If you’re planning to see a film this weekend, you’ve probably been wondering if you should give Kalank a try. While this movie has a pretty package and a good cast, it lacks nuance in its portrayal of Hindu-Muslim equations. Instead, it portrays a ferocious Muslim as the villain. But the film is an entertaining watch nonetheless, and we give it a B+ rating.
The movie has some very strong performances from Madhuri Dixit and Kunal Khemu. But, it has its flaws, as the writing is flat and the characters are uninspired. The film’s music is indifferent and the actors are underutilized. Despite the stellar cast, there are some moments when you’ll simply yawn. A scene involving Varun and Aditya screaming at each other will make you cringe. While this might sound like a bad thing, it’s actually an important part of the film’s appeal.
A strong female lead is a must-have for any Bollywood movie. In Kalank, the lead actor is Sanjay Dutt, while the actress Madhuri Dixit plays the illegitimate son. Aside from the actors, the film’s cinematography is top-notch and the film’s production values are admirable. A multi-star cast gives Kalank an edge over the average Bollywood movie, but the movie can’t save it from a lackluster script.
The prelude to Kalank sets the tone for the film’s crux. Taking place in the pre-Independent years, the film shows glimpses of this story’s climax. A woman standing in a train doorway extends an arm to a man who’s been shot and injured, and the two escape through the moat. However, the film’s story and character development are mediocre at best.
Kalank is the arrogant symbol of multiplexBollywood. In an age of nostalgia, it thinks being beautiful is enough. It romanticizes itself and chokes on its sense of poetry. In addition, Abhishek Varman appears to have trained his camera on bootleg Partition-themed paintings, and his sense of world-building is lacking. Storytelling and the arts are becoming obsolete. But this movie tries to make us care. I personally think this movie is not that good. Its story, screenplay, and performance is not good as well.
