KANK is a movie about relationships which didn’t make sense to most of the viewers. With over 270 reviews already condemning thismovie, I was not too inclined to publish this review. But since I believe atleast a few would accept my way of view of it, I have finally posted this review.
Idea & Implementation
I had followed the several explanations and justificationsof this movies director against the numerous flaws attributed against thismovie. Then, I watched the movie. Hence, I could clearly see the intendeddirection and deviation. I read a forwarded mail that introduced the charactersin the movie (in KJ’s words). (Read https://indiafm.com/movies/preview/12514/index.html)
Surprisingly, the enactment of the characters, suited word to word. Every actor seemed to have made an honest attempt to bring theintricacies of their role to life. For the first item in my life, I found someAbhishek Bachan’s performance decent. Amitabh was phenomenal in the seriousscenes; but, otherwise I thought he looked too old to play the role of ‘SexySam’. Preity was fairly good. Rani was good.
But, it was SRK, who had taken up too much responsibility, a near impossible tasks in his attempt to do a different role. He had to portray a defeated cynical man, with a sharp tongue and nasty sense of humor. But the portrayal should have a tinge of vulnerability and occasional guilt thrown in. Sure, he had done it very well; in his own unique style, (yes, the shamelessly over-the-top and blatantly raw style) at the cost of being thoroughly hated yet again. :(
Scene & Effect
Without going to the story , I have listed a few scenes thatstood out.
The confrontation scene between the couples: Dialogues and enactment were done with maturity. Maya and Devget to hear exactly what they do not and cannot bear to hear- the bitter truthabout their respective failures as wife and husband respectively. Both are deeply hurt. But, in stead ofrepairing their justifiable flaws they take resort in an immoral extra maritalaffair, which later shatters their respective marriages. This is what isperceived. But there is another hidden aspect in the scene. Rishi and Rhea failto accept the imperfections of their spouses. Both are shown as successful, happy people who do not try even once, to show sympathy to their resentful, grumpy spouses. In fact, Rishi is too insensitive and Maya is too much careeroriented to be even aware of the emotional needs of their wife and husband. Allthey do is to rub salt on an already existing wound.
The scene in the road when Maya and Rhea unknowingly walk parallel to each other; was pretty neatlydone. The scene introduces the first pang of guilt between the cross lovers. Dev’sbunch of roses for Maya, are happily taken by his wife. All he is able to give Mayais a single rose. On seeing the same single rose, Maya’s husband mistakes it tobe a symbol of her apology. Things get better at home. These sudden turn ofevents, provide Dev and Maya an opportunity to re-think the whole situation.
The scene during the ballad, where the Dev and Maya try to make each other jealous; appeared silly as it had to be. But, it establishes a new twist that in spite of a comparativelyhappy situation at home, the scandalous affair between the cross couple continues.
The scene in Rhea’s house when Maya and Sam invite Rhea and family to a party while Dev watchesin the back ground was good too. Its hints at Sam being able to see just alittle more than what is visible. He notices the perpetual resentment in Dev’srigid, unkind face. While, Maya for the first time, gets to see Dev as she hasnever did before; she sees Dev as a father of a little boy and a husband ofanother other woman.
But the best was the sceneset around the dinner table: Dev’s expression when Sam declares his plansof marrying Dev’s mother. He snorts as Sam laughs at him the next second. Dev’sgrowing irritation is understood by Sam alone, who advises him relax a bit andimprove his sense of humor. Dev’s badly timed confession turned joked about his lovefor Maya. Sam with - a finger on his lips and skeptical look on his face is notconvinced. The taut tension in the air caused by the secret, platonicrelationships between the cross couples is expressed beautifully. Again, Samsees more than the obvious.
The confessions scenes- Rishi’s screams not being able to comprehend his wife’s ultimate deception.He disregards compassion and reason and throws her out of the house. Maya istorn between lack of answers, shame, fear and pathetic state of helplessness. Rhea’shard slap (some one clapped mouthed a ‘Wah’) and Dev’s guilt-ridden, submissiveyet stiff silence
Irrelevance to Indian Society
The whole logic of finding the love of your life and thenmarrying the same person is still irrelevant to Indian society. Most Indians followthe practical rule which states to marry first and then try your best to fallin love with the spouse (if lucky) or continue living together with concealeddisillusionment.
Here in India, its not true love but astrology that decides the possibility of a marriagehappening. Yet, the divorce rates are still low. Excluding, the ‘socialinjustice’ related divorce cases and a few exceptional cases, the societyincluding the family courts, propagates against divorces.
To top it all, the trouble ridden, tough middleclass lifecannot accommodate the silly grief of flawed people, who are not being able tofind compatibility and emotional connection with perfectly loyal spouses, as aserious problem. Hence, the movie is rather like an English movie made inIndian language. It doesn’t address any Indian problems.
Blend of immiscible elements
While watching KANK I felt the same way as I felt whilewatching “Gangster”. Both these movies have two immiscible elements, forciblyput together and presented in the name of ‘Romance’. If Gangster was ‘Mills n Boons’ meeting ‘James HandleyChase’, KANK had the romantic flavor of love bundled between bitterness, sarcasm and depression.
“Chiffon dreams of love have been thrown intoa washing machine, spun around in the roughness of real life, and then, beenhung out to dry” link) – NDTVHost Barkha Dutt had explained the same beautifully in her review of the movie.(Link) But, the blend was fine and it has to be appreciated. Asexplained in the review on Hindu “The film is sympathetic to those who break traditional taboos but it also suggeststhat they will not be left with very much to hope for.”(link)
Overall
Most importantly, I wasn’t too bored or too irritated whilewatching the movie. In fact, I came out of the theatre with a single songplaying in my mind ‘Tumhi Dekha Naa’ which had the usual KJ’s “collective day dream like” picturisation. But, oddly, I wasn’t sure and I am still not sure whether I actually liked the movie or not. KANK surely left with mixed feelings.