Director: Shakun Batra
Cast: Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, Sidharth Malhotra, Ratna Pathak Shah, Rajat Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor
Remember the time when every Dharma Productions film used to be a weekend watch? Then life happened and we started to go for realistic and gritty films. We never really found a middle ground between the two all these years. But with the release of 'Kapoor and Sons', the long-awaited middle ground between the realities of life and the dreamy 'Karan Johar' touch seems to be back.
'Kapoor and Sons' is a story of a dysfunctional family where everybody is fighting their own battles with a smile on their face. The glue of this broken family is the 90-year old, full of life, grandfather who believes in the power of internet and face masks. While the father and mother are busy untangling the strings of their marriage, family's eldest son Rahul Kapoor is burdened with the 'perfect son tag' and younger sibling Arjun Kapoor has made peace with being the 'runner up'. This created world of perfection and insecurities comes crashing down in a family get together, unleashing the monster emotion hidden inside every member.
Rishi Kapoor as the 90- year-old grandfather is as adorable as a panda. He's the 'dadu' every youngster wants. He fantasizes Mandakini from 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili', loves to take selfies, creates 'bloody' games with his grand children and smokes! Ratna Pathak Shah as the wife and mother owns her character. She seeks the best for her children and keeps family as her priority. As an unfaithful husband burdened by the financial crisis, Rajat Kpaoor supports Shah's character perfectly. The arguments that the two actors have throughout first half will remind you of your own parents- they make it look that real. Sidharth Malhotra as younger sibling Arjun Kapoor is decent as the second-best child, dealing with his own insecurities and doubts. Alia Bhatt as Tia Malik is refreshing and the girl any one would fall for, be it a struggling writer or a body builder! Her wardrobe in the film are steal-worthy. Tia is as real as any of your friends, or maybe even you.
With a stellar cast, it is difficult to shine out. But Fawad Khan as the elder 'perfect' son Rahul Kapoor is the show stealer along with Rishi Kapoor. His intense eyes and constrained acting make you realise that Pakistan has given us another gem who has the potential to do wonders. His chemistry with every character is so real that at one point you start to identify yourself with him, attaching your emotions to him! He makes you connect with Rahul and feel his pain more than any other character.
Apart from the stellar starcast, one who truly deserves the applause is the film's director Shakun Batra. His fresh take on the familial relation in today's time is relatable. You know a director has done his job well when the plot never misses the line it has been build upon. Neither is it ever overshadowed by the presence of so many stars. Yes there is a love story, but it never overpowers the basic intention of the film. It is ust like a sub-plot, another space altogether weaved smartly with the troubled family.
The detailing given to every character is commendable, be it the plumber or a body building competition. The film tickles your funny bones with such honest to a fault depiction of situations. So is it right to call Shakun Batra a rightful predecessor to Karan Johar’s style of films? Well, maybe it's too soon to call him that but certainly Batra knows the intricacies of this generation and decorates it perfectly in 'Kapoor and Sons'. Although, you might feel the climax is predictable but then something drastic happens, keeping your interest intact.
'Kapoor and Sons' is a film with soul that takes you back to your roots, reminding you how much you love your 'imperfect' family in the most perfect way. It reflects upon the changing times and yet holds the ground of family-love perfectly. It brings back the feeling you get while watching 'Kabhi Khush Kabhi Gham' sans over the top drama. This feel-good movie remains with you long after you vacate your theatre seat and compels you to take a trip down the memory road of that 'perfect family' get together that you had attended years back but now avoid.
Watch this one for the real treatment of uncanny situations and because you just got a binge-watch film again from Dharma Productions.
Ratings: 3 out of 5
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