Kaminey movie review

Cast: Shahid Kapur, Priyanka Chopra, Amole Gupte, Chandal Roy Sanyal, Tenzing Nima

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj

Music & background score: Vishal Bhardwaj

Many a time we blame directors for attempting to get too many things into one story. Not many can carry a big plot into a final, powerful end, thus leaving the film with no impact. Vishal Bhardwaj clearly knows better. He worked out a script which justifies most, if not all, characters that he introduces into the story. And that’s where ‘Kaminey’ stands tall.
 
‘Kaminey’ is a story of two brothers – Charlie and Guddu. The two are extremely different in their quests in life. While Guddu is trying to move towards professional and financial success through the longer route, Charlie believes only in shortcuts. But then, as his character unveils slowly to reveal a softer side to him, it is shown he is not all that greedy for money. All he wants is to start his own booking company rather than working for someone else – and for that he asks for Rs 10 lakh despite stumbling upon drugs amounting to over Rs 10 crore.
 
As the director narrates the story of a few days in the lives of these two brothers he knits into it dark tales of an underbelly of regionalism, politics, the police and underworld nexus. There is an angry Bhope (Amole) who is after his sister Sweety’s (Priyanka) boyfriend Guddu as he is not a Maharashtrian. Then there is Tashi (Tenzin Nima) who is a drug lord rich enough to keep policemen on the rolls. What ensues is a gripping tale of romance, sibling rivalry and revelry, and loads of money.
 
The film is written well with some strong emotional scenes, be it between lovers Sweety and Guddu, brothers Guddu and Charlie, or Charlie and Mikhail (Chandan Roy). And these happen as the action and the guns roll, not slowing the story for a bit. The movie however turns out to be quite long, especially the first half. The pace in the second half shifts gears really well. But the end gets too Bollywood-ish and conventional, taking away from ‘Kaminey’ the uniqueness that it promised. The characters have strong dialogues, which you might take out with you once the film is over. There is also a great deal of detailing used - right from ‘not so decent’ things written on the door of a common bathroom in a chawl to Charlie’s stubble. While Guddu is clean shaved, Charlie clearly has a two-day stubble in the same scene.
 
The performances are something that would be remembered for long. Amole Gupte’s screen presence, Tenzing Nima’s style, Chandal Roy Sanyal’s vibrancy make the screen come alive. Shahid Kapur is marvellous. But you can repeatedly see Shah Rukh’s style as he plays the good boy Guddu. But the one who easily takes away the spotlight, in whichever scene she is present is Priyanka Chopra. She is brilliant as a Marathi girl even as she goes de-glam for this role.
 
‘Kaminey’ has been edited well. It has been shot smartly but the number of shakes in every scene almost leaves you dizzy. Especially the visualization of ‘Dhan tan nan’ looks far more pleasant on a TV. It is not half as pleasant on the big screen with colours and sharp cuts hitting your eyes. Vishal Bhardwaj does a great job with the music as well, be it the chart busting ‘Dhan tan nan’ or using the 70s RD Burman hit ‘Duniya mein logon ko’.
 
Vishal’s ‘Kaminey’ clearly looks on the lines of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and some Guy Ritchie movies when it comes to treatment and humour. It not only entertains you but delights you as a well-made product. However, it might come as a shocker to many who might pour in to the theatres to watch something more ‘masala’ type like the usual Shahid Kapur - Priyanka Chorpa movies and of course because of the extremely popular songs. That would not demean Vishal’s work in anyway though. All's well that ends well. Vishal Bhardwaj, please take a bow. This product is going to garner more claps for you!