Kabir Singh Movie Review: Misogyny Glorified

After I watched Kabir Singh what troubled me was that such films are still being made in the present day and age however, what worried me even more was the fact that there are still people who watch and enjoy such movies and cheer and applaud for a Male Chauvinist Pig.

The film is a remake of South super hit Arjun Reddy and revolves around Kabir Singh, a brilliant medical student with an impeccable academic record and major anger issues. Kabir falls in love with his junior Prrety and becomes totally obsessed with her. Kabir informs everyone that she is his ‘bandi’ and their love story begins with a kiss without consent. However, their romance hits a road block as Preety breaks up with him due to family pressure. Kabir then embarks on a path of destruction and what happens then forms the rest of the plot.

Shahid is playing Kabir Singh and though he is very good in his role, his character is not likeable. Such abusive and obsessive boyfriends, who decide everything for you, are highly toxic and look good only in films and the fact that the female protagonist is so weak doesn’t help much.

Kabir is a raging alcoholic and people in his life are so obsessed with him that they don’t have a life of their own. Kiara is playing Preety and though she is looking as fresh as daisy, her character in nothing more than a doormat.

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga expects the audiences to forgive Kabir’s rowdy behavior just because he is a genius. He forces women to have sex with him, walks into the operation theater drunk, abuses drugs, and the people in his life, among other things. However, the bigger problem is the audience, who laughs out loud at such misdemeanor.

This is one of those films, which makes physical and mental harassment normal and real women have to bear the brunt of it off screen. This film reeks of toxic masculinity and is so misogynistic that it will make you really uncomfortable.

That said the film does have some brilliant moments and Shahid and Kiara’s chemistry is on fire. Its flawed characters and archaic story are not the only problems, its length too is a major issue. The film is almost three hours long and it becomed difficult to sit through it after sometime. It needed to be edited by almost 30-35 minutes.

Music is the highlight of the movie, it’s very soothing and songs go with narrative. Cinematography is good, screenplay should have been crisper and dialogues.

Watch this film if you are Sahhid Kapoor fan or an MCP.