Since Wasseypur happened, I haven't really written much since the atrocities of life had kept me busy. Today, after a long time, a simple thought has provoked me to pen down my thoughts. I just returned home after watching director Abhishek Kapoor's (of the Rock-On fame) new movie KAI PO CHE. As an old habit, I was reading a few reviews around it and what really struck me is the fact that though everyone's calling the movie "a cut above the commonplace" (as referred in an article that appeared in Deccan Chronicle), people seem to have a problem with its common story, common problems and common treatment. The extraordinary critics wanted something spectacular- a certain seeming "depth" that was missing. Or was it?
Kai Po Che is an out-and-out Bollywood movie. Cricket, religion, friendship, a lurking romance- it has all the right spices to cook a real masala. And apparently, therein lies the problem. I read the critics saying that the movie lacks a deeper context, has loose untied ends in the story and the subject of communalism, cricket and unemployment have not been well-treated.
I don't think so.
I agree that the plot might seem a little weak but I like the simplicity and the untied ends. When I see three young lads who are unemployed, but are burgeoning entrepreneurs who decide to open a sports academy of their own, it gives hope to my bourgeois aspirations of making it big with a start-up of my own. Yes, I know that it is extremely unlikely for me to conjure up a money-laden Mamaji, but in my scheme of things, I'd replace it with an Angel Investor or a VC funding. And trust me, it is just about fine to leave that part to my own imagination. Critics seem to have questioned that why are they educated and unemployed or thoughtless about it. These esteemed people have forgotten that there are countless such people living in Tier 1&2 cities who seem to even have a B.Tech degree or a "MBA" and are unemployed. And noone is thoughtless about it. The protagonists within the first 5 minutes of the movie seem to discuss the problem with an unanimous "Kuchh to karna padega yaar" dialogue. Does that seem thoughtless?
Also dear people, please remember that this movie is not a Black Friday or a Parzania. So it is hopeless to expect that the topic of communal violence will be treated with utmost sincerity and excellence. The movie is a simple one, for the common man and it drives a simple message through its treatment of communal discordance- Religious fanaticism can do NO good. The fact that it drives the youth insane enough to forget all ties of friendship and love and embrace gory violence and commit grave sins is unnerving and true. And that's just the message the story delivers.
The angle of 'romance' is actually the only weak-point in the movie but it certainly counts for a few laughs.
For me, I think I loved the movie. The acting by the three newcomers were top-notch: each living up to the true character- the disgruntled & worshiped Ishaan played by Sushant Singh Rajput, the calculative middle-class personified Govind played by Rajkumar Yadav and the loyal & easily-confused Omi played by Amit Sadh. Manav Kaul as Mamaji is good, since he struck the right balance between a political 'karyakarta' and "it's ganda but dhanda" netaji. (Sorry critics, if you were looking for a cunning 'Mamaji', I'd rather you go watch Gufi Paintal immortalize that through his epic portrayal of the evil Shakuni in Mahabharata.)
Amit Trivedi's music is pleasant and non over-powering.
Lastly, the ending that seems oh-so-dramatic with the gifted 'Ali' playing for India and doing that off-side magic is endearing. Well, trust me, a country that has seen so many riots/ earthquakes/ droughts and all sorts of terrorism and natural calamities CAN live with a bit of hope and a smile and a tear. Fuck the reality, I want my share of fantasy and I shall have it goddamit! Well done, Abhishek Kapoor.
Kai Po Che!
Kai Po Che is an out-and-out Bollywood movie. Cricket, religion, friendship, a lurking romance- it has all the right spices to cook a real masala. And apparently, therein lies the problem. I read the critics saying that the movie lacks a deeper context, has loose untied ends in the story and the subject of communalism, cricket and unemployment have not been well-treated.
I don't think so.
I agree that the plot might seem a little weak but I like the simplicity and the untied ends. When I see three young lads who are unemployed, but are burgeoning entrepreneurs who decide to open a sports academy of their own, it gives hope to my bourgeois aspirations of making it big with a start-up of my own. Yes, I know that it is extremely unlikely for me to conjure up a money-laden Mamaji, but in my scheme of things, I'd replace it with an Angel Investor or a VC funding. And trust me, it is just about fine to leave that part to my own imagination. Critics seem to have questioned that why are they educated and unemployed or thoughtless about it. These esteemed people have forgotten that there are countless such people living in Tier 1&2 cities who seem to even have a B.Tech degree or a "MBA" and are unemployed. And noone is thoughtless about it. The protagonists within the first 5 minutes of the movie seem to discuss the problem with an unanimous "Kuchh to karna padega yaar" dialogue. Does that seem thoughtless?
Also dear people, please remember that this movie is not a Black Friday or a Parzania. So it is hopeless to expect that the topic of communal violence will be treated with utmost sincerity and excellence. The movie is a simple one, for the common man and it drives a simple message through its treatment of communal discordance- Religious fanaticism can do NO good. The fact that it drives the youth insane enough to forget all ties of friendship and love and embrace gory violence and commit grave sins is unnerving and true. And that's just the message the story delivers.
The angle of 'romance' is actually the only weak-point in the movie but it certainly counts for a few laughs.
For me, I think I loved the movie. The acting by the three newcomers were top-notch: each living up to the true character- the disgruntled & worshiped Ishaan played by Sushant Singh Rajput, the calculative middle-class personified Govind played by Rajkumar Yadav and the loyal & easily-confused Omi played by Amit Sadh. Manav Kaul as Mamaji is good, since he struck the right balance between a political 'karyakarta' and "it's ganda but dhanda" netaji. (Sorry critics, if you were looking for a cunning 'Mamaji', I'd rather you go watch Gufi Paintal immortalize that through his epic portrayal of the evil Shakuni in Mahabharata.)
Amit Trivedi's music is pleasant and non over-powering.
Lastly, the ending that seems oh-so-dramatic with the gifted 'Ali' playing for India and doing that off-side magic is endearing. Well, trust me, a country that has seen so many riots/ earthquakes/ droughts and all sorts of terrorism and natural calamities CAN live with a bit of hope and a smile and a tear. Fuck the reality, I want my share of fantasy and I shall have it goddamit! Well done, Abhishek Kapoor.
Kai Po Che!
I guess you will pray that when I sleep tonight, I never wake up and I wont blame you if you thought that way :p
ReplyDeleteFirst, I believe that - Chetan Bhagat - Should stop writing books. 50 years from now, Imagine kids in high school reading " 3 mistakes of my life, or 5 point someone in their classes dedicated to Modern English Literature - I would burn down such schools and kill my kids and bury them under 100 ton of earth if such a day came up. Mr. Bhagat is THE SINGLE MOST DETACHED FROM REALITY AUTHOR that I have ever came across... well anyway, as long as the man makes money, respect to that ...
That said - you wrote and I quote " trust me, a country that has seen so many riots/ earthquakes/ droughts and all sorts of terrorism and natural calamities CAN live with a bit of hope and a smile and a tear. Fuck the reality, I want my share of fantasy and I shall have it goddamit! " ... MY GOD WOMAN , are you kidding me, wait a minute, are you fucking kidding me ... This is exactly like " they keep you doped with Religion and Sex and TV " ... Also it seems like, answer to all problems lies in act of being detached from reality and that too I guess by a million mile or so... For all I know, in the real world, that Kid Ali - would have never survived the Riots and would be never playing for India...
How about - we stop trying to put a fake smile on the face of a nation that is gone all wrong and actually try something real for once ... like let's face it, we are screwed and lets find ways to correct it ... Imagine this, you are at a funeral and you crack jokes to make people smile! It's as good as being Sadistic ...
Also, Like I read somewhere, We Indian are such suckers for Happy Endings ...
No, I certainly won't pray that. Arey, you just expressed your opinions. Nothing wrong in that. Well, you are right about Chetan Bhagat. In fact, I just wrote a wall post today where I said he should STOP writing books and write screenplays instead. I absolutely hate his writing. As for that matter, I am very choosy when it comes to picking up Authors I like to read. Infact, one of the biggest mistake of MY life was reading that call center bullcrap. Never touched his book after that. At the same time, I really liked the movie and that is because of some brilliant acting. Now the second part which is about the quote- the fact that I acknowledge what is "reality" and "fantasy" I hope makes you understand that I know what that kid Ali's situation would be in real life. And no, am not running a million mile away from it. But it's true that there are cricketers who come from a humble background, are gifted, and make it big. So maybe, I'd excuse that part. That's what I meant. Cracking a joke at a funeral is not my idea of "reality/fantasy" debate. I appreciated the hard-hitting GOWs of the world with the same panache. Peace!
ReplyDeleteI really liked your take on the movie as well as the movie itself cause I really wasn't expecting a Black Friday or a Parzania. In a Country where movies like Chakravyuh ;) , Aarakshan and Matru Ki Bijli are made, which actually are a farce on some serious issues, I can very well keep my peace with Kai po Che's ending.
ReplyDeleteGOW was class apart, so it would be foolish to even compare or imagine to pull that movie to Kai Po che's level.
I also believe Chetan Bhagat is better off writing movie scripts because it hurts me to see his Novel's as BESTSELLERS (OMG!! the youth actually reads stuffs detached from reality or even sense)
And Alex, I truly appreciate your opinion but your example of "cracking a joke in funeral" to substantiate "reality/fantasy dicotomy" was absurd for me. I won't go to a birthday and be sad that my friend is stepping forward towards his grave (reality isn't it?)