Review of Kai Po Che! (2013) by Prashant C — 27 Feb 2013

When Abhishek Kapoor made Aryan, he was still Jeetendra's nephew, the movie tanked though his directions skills got meagre notice. It was Rock On which was his breakthrough film with a well scripted and wonderfully acted 'Bromance' remembered for Arjun Rampal's National Award winning performance, Farhan Akhtar's acting and singing debut and Hindi film's first Rock music soundtrack. Bromance's anyway has had a way of finding universal acclaim as the past is littered with cult classics like Dil Chahta Hai, Zindagi Na Milega Dobaara and now Kai Po Che.

This adaptation of 'The 3 Mistakes of my life' by Chetan Bhagat, which without controversy credits the source, and for someone who has read the book, this is one of the rarest adaptations, which is better than its source. The Gujarat landscape is captured with lilting beauty and the screenscape is lit up by many acting gems none more than Amit Sadh playing Omi and Sushant Singh playing Ishaan, both talents nurtured on the Idiot box but now ready to light up the Cinemas. The cinematic sensibilities of the Director lend this piece so much appeal and repeat value and the acting is so natural that the two hours get over much before you want it to. The Bhuj earthquake, Godhra riots and India Australia Kolkatta Test match 2001 form an intricate part of the screenplay and the director has stayed away from communal overtones while dealing with the riots. The romance track is underplayed yet cute and the ending is a deviation from the book and I feel it was apt. Amit Trivedi pulls out another gem from his musical bag and that dialogues are very subtle and stays with you long after you have left the theatre. The casting was a masterstroke and the ensemble cast does more than ample justice to the layered screenplay.

The year 2013 has just begun and one of the best films of the year is already out there and no wonder everyone from Yashraj films to Imtiaz Ali is queuing up outside the door of Sushant Singh.