Review of Kaminey (2009) by George C — 22 Nov 2010

What happens when one fine day Vishal Bhardwaj decides to write a script that is not a Shakespearean masterpiece but a cue from our Bollywood yore about identical twin brothers And he ropes in Shahid Kapoor (surprisingly) and Priyanka Chopra as his leads with a script writer to accompany them along with some 'real' actors for support (which strangely are known to directors of Vishal Bhardwaj's league only), has Gulzar saab again for his lyrics spiced up with his music. Gets a fine cameraman to handle the shots. and finally executes the whole movie himself as the director. You get KAMINEY.

... Watching the trailers and tidbits you get from newspapers and entertainment sites, you get to know that there is one more movie coming with the not-so-new twin brother concept. "What could you possibly do more with such a stale story line?" you think. But you know it's Vishal Bhardwaj at the helm, so it has to be different. And different it is. But it does not turn out to be an easy movie at the beginning and not the regular candyfloss, lock-your-brains-at home flick. You are made to THINK, 'what is it leading to?" But fortunately, as the movie moves forward, you find all the pieces fitting the puzzle. Yes, it has a 'judwa bhai'(twin brother) and a love story, of course there are songs (hello! it's an Indian movie). But it's 'hatke' (different). You are automatically made to think and anticipate about, how the characters are going to untangle themselves out of the mess they have got into. You entirely forget the maturity Shahid's onscreen presence lacks. He has pulled off two totally different characters with such an ease that you are surprised. He has reinvented himself and this is his best role till date.Priyanka is not behind, you will be forced to re confirm that Priyanka is a punjabi and not a Marathi. And how the hell did Vishal know that Amol Gupte could act? The last time I checked, he had written a touching story of a Dyslexic boy, which he was directing before Amir Khan took the reins from him. How do these fine directors manage to find such good actors to enact even the smallest of role. You would hardly find any over-acting, even from the guys acting as bodyguards and police constables. Everything is just how much is required. The songs do not seem forced and irrelevant. The explosive DHAN TE NAAN or the song introducing our stammering Shahid or where Priyanka is ecstatic about her wedding or the one at climax. Every part of the lyrics is tailor made for KAMINEY story. The credit goes to our good old Gulzar Saab. I think Vishal and Gulzar saab sit together to write the script and the songs or otherwise how would he manage to use most apt lyrics for each song. Listen to the songs attentively and you will realise.

The way story moves, the flashbacks, the fight scenes, the nervous confrontations, you get nervous as the character does, swearing, as it goes on in the movie. The script takes you along, giving you the thrill you always expect from a movie (not the Sherlock Holmes thrill but the everyday anticipation in a troubled 'ab kya hoga'(What's next) situations. You want to yell and warn each character at every trouble you foresee for him/her. It tailors the political, social and criminal realities into the story in such a fine way, that you actually re-realise how it is in our society.

It is a 'masala' movie, out an out 'masala' movie, where it does not make an attempt to expose the underworld-cop nexus or the 'garibi'(poverty) of our slums or the stammering problems that force people to loose their self esteem and confidence but yet, does that. It shows it in a manner which is similar to the way we realise it in our lives, going about our work, home etc etc. It portrays each and every agony of the characters in such a subtle way that you tend to empathise. You hate Priyanka Chopra for lying then love her again for loving Shahid, you cry with the 'lifping Fhahid Kapoor when hif friend dief' and surprised at that character because he is the crooked one. By the time Kaminey is about to end you are almost at the edge of your seat. AT the climax, you might feel a little disappointed because it tends to be a little too much. But that can be forgiven for the rest of it.

It takes only a genius of a director like Vishal to run two seemingly parallel stories and then intersect it at just the right moment. At one point you start wishing that this doesn't end like usual Vishal Bhardwaj movie. And.......... ...... it's different. A dark, humorous, adventurous tale with a climax powered by heavy music like the ones you have in theatrical drams. worth a watch.