Kaminey

Vishal Bharadwaj has done it again! Given a movie that is so different from the mindless crap that directors keep dishing out week after week. I have to say that it does not live up to all the hype created – nevertheless, in Charlie’s words it is a muft watch!

It is a dark, funny movie that addresses so many socio-political issues in India today. From AIDS awareness to Raj Thakarey’s Marathi Manoos – to corruption, he shows it all in the movie. It is an ‘A’ rated movie – and I think rightly so. Well, let’s talk about the good stuff. Vishal Bharadwaj – he is the strength of the movie. Direction, music, lyrics, dialogues and photography are flawless in the movie. Acting wise – each and every character in the movie has acted brilliantly. Shahid Kapoor is brilliant as the twins – Charlie and Guddu, both with speech disorders. Even the narration of the movie is done with a lifp J. Priyanka Chopra is a surprise treat to watch as Sweety, a feisty Maharashtrian gal – she is so endearing as this high – strung confused yet absolutely relatable character. She packs a punch in every scene that she is in and her chemistry with Guddu is just great. Mikhail, Amole Gupte as Bhope are all memorable characters. The background music of the movie in the first half is just fabulous. Every time Dhan Te Nan plays in the background – the heart beats faster and the movie races further. The pace of the movie is what is different about it. By the time the first half is over – you are exhausted in a good way ‘cos you have been at the edge of your seat in every scene. The dialogues are witty and great – humorous when they are not meant to be. And there is no spoon-feeding, the audience is compelled to pay attention and has to make out the twists and turns on their own.

After almost a perfect first half, the pace of the movie falls a bit flat in the second one. After the action packed first half, you end up expecting better from the second half – but here I think the movie falters a bit. It becomes slow and all the bits and pieces come together and culminate to a climax which is crazy, unexpected and funny in a way. The second half lets you a down a little bit. That’s what I felt. The flashback scenes between Charlie and Guddu were half-baked and hardly convincing.

But all being said, I wish this movie does well. I wish it for Vishal Bharadwaj’s sake and also to prove that Indian audiences are ready for a different film, a different genre than just a hero and heroine falling in love. It is an original movie – and a few scenes in the movie just stand out as brilliant. The scene where Sweety is trying to convince Guddu to marry her. The scene between Bhope bhau and Tope Bhau – it is just brilliant – reminding you of characters from movies like Pulp Fiction. The scene where Charlie realizes that he has stolen a police car no less to get away. These brilliant moments are what make the movie interesting and funny. Kudos to Vishal Bharadwaj to not falling prey to the Bollywood bandwagon of commercialism and being true to himself and taking the simple concept of comedy of errors and make it into a fast paced – high strung cinema.

- Moi

Mood of the day: Gloomy

Song of the day: Fatak!