Kadak Singh review: Pankaj Tripathi’s quirks uplift this relatable thriller | Bollywood

Kadak Singh is not the story of a strict father who is strict with his children and as a result is given this name by them. Nor is this the story of a moralist accused of corruption and trying to clear his name. This is a human story about how those in power will use you to serve their vested interests, fabricating stories when necessary to deceive you, ensnare you, and even take your life. It’s a thriller. Directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury (who, in addition to Bengali films, has previously directed Pink and Lost), Kadak Singh is realistic and relatable, with characters expressing their own opinions. You don’t feel like you’ve been transported into a fictional world that seems concocted just to prove something. . (Also read: Joram Review: Manoj Bajpayee carries this slow-paced survival drama on his shoulders)

The story begins with a Financial Crimes Bureau employee, AK Shrivastav alias Kadak Singh (Pankaj Tripathi), who is diagnosed with retrograde amnesia and hospitalized. Although he seems to have no recollection of what happened to him or how he got here, he is accompanied by his daughter Sakshi (Sanjana Sanghi), his girlfriend Naina (Jaya Ahsan), and his colleague Arjun (Paresh). Pahuja), and his boss Tyagi (Dilip Shankar), in turn, tell him each story about who he is and what place they hold in his life. I’ll tell you. Although he doesn’t know who to believe, AK continues to listen to these stories and tries to solve the tip fund scam. Meanwhile, the head nurse (Parvathy Thiruvothu) remains as his support structure as AK recalls his past and tries to reconnect the scattered dots. Will he be able to regain all his memories and expose the corrupt reality of the department, or will he start his life over and make new memories?

The story, co-written by Virav Sarkari, Ritesh Shah and Chowdhury, goes back and forth for almost the entirety of the film. A series of flashbacks appear and disappear each time a new character tells AK their point of view. The 127-minute film is crisp and never seems to drag. The non-linear storytelling seems to confuse the narrative at times, but the movie strives to immerse you in it and keep you from looking elsewhere.

I like how Choudhary sprinkles in lighter moments to lift the mood. It looks very natural, especially when Tripathi and the head nurse are innocently flirting and exchanging glances. There are some scenes that have depth, both in the writing and the way they were shot. For example, the emotional parts between Tripati and Sanghi are the highlight of the film, and the part where Sakshi questions her father, “Why did you marry our mom?” Or when she says “hamari maa hi nahi, baap bhi nahi hai”. Bollywood has produced a plethora of films depicting austere and damaged relationships between fathers and children. Kadak Singh strives to start a conversation by digging into how and why such relationships occur.

The scene where Sakshi encounters her father and another woman in a seedy hotel is not only a well-written scene, but is thoroughly explained as the film progresses. And the ensuing argument between the two is one of the best scenes in the movie. These nuances in character arcs and writing are what make Kadak His Singh such a fascinating watch. In another scene, Sakshi sits on a hospital bench and has a heart-to-heart with Naina, her father’s girlfriend, and she can’t help but sit and admire the writing. There are fewer words, more silence, and more being said.

Tripathi once again proved that he is like clay in the hands of the director. As Khadak Singh, he hardly smiles in the movie, but there are parts where he grins and laughs and brings some quirks to his character that make the whole movie worth watching. I sensed a clear attempt on Tripathi’s part to break free from previous portrayals. AK Shrivastab is not a cold-blooded person like Kaleen Bhaiya from Mirzapur or the funny Pandit ji from Fukrei. He’s somewhere in the middle, but that works to his advantage.

Sanghi, who plays the daughter, brings a range of emotions on screen and although she needs to get better at delivering her lines, she holds her ground with great skill. The scene where Tripati and Sanghi are helping with basic household chores at the hospital is endearing.

As Tripathi’s girlfriend, Bangladeshi actor Jaya is quite revelatory and fun to watch. She never seems defeated or upset, but instead she brings a much-needed balance to the story. For the first few minutes, when Naina begins the story and the story moves into flashbacks, all we hear is soulful music, no words, only through their gestures, expressions, and actions, the film shows us how they are. He is trying to make us understand how deeply we are connected. Shantanu Moitra’s music acts as the icing on the cake. Notice the scene where Tripathi and Ahsan lie on the bed after some intimate time and discuss ‘politically incorrect sex’. Very beautiful and aesthetically shot.

Among various things, Kadak Singh very subtly highlights the issues of mental health and suicidal tendencies that are prevalent among people these days. I like that Chaudhary didn’t overemphasize that aspect, just enough to get the subject noticed and talked about.

Kadak Singh is a feel-good film that stays as raw and real as possible without creating unnecessary drama in everything. It makes you cry, laugh, and think about things in life that you tend to ignore.

Kadak Singh is now streaming on Zee5.