Love, Friendship, Trust and Betrayal
How many films have we seen with this theme in the past? May be many. But this film ’’Kal - yesterday and tomorrow’’ actually dares to be different.
Right from the title sequence which flows on a computer screen in form of drop-down menus to the way the film flows, ’Kal’ is an experience.
’Kal’ moves with Bhavna (Chitrangada) but is in Rohan’s (Ram Kapoor) narration. You live the pain that Bhavna must have gone through and you also struggle with her when she tries to decipher the events happening around her. Her relationship with her other friends (Mallika Shenoy and Murad Ali) or her father (Boman Irani) or her love (Shiny Ahuja) or best friend Maya (Smriti Mishra), all come out beautifully.
The film is not a suspense film. There is a murder/suicide/accident and the secret has to unfold. But the treatment not only unfolds the secret but also the layers of human psyche.
Performance wise, Chitrangada stands out. Boman Irani is loveable. He never ceases to surprise you with his work. Ram kapoor is an actor to watch out. Shiny gets to display his acting only in the last scene. Mallika Shenoy and Murad Ali are good. Smriti Mishra disappoints but its not her fault. She just didn’t suit the role.
Full marks to Ruchi Narayan for making such an impactful debut.
Songs are unconventional but fun.
My favourite is:
Dil ye diwana dekho ik na maanaa yaaron talli ho gaya.
Yaari Nasha hai, Yaari Suroor, Poori botal pee gaya
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Jisse fikr ho jannat ki, matlabi dozakh mein gaya...
Lets all celebrate the dawn of good cinema, away from the candy-floss world or salaams and namastes...
Happy Viewing!
PS: Sorry friends. Forgot to mention about Sarika. Well what should I say? She had to look beautiful in a role where the age of the character was not obvious and not mentioned. This should not be counted as her ’’comeback’’ film. Lets wait for her film with Naseeruddin Shah.