Kai Po Che

In last one decade or so, there have been multiple films based on Boys’ friendship and almost all of them have been good and successful. Abhishek Kapoor’s last film (Rock On) was also based on a group of four friends in pursuit of excellence in music; a simple story told excellently. This time he picks up yet another story about friends based on Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller third book; “The three mistakes of my life”. Books are always difficult to transcend on silver screen and when it is not the author’s best book, the risk is even more but Abhishek Kapoor manages to do that and so very beautifully!

Set in Gujarat, it’s a story of three friends; Ishaan who is passionate about cricket, Govind who wants to become a big businessman and Omi whose roots fascinate him towards politics. They set up a small sports equipments shop together and start doing well. In the meanwhile, Ishaan finds Ali, a child prodigy in Cricket and whom he aspires to coach into an international player but the destiny has other plans for all of them. The circumstances change and the friends find themselves in the dirty world of religion and politics where they will have different motives in life. Will the friendship prevail in the tough times?

It’s a story which has multiple layers and complexities but the director tells it with an amazing ease and sensibility. It’s an outstanding film that evokes all the emotions without ever being overboard anywhere. The bonding of three friends, their carefree and innocent joyous moments, their struggle to get going in business, their losses during earthquake in 2001, the unimaginable victory in the famous Kolkata test match between India and Australia, and the most unfortunate and sad incidents of riots in 2002 and a sweet and subtle romance between Govind and Ishaan’s sister in between….each and every stage during the journey of their lives is narrated absolutely brilliantly. In a running time of just over 2 hours, the screenplay takes you through so much keeping you beautifully engaged in their world throughout.

But the biggest reason that makes this film work big time is its three lead actors, Rajkumar Yadav, Amit Sadh and the debutant Sushant Singh Rajput. Each one of them delivers an absolute superlative performance; they live their characters. Sushant Singh already has few other big films and looking at this one, he seems all set for superstardom in the coming months. The music of the film is a treat to the ears too, Shubh Aarambh sets the tone, Meethi Boli is nicely choreographed and Maanja is soulful.

In terms of flaws I found only one; that the story has very limited appeal due to its content and the audience looking for escapist commercial masala entertainment will not find it much to their liking.

Continuing the trend started in last couple of years; Abhishek Kapoor too proves that you don’t need brainless comedy, vulgarity or item numbers to make a good film. A new and sensitive story told with its heart and intentions in the right place is more impactful. Cinema Analyst's Take: Very good.Kai Po Che means a call of triumph; the film does just that.