Kaabil Movie Review: This Is Hrithik Roshan’s Vendetta Story Served Hot

What truly works in Kaabil is the fact that it has a stranglehold over its proceedings from the very first frame till the last. Of course, Hrithik Roshan dominates the proceedings entirely and is present on screen for more than 90% of the duration. There is no time wasted in establishing him as a regular young man next door who overcomes his handicap with his intelligence and the senses available to him. His love story with Yami Gautam is heartwarming and you indeed root for them as they fall in love and eventually get married. However, when tragedy strikes them, courtesy Rohit Roy and Ronit Roy, you heart pains for them. This is where director Sanjay Gupta indeed keeps you hooked on the screen. You fall in love with the duo, stare at the screen in horror as the tragedy unfolds and pine for the couple to emerge out of it all. However, when it turns out to be a point of no return, you root for the man in the picture to get it all going and eliminate the evil. No wonder, the build up towards the interval point is super terrific when Hrithik gives an open challenge to the top cop (played by Narendra Jha). Full marks to the dialogue writer Sanjay Masoom for establishing this plot point excellently, which manages to catch your attention so very well. Of course the film has its own creative liberties being taken considering its out and out commercial feel. Still, writer Vijay Kumar Mishra does quite well to keep the believability quotient intact so that nothing really looks out of space. This is the reason why the second half turns out to be truly terrific as the game of elimination has been narrated with utmost care with high drama incorporated in there. As Hrithik begins to execute his master-plan, everything begins to fall well in place. Despite the fact that at a few junctures you wonder about the plausibility of it all, you don't mind that as you root for the hero to take revenge. Now that's what the core strength of the film since Sanjay manages quite well in helping a viewer connect not just with his lead pair but also the villains of the piece, albeit in contrasting ways. You want the good guy to win over evil and it is this very emotional involvement in the storytelling that makes you clap along when the 'elimination' begins. What takes the cake is the last 15 minutes that one just couldn't see coming, especially the final twist in the tale that has been extremely well incorporated in the film. Well done! This could well have turned out to be a one dimensional love story cum revenge tale but considering the fact that Rakesh Roshan has produced the film, to have music by Rajesh Roshan is a definite expectation. It integrates well into the film, whether it is Mon Amour, title song Kaabil Hoon or Haseeno La Deewana, though one misses the presence of Dil Kya Kare in the final cut. Cinematography [Ayananka Bose, Sudeep Chatterjee] is apt as per the mood and situation while the background score [Salim-Suleiman] is superb, especially in the second half when thrills are added to the drama. Action [Shyam Kaushal] is kept realistic while editing [Akiv Ali] is just correct. VFX is decent as at places, it shows! From the performances perspective, Hrithik delivers a fantastic act which has various shades to it. His facial expressions and body language say it all and there are many scenes where he stands out despite not mouthing a single word. Yami Gautam has a good role and is actually there for the entire first half and then also periodically in the second half. She is good and natural again. Rohit Roy plays his character in a manner that you feel disgusted with him, which actually solves the purpose. Ronit Roy is terrific as ever and it is wonderful to see him portray different characters. Narendra Jha delivers another controlled act. As a producer, Rakesh Roshan has ensured that Kaabil turns out to be a commercial film for the audiences that has all the right ingredients in place and that too in the right proportions. It must have been quite a challenge to have three creative brains (Sanjay, Hrithik and himself) to blend seamlessly and deliver a product which is in just the right synch. That happens with Kaabil and that is the right reason why the final outcome keeps you glued on the screen right till the end. Watch it!