Snip-in
This was touted to be the most awaited Bollywood movie of 2010, and why not, after all it’s the first big main-stream release for Hrithik after ‘Jodha Akbar’ in ‘08 (Luck by Chance (’09) was more of a new-age cinema than a Bollywood Block Buster). The Roshan’s (being producers;)) have already done all the ‘pepper’work ;), by creating more than enough anxiety in the audience through off-screen/real-life stories of Hrithik-Barabara (Make-Up); and Hrithik-Susaane (Break-up). And I’d say they are largely succeeded in pulling the people (at least some demographics) to the screen. Well at least for some of us, it was the first day some late evening show (out of zillion shows/day) to savor our urge to watch the movie and kill the anxiety J. This is one of those movies where they will have extreme opinions - either people will like it or hate it big time. I liked it a bit, while watching the first time, but when I re-winded it in my mind the second time, I actually felt that it’s definitely more than just a one-time watch.
Well in it’s core, is a conventional Bollywood Love Story with all usual (almost! with a few different ones) twists and turns. But what makes it different/interesting is the outfit – the presentation. Before I talk about the differences, lets quickly get a glimpse of what Kites is all about. Jay (Hrithik) is an Indian American, a small time Salsa dance teacher (or whatever!) who is staying in Las Vegas, living his dull and ordinary life, with the only intention to make it real big - by making quick bucks and is ready to adopt to whatever ways to make it happen. Apart from teaching dance, he is also in the ‘business’ of getting married (read - 11 times!;)) and helping the immigrant ‘Brides’ become US Citizens. En-routes he came across a Mexican girl (very Poor, off-course), Linda/Natasha (Barbara Mori). She marries him in the court just for the sake of becoming an US citizen, pays off the money to him outside the court and walks out of his life. Hrithik for the first time in life, does feel something abnormally intimate about this girl, but couldn’t get a chance to understand / say /express anything when she departs on the same day of their ‘Business Marriage’. Moving on with his obsession of becoming quickly rich, interestingly Jay gets a chance to make apt use of his Dance ‘teaching skills’ and traps daughter - Gina(Kangan Ranaut) of the top Casino honcho Bob (Kabir Bedi), in Las Vegas. He succeeds in getting into the life (well actually the $$$ ;)) of Gina, and gets the blessings of her parents, to be considered as their would be Son-In-Law. But more interestingly, the day he enters into the palatial residence of Gina he comes across Linda/Natasha, but ironically as his sister-in-law (Gina’s brother’s – Tony’s (Nicholas Brown) fiancé). There are almost no surprises in anticipating what happens next, but yes there are some, while seeing ‘how’ it happens - courtesy Anurag Basu!
Let’s talk about how it is different this time – I guess the first and foremost is the storyline which is very Bollywood, yet appealing for the global audience. Hat’s off to Rakesh Roshan and Anurag Basu to think, believe, and take this brave decision – of portraying a story about folks in the US, who incidentally speak Hindi J, but heavily English and Spanish as well throughout the movie. And then obviously the direction, for it’s very Anurag Basu touch. He made sure that the fresh and different treatment he wants to give, is not getting diluted under the huge FilmKraft banner (Credit goes to Rakesh Roshan as well - big time). The next comes the editing by Avik Ali – Nice work as the movie traverses through ‘fast-forward’ and ‘flashback’ mode many times, but without losing its essence. Action/Chases/Stunts are awesome and no less than any Hollywood flick. Locations are very new, add a great ‘touch and feel’ to the story, and the characters. The cinematography is good but the camera work never gets on top of the beauty of the serene locations and somehow it doesn’t get the prominence (visual treat wins over visual tricks). One of the scenes which has a longing impression towards the end, when Jay is firing crazily at Tony and his side-kicks in the foreground of heavy rains. This is again typical Anurag Basu (heavy rains seems to be his favorite and natural - set-ups/back-drops/foregrounds/characters!). Another such scene captivates the mind from sheer camera work perspective, and gives a very subtle treatment to the scene is when Jay sees Natasha at Gina’s residence. The soft lens in a slow-mo, following very cheerful and elegant Natasha, having the blue water and the colorful fishes floating in the fish-tank in the fore-ground to Natasha, is a visual treat. The special Director’s touch is the beginning and the end of the movie - The 2 colorful kites sailing high in the blue sky as if they are made for each other shown at the start, and the voice over for that scene, is very nicely tied to the ending sequence when Jay and Natasha become forever together in a blue, pink and fairy lagoon (sea!).
Songs and music are just ok, barring one song – ‘Tum Bhi Ho Wohi’. This song the way it blends with the story-line, accentuates the situation, and the way it is picturized stands-out big time. It is no less than a video of a Western Pop/Rock album which can chart #1 (Billboard / whatever) for months together. The song takes place amid, ‘romance and chemistry’ between Jay and Natasha, the fast paced car chases and topples, gun-firing, the blasts which take place in the background because of all these, and all this happens in the beautiful surroundings and on the freeways near Las Vegas? (New Mexico/ Southern USA!).
Hrithik is superb, at times I feel he is greater perfectionist than Amir in Bollywood. He exceeds not only in acting (well Amir definitely has an edge over Hrithik in acting) but dance and stunts equally well. His dance sequence at the start of the movie should be one of the best by a Bollywood Lead till date. Barbara is very nice in her first Bollywood attempt and this 22 year old has shown a tremendous confidence while acting (in a very different set-up), and not only while showing her off in bikinis. Only thing which bothers at times is her artificial / very crafted smile for this character. It could have been more natural. Kangana and Kabir Bedi are best fits for the role as well. Kangana has all the potential, however she’d need to abstain from showing the unwarranted psycho expression in every movie - she just can not make that as her USP. Anand Tiwari (Robin) as Jay’s friends does the trick and gives great justice to the character. Nicholas Brown has played the villain in a composed way, provides all the anguish, yet looks smart, rich, spoiled son of a billionaire, and 100% succeeds in making people hate him.
For some of us, I’m sure the movie can become close to our hearts for the ample exposure to Las Vegas. Especially the scenes in front of the Stratosphere and Fremont Street can make oneself nostalgic. The best part was the romantic scene where both Jay and Natasha reveal their love towards each other (Ironically Jay is supposed to be signing on their divorce then), while they were sitting in front of the Bellagio and overlooking it’s majestic and very beautiful fountains. The scene gets to a high, as even though both of them don’t understand each others language, still they beautifully convey the feelings for each other, while the fountains are doing a Salsa in the background.
Snip-out:
Apart from all the good things, it has various flip-sides. The movie is very slow (or lengthy, or both! L), even though it has a lot of action sequences. Also even if the editing is good, for some of the audiences, getting a grip on the present, future and past would be difficult as the movie gyrates through the time-machine very rapidly. The most important factor is songs and music (being Bollywood and Roshan’s), and it doesn’t do anything good on this front. Not a single song is good enough (from Bollywood chartbuster perspective) to make impressions in terms of visuals, words, music – very sad.
One of the scenes when Jay, Natasha and Robin are at the passport agent’s office in Mexico, Jay says something in Hindi/English, and Natasha translates that in Spanish for the local passport agent. Knowing she doesn’t know Hindi / English that’s really very funny.
Snip-O-Meter
I’m yet to come across a movie of a frontrunner Bollywood banner, which is entirely shot in the US, with no reference to ‘Des’ OR ‘Pardes’ J. Everyone in the movie is purely Desi, for them the ‘Des’ is the US and everyone worships $$$ ;). Rakesh Roshan has done a valiant task of keeping the ‘Pardesi’ aspect completely at bay! Also another welcome surprise being a Roshan’s film is not having any traditional emotional scenes, in fact there is no ‘Maa’ in the movie (barring just one subtle mention of it by Jay). For yet another Bollywood hero Hrithik has done a stunning job - who can do anything from flaunting the ripped 6 pack abs(Endorsing Calvin Klien in one of the ‘ripped’ scenes must have fetched him 5-7% of his movie salary;)), doing unbelievable stunts, portraying a perfect character, dancing skills close to Michael Jackson(No, not really L. The break dance is nice, but MJ? no way!) / Prabhu Deva. But still he has an edge over the others for his perfectionist attitude and would take over Amir Khan’s place in the industry (from this standpoint) sometime soon J. This movie may not be liked across the demography, however Roshan’s should fetch a lot of money from abroad, and multiplex in India, however they may lose upon the Indian rural and sub-urban markets in North /Eastern/Central India. (And again Rodhan’s must have made bucks showcasing ‘The Plaza’, Cadillacs, Fords, Mercs, Bentleys et al). Well, the ‘Kites’ looks to be a one-time watch, but can be watched more times, if we are able to appreciate various aspects of the movie in our minds, for being a) just movie freaks and / or b) being practical as we are /may be fed up of watching typical ‘Laila-Majnu’/’Romantic Comedy’ style of Bollywood movies. To sum it up in one-liner, it’s a story of a guy and a girl, and how love converts them from being ‘money-minded’ (any-minded!) individualists, to a duo who believes just in being together beyond eternity.
