Kai Po Che : Review, Rating

Cast: Sushant Singh Rajput, Amit Sadh, Raj Kumar Yadav, Amrita Puri
 
Director: Abhishek Kapoor

Rating: ****


Abhishek Kapoor’s ‘Kai Po Che’ based on Chetan Bhagat’s book ‘Three Mistakes of My Life’ is essentially a story about friendship. The story is however, layered with the protagonist’s passion for nurturing sports talent and is set against the backdrop of Gujarat at the turn of the century and depicts some of the key happenings of that time.
Ishaan (Sushant Singh Rajput), Omi (Amit Sadh) and Govind (Raj Kumar Yadav) are best buddies, who have very different career objectives but are inseparable friends. Initially they pool in their resources to start a sports equipment shop and a cricket training ground but soon, differences fester and they drift apart.
Abhishek Kapoor deftly handles the narrative; the first half is an endearing tale of friendship and male bonding as each friend tries to help the other. The second half is a sensitive portrayal of how the Bhuj earthquake in 2001 and then the Godhra riots of 2002 change their lives and relationships forever. Kapoor’s craft lies in the fact that though he has picked an unusual premise, he manages to keep his audience engaged throughout. He builds a beautiful canvas but doesn’t make it formulaic at any point. Even the romantic track is completely understated, never distracting us from the main plot.
Sushant Singh Rajput makes a confident big screen debut; his performance is just right, never overdoing or underplaying his part. Raj Kumar Yadav is convincing as he essays a restrained performance. Amit Sadh’s character has shades of grey but he delivers a credible portrayal. Amrita Puri has a small role but she’s effective.
Amit Trivedi belts out a peppy track with special aces like ‘Shubharam’ and ‘Manja’. An engaging plot and strong performances ensure Abhishek Kapoor’s ‘Kai Po Che’ is a winner all the way.