Singh Is Kinng

About the film

Singh Is Kinng is a 2008 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film directed by Anees Bazmee from a screenplay by Bazmee and Suresh Nair. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Om Puri, Ranvir Shorey, Neha Dhupia, Javed Jaffrey, Sonu Sood, Kirron Kher, and Sudhanshu Pandey. In the film, Happy Singh (Kumar) is sent to Australia to reunite Lakhanpal Singh (Sood), a crime boss, with his ill father but finds himself facing love and trouble instead. The film also featured a song and a music video with American rapper Snoop Dogg.

A major part of the film was shot in Australia. The film marked the fourth collaboration of Kumar and Kaif after Humko Deewana Kar Gaye (2006), Namastey London (2007) and Welcome (2007). The spelling of the word "king" in the film's title with an additional letter "n" was based on advice provided by a numerologist.

Plot

Lakhanpal 'Lucky' Singh, also known as the 'Kinng', is the most powerful figure in the Australian criminal underworld. He is accompanied by his Sikh mafia associates: Julie, Mika (Lucky's younger brother), Pankaj Udaas, Raftaar Mann, Dilbagh Singh and Gurbaksh Singh. Meanwhile, in Lucky's birthplace of Punjab, Happy Singh, a well-meaning troublemaker, is sent on a mission to Australia with his friend Rangeela. The aim is to bring Lucky back and reunite him with his ill father, in the hope that Happy will be out of the way for a while.

However, at the airport, their tickets are swapped with those of Puneet, who is heading to Egypt. Consequently, Happy and Rangeela find themselves in Egypt, where Happy meets and falls in love with a lawyer named Sonia. However, they part ways before he can express his feelings. The two then proceed to Australia, where Lucky dismisses Happy's request to return to Punjab and throws him out. Stranded, Happy is kind to an elderly lady, who offers him food despite him being a stranger.

A series of incidents instigated by Happy leave Lucky severely injured and paralysed. Surprisingly, Happy is then made the new king by Lucky's associates, who have misinterpreted Lucky's intention to kill him — much to Lucky's dismay. An elderly woman who helped Happy reveals that her daughter is returning from Egypt with her wealthy fiancé, Puneet. She is concerned that her daughter will find out that they are now living in poverty following her father's death. Happy offers the woman and her daughter a place to stay in Lucky's mansion and employs the mafia associates to work for them. When the daughter arrives, Happy is shocked to discover that she is Sonia. Although she begins to fall for Happy, Sonia is conflicted because of her relationship with Puneet, who becomes increasingly suspicious of Happy. Inspired by Happy's kindness, the members of Lucky's gang gradually reform their lives. Puneet eventually learns Happy's true identity as the King of the Underworld and shares this information with Sonia. Initially shocked, Sonia is later convinced by her mother, Rangeela, and the gang members that Happy only wants to see others happy and at peace. Meanwhile, Puneet conspires with Mika, who wants to become king himself, to kill Happy. Their motives differ: Puneet wants to kill Happy in order to keep Sonia, while Mika wants to seize power.

Music

The music of the film was composed by Pritam Chakraborty and the lyrics were written by Mayur Puri. The title song was composed by the British band RDB. The soundtrack was launched officially at the IIFA Awards in Bangkok on 8 June 2008.

Snoop Dogg has a cameo in the video of the title song.

Shreya Ghoshal, who sang the song "Teri Ore," won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer and the IIFA Award for Best Female Playback Singer. Mayur Puri was nominated for the Star Screen Awards, in the "Best Lyrics" category, for the same song. According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 1,800,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's third highest-selling.

Reception

Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, and stated "Singh Is Kinng lives up to the hype and hoopla. At the box-office, the film will fetch a hurricane-like start and will be record-shattering. Notwithstanding the new oppositions in the weeks to come, it will rule the hearts of the aam junta. Blockbuster Hit!" Times of India gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, and stated "The film has an entertaining first half. The second half does get cluttered, clumsy and loose with loads of wasted talent in the likes of Ranvir Shorey, Javed Jaffrey and a side-lined Om Puri." Gaurav Malani of Economic Times stated, "This king doesn't quite rule your heart unconditionally." Rajeev Masand gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, and stated "Singh is Kinng celebrates the spirit of being a Sikh, and yet it completely disregards the most basic detail of Sikh identity – how can your Sikh characters sport turbans but not full beards?" Aseem Chhabra of Rediff.com gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5, and stated "Akshay is the Kinng". Lisa Tsering of Hollywood Reporter stated, "Singh Is Kinng is a rollicking late-night party you don't want to end - with a friendly, funny and generous host; gorgeous women; pumped-up bhangra music and an extravagant, booze-soaked scuffle or two." Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express stated, "Whatever else it notches up, 'Singh Is Kinng' will always and forever b…

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