New Delhi:
Karan Johar had once owned the saying - it’s all about loving your parents. With Kapoor and Sons we see a different side where it’s all about a dysfunctional family that fights upon every single thing yet manages to stick together.
The film comes with a badge of Dharma Productions and it is completely dipped in a niche that represents soulful creations by Karan Johar.
The film revolves around five Kapoors, who have their own set of problems to carve out a plot which belongs to a genre that is rarely seen in Bollywood. Dil Dhadakne Do was one movie which had tried its hand on such genre.
Kapoor and Sons is a drama which comes as a blast of emotions and quirky takes, but in a manner that keeps pace moving in a slow, steady and engaging. The film can be a perfect example of great storytelling.
Despite of the fact that this is Shakun Batra’s second movie as director, he has successfully managed to create a drama which provides equal amount of space to all its characters and still manages to stay far away from being messy.
Few days before he celebrates his 90th birthday, Kapoor patriarch (Rishi Kapoor), who spends all his waking hours in finding a way he can die best, suffers a heart attack.
His grandsons, successful novelist Rahul (Fawad Khan) and the underachieving Arjun (Siddharth Malhotra), return to their home in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, from London and New Jersey respectively.
The plot gets interesting when they share a relationship of love amid unravelling differences between the siblings and also their parents (Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak) as they clutter under one roof.
Tia (Alia Bhatt), a cool funky girl from Mumbai on a quest to sell her old bungalow in town, finds place in heart of both the brothers and trigger more heartburns.
Shakun Batra’s treatment to the plot is just impeccable in juggling audiences to different rhythms, one which defines Ratna Pathak-Rajat Kapoor chemistry, and other which revolves around Alia Bhatt-Fawad Khan and Sidharth Malhotra.
Rishi Kapoor’s element of being naughty is a treat to watch for. Be it his hospital sequence where his love for adult movies is explored or his attempts to find a perfect way to die, the result is same - smile and praise for his acting.
Amid cast which has talents like Ratna Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra; the man who shines is Fawad Khan. Yes, girls can go gaga over him once again.
Sidharth Malhotra faces the same troubles he had once faced in movie ‘Brothers’ opposite Akshay Kumar. There is no flaw in his acting skills but the blame for his low portrayal goes to his characters which stands a bit low compared to others.
Alia Bhatt has also not been utilised well in the movie, she has been more used as an eye candy to bring more audiences to the theatres.
Another great thing about the film is its musical notes both in terms of songs and also the background scores. Songs comes with a mix of all genres – Party pooper (Ladki Beautiful Kar Gayi Chull), Romantic saga (Bolna), mood changer (Buddhu Sa Mann).
Final Verdict: Kapoor and Sons is one of the rare kind of Bollywood movies which talks about love, emotion and tears but still manages to stay calm and soothing.
