Friday, March 18, 2016

Kapoor & Sons (Since 1921)



Rating : 7/10
Release Date : 18th March, 2016
Time : 140 minutes
Director, Writer : Shakun Batra; Co-Writer : Ayesha Devitre Dhillon; Music : Various
Starring : Rishi Kapoor, Rajat Kapoor, Ratna Pathak Shah, Fawad Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Sukant Goel, Fahim Shaikh




A sensational first half – witty, crazy, natural, superb dialogues, a fast-moving script, great characters, fabulous acting – followed by a second half, which goes in a different direction to what I would’ve preferred. Am not a fan of solving things via tears, melodrama, sorrow – perhaps there is another way, but our directors / writers have yet to get there. Anyways, should be grateful it doesn’t go awry – just in a different direction…



Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak Shah live in idyllic Coonoor but argue like all married couples do, over things that most married couples do. Their sons, Fawad and Sidharth, live in UK and US respectively, are used to seeing their parents argue and also have their own unsettled issues. Fawad’s a successful author, his parent’s pet while Sid is still looking to find his vocation and has a huge chip on his shoulder about not being loved as much as his elder brother. However, what is fascinating is that, while all this may sound sad, morbid, the first half is anything but. Thanks to their grandfather, Rishi Kapoor (I want to grow old like him !) and Alia, who is the wild, zany one in a nearby tea estate.



Rishi Kapoor is endearing and full of life – so much so that he practices falling dead, just for kicks. Other pastimes include watching porn, smoking, weed, shooting his grandkids dead and making sure the hospital staff don’t forget him (the scenes with the nurse were excellent). Alia is always pulling someone’s leg – first Sid, then Fawad fall for her pranks and she ensures she always remains happy, sunny despite all around her



The stage is then set for the family drama to heat up in the second half, as secrets tumble out, things come to a head…


It’s been a long time since I saw such beautifully etched characters and crisp, natural dialogues in a Hindi film. The performances were fabulous – Rajat, Rishi were brilliant and Fawad, Alia, Sidharth also display their acting chops – both the men, especially, successfully put to bed all the unfair, unwarranted criticism that they’re just good looking boys who can’t act. Ratna is very good too, doing justice to the role given – her character is not someone who I would be fond of but can understand. Special mention of Sukant Goel who also shines through in a small role, as Sid’s best friend.


The film does hold a mirror up to how most of us live our lives, mired in our first world problems. Unhappiness, we discover, can be caused by so many factors – parental expectations, striving for approval, success, distrust, money issues, the search for love – all can prove to be so corrosive. But equally, isn’t it upto us to simplify things, to chart out our own course – to stop blaming others for our problems. Because, in the end, don’t we all just want to be happy ?

21 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:45 PM

    Seems like Nagpal and Sons...

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  2. Anonymous3:46 PM

    So we find him where he ought to be every week ...

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  3. Anonymous3:47 PM

    Great heartfelt review

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  4. Anonymous3:47 PM

    After soooo long

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  5. Anonymous3:47 PM

    You enjoy doing this, no ?

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  6. Anonymous3:53 PM

    Who doesn't want to grow old merry, happy-go-lucky sorts

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  7. Anonymous3:55 PM

    We ought to lead a hassle free, stress-free, disease free life
    ..

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  8. Anonymous5:35 PM

    A Man for All Seasons...

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  9. Anonymous7:14 PM

    How does it feel to be in your position - to have accomplished all the incredible things you've done, and to still be so young and handsome ? You're a role model for so many men...

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  10. Anonymous8:44 PM

    Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent protects you from age...

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  11. Anonymous8:44 PM

    You will never be an old man...

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  12. Anonymous8:48 PM

    You will never be an old man...so full of life, love, laughter and passion and zest for life, you're zeal and vigor... am honestly enamoured.

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  13. Anonymous3:46 PM

    Wow ! This is some great news after a long time... For sure I'm going to take my children for this movie... Remember the 1980's jingle/cartoon and the character 'Mowgli' - "Jungle x2 baat chali hai...pata chala hai... Arre chaddi pahen ke phool khila hai, phool khila hai..." There a half page advertisement of The Jungle Book - Disney is releasing this new one on 8th April... Can't contain my excitement...

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  14. Anonymous3:46 PM

    Wow ! This is some great news after a long time... For sure I'm going to take my children for this movie... Remember the 1980's jingle/cartoon and the character 'Mowgli' - "Jungle x2 baat chali hai...pata chala hai... Arre chaddi pahen ke phool khila hai, phool khila hai..." There a half page advertisement in today's newspaper of The Jungle Book - Disney is releasing this new one on 8th April...

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  15. Anonymous3:55 PM

    Age is just a number... Umr chhahey kuch bhi ho, insaan ko zindadil hona chaahiye

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  16. Anonymous3:56 PM

    Just like you...a role model...

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  17. Anonymous4:06 PM

    Look at this forever young folk , the smile on his face, with Mandakini sitting on his laptop...so happy and content, as though 'saare zamaane ki khushi naseeb ho gayi'

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  18. Anonymous4:19 PM

    Rishi Kapoor - his face reflects fulfilled sins..

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  19. Anonymous6:17 PM

    "Bura Na Mano Holi Hai" - exams over, schools closed, what thrill children get at aiming and shooting water guns at strangers, ready at the rooftops, their buckets full of colourful water balloons, fun to simply observe them, it's bullseye if it's a successful hit at the target..the tu-tu, mai-mai that follows...running in the bylanes chasing each other...

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  20. Anonymous7:48 AM

    My gut instinct is telling me that you'll be watching Superman vs Batman..

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  21. Anonymous7:21 PM

    Senior citizens are so innocent...

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