a Pakistani journalist carries the second half. It is emotionally direct and at times far too direct. Read that as a description rather than a fault. It runs 159 minutes and includes songs. Good for: emotional Indian cinema, road movies, and family viewing. Comfortable with young children. Less good for: anyone wanting restraint. The film is trying to make you cry and does not hide it.