Kadak Singh

Are you a cinephile like me who has, at some point or another, rewritten/reshot/recut a movie in your head right after watching it? If you are, you'd probably do the same after watching "Kadak Singh" too.

Even with an acclaimed director, an award-winning editor and a talented BGM composer working on this film, I fail to comprehend how a story with such potential could go so wrong on screen. We could've had a taut, darkly humorous thriller made up of a plethora of mysterious and intriguing characters (played by great actors) had the narrative and the editing allowed the same.

Disappointing. Frustrating.

The only reason I started watching the movie was because the lead actor is one of the few whose acting I respect.

The movie keeps you grasped till the end (not the Breaking Bad kind, but fairly) although the end was done all of the sudden. It felt like they went short of funds, or realised that its already reached two hours and needed to end :)

Pankaj Tripathi kept his promise and lead the movie decently, the script could definitely have been better. Thankfully it was not the Hero, Heroine, Romance, Villan kind (I usually don't watch the trailers of a movie).

Definitely one time watch, when you have time to kill.

The good:

An intriguing premise and interesting treatment where the narrative cuts between the present and the past.

A superb sound track by Shantanu Moitra.

Good performances. Pankaj Tripathi who can do nothing wrong on screen shines as the central character. Parvathy Thiruvothu sparkles in an understated role as the omnipresent nurse. Jaya Ahsan brings her trademark grace and charm to elevate a relatively small role. Varun Buddhadev does a good job as the errant son.

The not so good:

There are way too many threads to be tied up and the director fails to make a neat job. The film could have done with more pace and sharper edits. Sanjana Sanghi flounders in some key emotive scenes.

As usual amazing performance by Pankaj Tripathi. Jaya and Paresh were great too. Parvathy seemed a bit lost. She needs to do more research on her given character before accepting a role. Overall enjoyed watching this. Rating a solid 7.0.

Also rest of the cast was perfectly chosen for this. What a perfect vibe. The music was also great, with amazing lyrics, and great composition.. somewhat truly quoted "music is emotion" Through this song I hope we all feel it.. wish this song was a little longer .. Taba chake is just a unique gem.

I know this is not a big-budget movie, but utilized the available resources were well met.

Spoiler Alert: The film is based on chit fund scam and Pankaj Tripathi tries to solve it but looses his memory and then tries to recollect it by listening to various stories from everyone's perspective. Story and screenplay both are very weak. Sometimes you would be confused whether you are in present or in the past story of someone. How he solves in end is also not very convincing and abrupt. The scam could have been told in some more detail. Other actors have good role like Sanjana and Bengali actress but overall movie revolves around and is borne by AK Srivastava. Just a time pass watch nothing so great about this movie.