-
Kaalakaandi
Critic reviews and ratings
-
One can always fault the film for minor flaws here and there. But one cannot deny that Kaalakaandi remains a thoroughly entertaining creation.
-
Is it as good as Delhi Belly? As a script? Possibly. As a film, I felt it lacks rhythm, with too much being force-fed to suit the timeline of one never-ending night in Bombay, even if that's the genre. The end might make you go, 'Eh?' But through it all, you're more likely to go, 'Hah!' So nah, I'm not complaining at all.
-
But the psychedelic, anything-goes vibe is hard to sustain and energy levels take a definite dip in the second half. I felt like Akshat has bunged in twists so he can wrap up the narrative strands.
-
...doesn't always provide it, but there's enough intrigue to play along.
-
If you can watch a film just for performances, this one is it. Otherwise, it is two ordinary stories that go well enough with a madcap one. The quirky situations and lines bring a few smiles.
-
...may not be for all palates, but the film has enough spice for those in the mood for an off-the-beaten-track Bollywood experience.
-
...is a cocky cocktail and a messy affair. If contemporary gritty tales are your cup of tea then this one is a delightful watch but don’t expect a twisted plot!
-
It’s the performances and not the screenplay that keeps our interest alive in the film.
-
...it is technically inconsistent and the narrative doesn’t quite pull together. You are waiting for the loose plots to come together as the film nears its end, but that does not happen quite to satisfaction. You are left with some doubts, a lack of closure, like there’s maybe something that slipped between the writing and the final edit.
-
Even as you continue to watch the film patiently, beyond a point, it's nothing to write home about. You eventually sum up your thoughts on the film by borrowing the film's expletive-laden dialogue —, 'experimental ke naam pe chu*****'?
-
Kalaakaandi is a Marathi term for ‘mayhem’, but there’s not enough of it, resulting in the film being more a no-stakes stroll, rather than a breathless roller-coaster.
-
If you love Saif Ali Khan than anything else and have the patience to experience the occasional fun in the entire lunacy that runs for one hour and fifty two minutes then go ahead.
-
...if you like your cinema experimental and edgy, give this one a try.
-
...Mumbai can be like after dark – unpredictable, dangerous, exciting and strangely fulfilling. Anything can happen, but unfortunately little does in Kaalakaandi.
-
Every other actor -- be it Shobhita, Neil Bhoopalam or Amyra -- falls victim to an ill-thought, half-baked screenplay. Kaalakaandi, nonetheless, has its moments and Saif Ali Khan’s uninhibited performance tops the list.
-
Delhi Belly writer Akshat Verma is brave to embark on this celluloid experiment which has a few well-imagined sequences. If only he would have invested more in storytelling and character development, this could have been a memorable watch.
-
Director Akshat Verma neither gives the film any freshness and novelty, nor any depth and deliberation. Even the supposed black humour isn’t pert enough to tickle consistently.
-
The humor is hysterical but never consistent. And sadly there’s not a lot more to it.
-
The film is funny in specific contexts, but, overall, the interlinked stories pass no real comment on the quality of life in this heterogenous metropolis. The movie drifts along nicely, until you get a little tired, and wish that it all leads to a quick and rousing conclusion.
-
...has a promising first half but goes completely downhill.
-
Only the person who did the special effects earns his salary. The rest is self-indulgent silliness.
-
It is hard to believe that a film directed by the writer of Delhi Belly is, for the most part, a drag. Despite Saif Ali Khan being in cracking form, Kaalakaandi lacks fizz and purpose.
-
...made me wonder if Delhi Belly might be another instance of the famed “Aamir Khan touch,” where people who make good-to-great films under his aegis end up bombing outside.
Best and worst reviewed movies (Min. 5 reviews)
Best
-
Worst
-
Best
-
Worst
-
Best
-
Worst
-
Best
-
Worst
-
Best
-
Worst
-
Best