Kai Po Che Movie Review

Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Raj Kumar Yadav, Amit Sadh

Direction: Abhishek Kapoor

Rating:    

We are looking at New Bollywood, evolving exactly as it should. Stirringly topical, solid in the comment it leaves, and yet never losing focus on the classic entertainment formula that has forever driven our commercial cinema. What's more, it sets the stage for three new exciting talents in the bargain too.

That in a nutshell defines Abhishek Kapoor's new film. Kai Po Che adaptsThe 3 Mistakes Of My Life, bestseller author Chetan Bhagat's pop ditty mixing cricket rage with a few quickfix notes on the politics of religion, confusion of youth and questions about coming of age.

The film by and large stays close to what Bhagat wrote, obviously because the author himself contributes to the screenplay with Abhishek and his co-writers (Pubali Chaudhari and Supratik Sen). Like the book, the film's story unfolds in Ahmedabad 2002, the backdrop of the infamous Gujarat riots.

Debutants Sushant Singh Rajput and Amit Sadh along with Rajkumar Yadav play the protagonists. They are three friends soaked in the spirit of India Shining at the turn of the millennium. They want to make a mark in life and set up a business. It is Govind's (Rajkumar) brainwave to be self-reliant rather than go job hunting. In India, where cricket is religion, his friend Ishaan (Sushant) suggests they open a cricket academy to produce the sporting stars of tomorrow. Omi (Amit Sadh) is happy to tag along.

The conflict point Bhagat's novel thrived on has been duly amped to create maximum melodrama in the script. It primarily comes with Omi's Bittu mama (Manav Kaul), a religious fanatic who confuses the guy with his anti-minority rants and who cannot tolerate the agnostic Govind. The situation worsens for the trio with riots breaking out all over Gujarat even as Ishaan is adamant on promoting Ali, the most talented boy in their academy.

Abhishek Kapoor, who revealed a grip on the buddy bonding theme with his last film Rock On!, gets smooth chemistry going for his three leads. Sushant, Amit and Rajkumar react with newcomers' zest to well-written roles. All three actors leave an indelible mark. In contrast, Amrita Puri as Vidya, Ishaan's sister and Govind's love, gets limited scope. Manav Kaul as Bittu mama breathes fire as the extremist antagonist of the film.

Kai Po Che uses its runtime well, regaling with a simple story of dreams even as it touches the complexity of modern India's most shameful socio-political chapter. The film is among Bollywood's best so far this year.