Salman Khan’s ‘TUBELIGHT’ (2017) Trailer Points Out A Problematic Premise

Salman Khan’s latest movie ‘Tubelight’ released a teaser a few weeks ago, but now the full story trailer is out. And it confirms what the movie is indeed a remake of ‘Little Boy’, making the movie so much more problematic!

Salman Khan’s ‘Tubelight’ trailer looks ridiculous when realizing what the story is about.

The trailer for ‘Tubelight’ gives us a lot more story than anything else. The trailer starts off introducing us to Salman’s character and his beloved brother, played by real life brother, Sohail Khan.

Personally, I am more interested in seeing Sohail Khan back on the big screen after so long, than anything else in this movie. I’ve always considered Sohail to have had more potential to grow into a great actor, if given the opportunity. Unfortunately his string of flops caused him to roll back the starring roles. Until now. Maybe.

The real/reel life brotherly love is the cornerstone behind the premise of ‘Tubelight’. While Sohail's character seems like an everyday guy, Salman on the other hand is shown as a simpleton. A grown man with the childlike innocence and enthusiasm of a boy. Salman's pet name in his town is that of 'tubelight' due to limited mental faculties I guess, referring to how a fluorescent light flickers on slowly.

Which, if you really think about it, is an incredibly derogatory way to point out someone's emotional development issues. Clearly, Salman's character is mentally challenged. But for the Trailer to never actually explain or point it out, other than a tubelight reference, seems inconsiderate at best.

When his brother goes off to war, Salman’s character is left alone and saddened. Presumably because he doesn’t have anyone else in his life. When told that he needs to have faith that the war will end, his character takes it literally and upon himself to accumulate as much faith as he can in order to end the war himself, so as to be reunited with his brother.

Already it’s a tear inducing, heart wrenching story that will definitely reduce me to a bawling baby in theatres. That much is a given. Salman Khan crying, makes you cry. Facts of life. But there is a glaring issue with this portrayal and this idea.

If Salman Khan is playing a character that is emotionally challenged, then the movie needs to depict that as a reality, instead of, what seems like a throwaway explanation like the title of the movie. An adult that cannot grasp complex ideas or understand the reality around him, is an actual developmental disorder that shouldn’t be played for sympathy or laughs. But I get the sense from this trailer that this character arc is more to be able to allow Salman Khan to play the character that is supposed to be a young boy in the movie ‘Tubelight’ is adapted from, aptly titled ‘Little Boy’.

And this is what I have a problem with. As emotional as ‘Tubelight’ may end up being, it will be built on a premise of such manipulative choices in writing and casting, that it feels almost offensive. Do we need to cast a fan favorite 50 year old mega star in the role of an 8 year old boy? Do we need tp re-write the entire story around that tweak, in order for Kabir Khan to be able to tell that story effectively?

Especially when we have had movies like ‘Taare Zameen Par’ that proved the commercial and critical viability of a film centered around, and being lead by a child actor.

'Tubelight' could have even chosen to cast Salman as the loving father who is separated from his son as he goes off to war. That choice would still have allowed him to do everything a Salman movie requires. Initially charming scenes with the son in Act 1, toe-tapping song and dance numbers, action sequences in war, tear jerking emotions, culminating in the (eventual) climactic reunion.

But casting him instead in the 8 year old character's role seems utterly unnecessary and pointless. 'Tubelight' could easily be one of the better movies of the year, but the Trailer doesn't provide any grounding elements to a ridiculous premise to us to alleviate concerns thus far.

'Tubelight' stars Salman Khan, Sohail Khan, Om Puri and Zhou Zhou. Directed by Kabir Khan.