Kill Dil
Cast: Govinda, Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra, Ali Zafar
Director: Shaad Ali
I hate coming out of a film that I really want to like but, try as I may, just don't. Kill Dil is an action caper with a love story that tugs at the very heart of the film. Two abandoned infants are adopted by a mercenary and brought up to be trained hit men. They are all one big happy family of killers cracking PJs till one of the boys falls in love. The trailers and promotions of Kill Dil convinced me that I was going to love it and, for a while, I even fooled myself into really loving it - but then, when Govinda, the evil Bhaiyaji, starts dancing at the discovery of his adopted protege falling in love, the spell broke. I was in it, and I wasn't. So I'm just going to list what worked and what didn't.
Yay For:
1. The slick Tarantino style one liners rooted in vernacular indigenous India - dar ki humko dekh kar phat ti hai... isse jyada gyaan denge toh fees le lenge... ginti nahi aati toh teen tak nahi ginenge...
2. The contemporary take on "rich good girl falls in love with not-so-poor, but classless, uneducated, bad boy." In the past, these differences in culture, language and lifestyle would have been insurmountable unless one of them left behind their entire world and family to enter the other. In today's LOL context they can as easily coexist, at least for youngsters more interested in a drunken good time and good looks.
3. I love how Hindi cinema has a way of making living in a tenement exciting and fun. Kill Dil's production design may not be accurate with romantic thatched hut like terraced houses juxtaposed with sprawling havelis and uber modern condominiums, but it's visually pleasing and interesting, so you buy into it for the heck of it.
4. The music - I love the electronic element and dance beats to almost every song. The choreography is copyable-ly good and of course, they can all dance. The placement of the songs, however, is a whole other disaster story.
4. Ali Zafar- he is the real "Dil" in this film. He invokes the sardonic Jai of Sholay as he sits back, sarcastically watching his best friend head for heartbreak and silently protecting him from the wrath of Bhaiyaji. Why are these Pakistani actors so damn sexy?
5. Govinda's comeback - he is such a delight to watch. He can move like no other - his face pretends it doesn't know what his body is doing. I love it. His dialogue delivery for most parts is so skilled.
6. Parineeti- now this girl has presence and is so, so believable. There is an earthiness and fire about her all at once that makes no matter what she plays very real. I don't like the added weight, but that's just me wanting stars to look like stars. Also I'd love to see her play a non-feisty, demure girl for a change.
7. Ranveer - he can dance, he can act, he can look good, make you laugh, make you cry. Shall I say more?
Suhani Singh's review | Rohit Khilnani's review
Nay For:
1. The script - Of course you know what's going to happen - that's ok by me. I don't need to be surprised but, I do need to be told a well crafted story. One liners strung together cannot replace the need for a strong tight screenplay.
2. The songs - they come anywhere and everywhere. Yes, we all want to see them shake a leg 'cos they really do do it so well but a villain smiling and enjoying his footwork as much as the audience just takes away from his evil quotient. And I thought we had moved beyond forced dream sequences. Why o why did we need the Sajde song?
3. Govinda's Comeback - he hasn't been given enough meat to chew on. I like him in this mean avatar. He's meaner and fiercer when he's sneering and being derisively funny. He loses his power in a key a scene when he shouts and screams.
4. The pace - it's fast and fun and then it's slow and boring.
So yay or nay? Don't bother if you are expecting to be entertained as much as the promos have done. I'd say, watch it if you are a Ranveer fan as he is in almost every frame and then some.
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