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Indian critics respond to Kapoor & Sons, did they love it or hate it?

Indian critics respond to Kapoor & Sons, did they love it or hate it?

Someone described Fawad Khan as a 'dormant volcano'!
22 Mar, 2016

The long awaited Kapoor & Sons is out, and the reviews are in!

Up-and-coming stars Fawad Khan, Siddharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt join the seasoned Rishi Kapoor, Ratna Patak Shah and Rajat Kapoor in this dramedy about (almost) real family relationships.

Some critics appreciate Karan Johar shaking up his family drama formula, others were inspired by the acting of the good-looking cast.

Here's a round-up of what was said and written:

About the story, Times of India's Srijana Mitra Das writes:

"Kapoor & Sons' star is its story. This is an entirely real family, full of uncomfortable secrets, awkward jealousies and sharp pain, where brothers steal, parents cheat, siblings suspect and 'perfect bachchas' don't have perfect love-lives. This is a family with its make-up off, screaming through hilarious situations — a sequence involving a plumber is side-splittingly good."

This is particularly an achievement, coming from Karan Johar's Dharma Productions:

NDTV Movies' Saibal Chatterjee notes that "Cinematic sagas about dysfunctional families usually tend to fall into the trap of predictability. Kapoor And Sons doesn't. It keeps springing little surprises all the way through, so much so that at times it is hard to believe that this has emerged from the Karan Johar stable."

Anupama Chopra cautions that the story takes its time to grow on the viewer:

"Be warned that Kapoor & Sons is not heavy on plot. It's about characters, moments, textures and emotions. This is a very hard thing to pull off. And the first half is a bit of a slog. It feels like director Shakur Batra, who wrote the script with Ayesha Devitre, is just finding his rhythm. Disconnected scenes follow one another, and even though the acting is uniformly good, the drama just doesn't grip you. The narrative seems random and repetitive but stay with these people. In the second half. as the Kapoor family fault-lines deepen, the drama develops heft and becomes genuinely moving."

The cast gets a thumbs-up from most critics:

According to Srijana Mitra Das, "[the] acting shines. In a wheelchair, Rishi Kapoor runs away with the film, smashing it with hilarious lines - an 'apology' goes, "Sorry, bhains" - and his dirty old man portrayal, lusting after Mandakini's wet sari and using his grandson's 'I-Papad' for porn. Fawad and Sidharth make terrific contrasts, Sidharth vulnerable, yet loving, Fawad, slick, yet asking with pain, "Aap ko mere jhoot bolne ka gham hai - ya meri asliyat ka?"

Good looks works in the cast's favour:

While NDTV Movies' Saibal Chatterjee holds that "[the] three lead actors are natural charmers and Batra loses no opportunity to make capital out of their looks", Anupama Chopra notes that "Siddharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan and Alia Bhatt are all startling attractive. If used too strongly, good looks can make emotions feel almost fake. But Shakun doesn't showcase their visual appeal. There are no concessions to their stardom. Each one steals the scene very quietly."

Hindustan Times' Rohit Vats chips in with examples:

The kissing scene between Fawad Khan and Alia Bhatt has such a good build-up that it doesn’t look dramatic even a bit. Their sexual connotation laden conversation is so apt that you can fit any two young faces there.

Ratna Pathak as a jealous and tired housewife is a treat to watch. The emotions float on her face yet you can see the real person behind it. She, along with Fawad Khan, is the pick of the actors.

Fawad Khan is like a dormant volcano, simmering from the inside. After a while, you expect him to go for controlled eruption, but he surprises you by going all out. His capabilities as an actor are on a full display in Kapoor & Sons.

Not everyone is impressed by Fawad, though:

Indian Express' Shubhra Gupta states, "Sidharth Malhotra brings to the table an attractive loose-limbed vulnerability which he reveals slowly. He makes something of his part. Fawad plays his straight, and he doesn’t lift off the screen, the way he did in ‘Khubsoorat’. Rishi gets some laughs in, but has to struggle against the heavy prosthetics. The two people who kept me watching all the way were Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak Shah : they play long-time partners in a marriage gone sour, and create a relationship which has enough strength and weaknesses that you want to know more about. These two deserve a separate film."

Comments

Ali Rizvi Mar 22, 2016 12:45pm
V nice movie! Thumbs up!
Recommend
Rahi milla Mar 22, 2016 12:54pm
My review: Boring first half, fake makeup of rishi kapoor is so obvious. Brand placement of an airline is cringeworthy. Rishi Kapoor's jokes are not laugh out loud crackers. They seem churlish at best. He is seen cruising around he hospital at great speeds while suffering from a major heart disease and waiting for a potentially life threatening heart operation. No we don't buy it. You can skip the music and spare you ears. Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak Shah are exceedingly good actors. Their characters are well written and researched. Aalia Bhatt is given more screen time than her character deserves. She is a good actor but not as good as any other main actor in the film. Sidharth has done a sterling job except in scenes where he is shown crying. Please use less glycerine. Fawad Khan is not portrayed as a heartthrob. His acting is superb. He has a unique mysterious charm, the reason for which is revealed towards the end. Must watch for good acting displays and a solid second half.
Recommend
Ashok Mar 22, 2016 01:29pm
This film is a drag & sure recipe for headache.
Recommend
AK44 Mar 22, 2016 03:14pm
Watched the movie yesterday with the Mrs. - both enjoyed it with every lead character coming up trumps. Anupama Chopra's review above hits the nail on the head. Must watch for all lovers of great cinema.
Recommend
Shafaq Hussain Mar 22, 2016 03:25pm
Fawad khan plays a Gay role :@ though the acting is good but such kind of character does not suits his personality .:(
Recommend
citizen Mar 22, 2016 03:51pm
Watched it for Fawad, loved it for Fawad.
Recommend
Satt Mar 22, 2016 04:29pm
Is film released in Pakistan?
Recommend
farwa zaidi Mar 22, 2016 10:29pm
@Satt yes! Great movie
Recommend
farwa zaidi Mar 22, 2016 10:30pm
Yes! It was a great movie
Recommend
Pakistani Mar 22, 2016 11:17pm
The boys are good looking indeed but about alia not very good looking and not even a good actor there are many more out there who could have replaced her.
Recommend
Divergence Mar 22, 2016 11:31pm
Flop as far as morals are concerned.
Recommend
ZAFAR Mar 23, 2016 03:53am
@Rahi milla Yup no one can make gay character as convincing as Fawad. Hats off to his wonderful acting.
Recommend
Akil Akhtar Mar 23, 2016 08:36am
Alia Bhat is very one dimensional and not attractive at all....
Recommend
Sunil Mar 23, 2016 09:32am
Already a hit, specially abroad.
Recommend
Farhan Mar 25, 2016 02:27am
Average. Female character which Aalia performed wasn't appropriate for the film next time writer should paid more attention while including a female character in film..
Recommend
Parveen Sadiq Mar 25, 2016 04:26am
I saw Kapoor& Sons,the first day here in Houston.I wanted to watch it on the first day because of Fawad.I knew that he will come out with flying colors,and he did so.The story and the cast was perfect for their characters.I heard good comments even from my Indian friends.I am proud of him
Recommend