Movie Review: Kaminey
Film Critic: Goher Iqbal Punn
Producer: UTV Motion Pictures
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Amole Gupte
Music: Vishal Bhardwaj

Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminey is out now. The song of the movie, ‘Dhan Te Nan’ is the one that has made the people wait for the release. It has already become a star. Besides the song, Shahid Kapoor’s avatars and Vishal Bharwaj’s direction, music and writing are what coerce the viewers to go and watch it. Vishal is a credible name in the industry. His movies are always different from the routine Bollywood flicks. Their subjects are unique, dialogues are what pull the crowds, lingo used in the film is loved by all and people carry it back home. Vishal’s music people love to hum it around.

The film is bold, funny, stark and unpredictable. The movie works big time due to Shahid Kapoor’s acting (he has shown his true class in this movie) and the number, ‘Dhan Te Nan’ (every time when it plays in the background, your heart starts beating faster and your feet begin tapping). Shahid Kapoor’s double role entices the masses. Cinegoers have seen him doing serious roles previously also but the acting he displayed in Kaminey is what everybody praises hugely for.

The song, ‘Dhan Te Nan’ is like a superstar now. Every music lover is found humming it around and it is being played in every party, functions and cars. Gulzar (lyricist), Vishal (composer) and Sukhwinder and Vishal Dadlani (singers) deserve huge applause for making it a big hit.

You have to be very attentive to watch it and then grasp the goings-on. There are twists in the film, so stay with the movie with opened eyes. It’s really a hatke film, which you will never like to leave it.

The movie talks about a pair of twin brothers – Charlie and Guddu (played by Shahid Kapoor). Charlie lisps and Guddu stammers. Both are as different as chalk and cheese. And they can’t stand the sight of each other. Till one fateful rainy night, their lives cross. Guddu comes to know that his love Sweety (Priyanka Chopra) has unsuspectingly put a price on his head whereas Charlie gets involved in a deathly get-rich-quick scheme. Both the brothers now land into the world that is swaddled with drugs, guns and money. They bump into gangsters, rebel soldiers, scoundrel politicians and crooked cops. Thus they now have to run in order to protect themselves, their love and dreams. Amidst all, they realize that what they have is only each other.

Frankly, Vishal’s Kaminey is the movie that never lets you clutch it instantly. It takes time to enter the world of Bhardwaj. The characters, relationships, setting, tone and the language – all want you to take time to soak up the things. But within twenty to thirty minutes, things start falling on you and you are dragged into the world utterly.

When the interval approaches, the goings-on take a dramatic turn. After the interval to the climax, Vishal unzip the sequences, which simply get your eyes fixed on the screen. The movie falter a bit also like the end is long drawn and it appears violent, which will not be acceptable to the masses.

Vishal Bhardwaj has once again shown that he is a master storyteller and a creative filmmaker. Churning out a film like ‘Kaminey’ is a very difficult work to do. But Vishal Bhardwaj has executed it on screen with such brilliance that everyone starts praising while being with it. There are moments when the people clap. Dialogues written by Vishal himself are praiseworthy. Screenplay is a creative piece of work and for this, Vishal again deserves huge hands. Background score is a class. Cinematography by Tassaduq Hussain is splendid. Vishal Bhardwaj’s music is truly hummable. ‘Dhan Te Nan’ and ‘Pehli Bar Mohabbat’ are the picks of the lot.

Shahid Kapoor displays his histrionics. He very wonderfully does the double role. This film may lead him to touch the superstardom. Priyanka Chopra is marvelous. She has been on high heels since Fashion. And with the release of Kaminey, she might be on the top slot of Bollywood, for which she deserves. Amole Gupte is brilliant.

On the whole, ‘Kaminey’ is a brilliant film by the brilliant filmmaker. The unique subject, great performances, Dhan Te Nan and Vishal Bhardwaj’s execution will certainly bring the audiences to the halls. It’s a sure-shot blockbuster.

Rating: 4.5/5
Listen to Kaminey Soundtracks Online

- The writer is a popular and experienced Bollywood and Indian TV Analyst. He shares a good rapport with Hindi film industry, Indian television fraternity and the celebs of these swanky worlds. You may contact him at the e-mails: goheriqbal@yahoo.co.uk, goher.punn@yahoo.com and goher.punn@gmail.com