AB in furry handcuffs - no, really
The sad thing about K-Jo’s new film is that it really does attempt a somewhat different take on the mainstream Bollywood version of marriage and relationships - but this potentially interesting story is hidden deep beneath raging torrents of tears. There’s not only adultery, but also divorce, even death - and then, after more tears, there’s a ‘happy ending’… And in yet another role that would have been hideous in the hands of anyone else (such as, shudder, Anupam Kher) AB plays a slightly crazy, mildly creepy old philanderer.
But the film can’t resist pouring bucketloads of treacle over the whole affair. And then it adds a bunch of openly sexist comments, a few vaguely racist and homophobic remarks, and some really alarming treatment of a child. And then it sets the whole thing on the vile swamp of Femly Values.
Grrrr.
Update: Now that I’m in a (gasp) slightly less disturbed state, I have to mention two uber-cool special appearances - Kajol and John Abraham. Also two nice song and dance arrangements - Rock and Roll Soniye and Where’s the Party Tonight?
Though Mitvaaaaaa was unbearably soulful.
you cynic, it’s all about loving your box office…
Comment by Charu — August 12, 2006 @ 3:31 am
To many Indians, K-Jo is their Douglas Sirk.
Somebody shoot me.
(but really, could he be India’s Douglas Sirk? The question haunts me day and night.)
Comment by km — August 12, 2006 @ 3:20 pm
From the blog reviews, it seems to me that everybody who has seen the movie doesn’t like it. But still everybody is seeing it. So in the end KJo sells big time. I have not seen this one but have seen the movie it is based on (Closer) but didn’t think too much of that either.
Comment by Nithya — August 12, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
From the reviews it looks like KANK is influenced not so much by Closer or Brief Encounter but by that old de Niro-Streep weepie, Falling in Love.
Comment by Ramya — August 14, 2006 @ 4:01 am