The strength of KHO GAYE HUM KAHAN lies in its performances, memorable moments and depictions.
The strength of KHO GAYE HUM KAHAN lies in its performances, memorable moments, and most importantly, its depiction of reality.
The stories of Zoya Akhtar, Arjun Varaine Singh and Reema Kagti are relatable and relevant in today’s times. The screenplay by Zoya Akhtar, Arjun Varaine Singh and Reema Kagti is refreshingly simple. Apart from the relatable aspects, what impresses the viewers is how the lives of the trio are portrayed. A few moments stand out. At the same time, the sentences are stretched too much. Yash Sahay’s dialogue is peppered with today’s jargon but still has a relatable quality. Sapan Verma’s lines in stand-up comedy scenes are funny.
Arjun Varun Singh’s direction is superb. He allows people to connect with what is going on, especially young people in the city. The characters’ problems, happiness, and accomplishments reflect the lives many people live today. The social media angle is also a nice touch. Arjun talks about ghosting, the fake life of influencers, the difficulties people face by staying away from their phones, the use of social media for validation, and even stalking ex-partners, social media bullying, etc. is mentioned. Simran’s first meeting, Lala’s birthday party, Imad and Neil’s epic showdown, and more. But it is the song ‘Ishq Nachaawe’ that shows Arjun’s true strength as a storyteller. The finale is sweet.
Conversely, there are moments in the movie where nothing happens. Therefore, this 134-minute film could have been edited by his 20 minutes. Neil’s track at the end will divide the audience. It’s hard to understand how things unfold, and how he recovers from them isn’t convincing either. This track is also left out of nowhere, which is odd since all the other tracks are nicely wrapped up in the end credits song. Finally, the issues and lifestyle portrayed in this film are too urban for most audiences to relate to.
After GULLY BOY (2019), Siddhant Chaturvedi once again delivered a great performance and proved why he is an actor with immense potential. His comic timing is spot on, but be careful during emotional scenes. Ananya Panday is also a revelation in this film and this is probably her best performance. She acts effortlessly and looks natural. Adarsh Gurav is predictably superb, portraying the intricacies of his role with utmost conviction. Kalki Koechlin is likeable and perfect for the role. Anya Singh is convincing as an influencer who will stop at nothing for her fame. She’s a little over the top, but it was necessary. Vijay Maurya (Malcolm, Neil’s father), Rahul Vohra (Aamir, Imaad’s father) and Narendra Jetley (Paresh Phadnis, Creepy Neighbor) leave their mark. Rohan Gurbaksani, Divya Jagdale (Sari, Neel’s mother), Garima Yagnik (Meher, Ahana’s workmate), Kashyap Kapoor (Melvun, Imad’s manager), Mahati Ramesh (Ayesha), Roshmin Mehandle (Harsh) , Malaika’s primary trainer) is fair. Malaika Arora Khan appears in a cameo.
The soundtrack of KHO GAYE HUM KAHAN also has a niche feel just like the movie. “Ishq Nachawe” The melody, singing, and illustrations are outstanding. “Hone do jo hota hai” And then there’s the title song. “I want to see you dance”, “Teri Ye Baatein” and “Baahong Mein Teri” it’s okay. Sid Shirodkar’s background score is on point.
Tanay Satam’s cinematography is top-notch and has a bit of a noir touch. Sally White’s production design is excellent. Bridget Baker’s costumes are glamorous and stylish. Nitin Baid’s editing could have been smoother.
Overall, the strength of KHO GAYE HUM KAHAN lies in its performances, memorable moments, and most importantly, its depiction of reality in today’s social media era. The target audience, the urban youth, will definitely watch this movie.
(Tag Translation)Kor Gaye Hum Kahan Review