For all its insistence on faith, the film shows a surprising lack of it – it is all rehearsed, clumsily designed to tug at the heartstrings and endear us to its leading man. This “Tubelight” flickers erratically for a long time and then dies out.

Tubelight does have a great message: hope pulls us through in any situation we may find ourselves in. A worthwhile watch.

Tubelight is a very disappointing fare and lacks entertainment value. Considering the star-cast, the technical team and the canvas, it is a letdown and a poor show. Although the producers have made a humongous profit by selling its India theatrical, Overseas, satellite, digital and music rights, its distributors will incur heavy losses. Of course, the release in the Eid week will help the film but the negative word of mouth will ultimately tell on its business.

Salman and Kabir Khan attempt another ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, but ‘Tubelight’ cannot rise above its desperate need to be liked…

Unfortunately piety and righteousness are written way too large on Tubelight. We need some inventiveness and chutzpah even when we take the bull by its horns. Afterall, what’s cinematic subversion without any sparkle?

Minus the melodrama and manipulation, the film effectively deals with the theme of faith, love and tolerance and it means so much, especially when it comes from the most loved star in the country.