Kites Review

 What is it all about?

The much hyped Hrithik Roshan starrer with a Mexican bala Barbara Mori as his co-star, a decent helmer like Anurag Basu and a reputed banner like Rakesh Roshan's Filmkraft which has given quality entertainers in past turns out as a major disappointment.

`Kites' is an all time low empty luxury vehicle from its producer `Rakesh Roshan', director `Anurag Basu', Writer. sorry writers Akash Khurana, Anurag Basu and Robin Bhatt, that pushes the envelope in terms of just how much flashy packaging an audience will buy when there's absolutely nada inside.

The Story..of course

Shot in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Santa Fe, `Kites' is an unconvincing love story about an Indian man's affair with a Latin woman and their predicament as they don't understand each other's language, `Kites' is about their misadventure.

The story starts in a harsh terrain of the Mexican desert where a mortally wounded man Jai (Hrtithik) is left to die in the heat of the scorching sun. Once a street smart, carefree young guy, he is now a wanted man.

As death looms, the only thing that keeps him alive is the quest to find the love of his life, Natasha (Barbara Mori) - a woman betrothed to another man. Jay and Natasha fell in love despite language and cultural barriers and embark on a crazy boring trip.

What to look out for?

Hrithik Roshan is sensational and gives his most matured performance till date.

Cinematography by Ayananka Bose is jaw dropping and Anurag's shot taking is commendable.

What Not?

`Kites' cuts its own strings by a weak story, zero chemistry, no melody, no romance, and tries to fly with the winds of hype, good but unconvincing stunts and a sensational Hrithik Roshan who has just missed a great opportunity to introduce himself pleasantly to Hollywood. What a waste.

Anurag's limitations as an helmer and a writer gets exposed with this flick and the movie ensures that Anurag sensibilities are limited to a certain sect where he can please his audience with some videsh influence in films like `Gangster' and `Life in a Metro' but when it comes to please the videshis and the desi together, he runs out of ideas and lacks   proper understanding of the term called `mass appeal' and the audience pulse.

Which once again cement the view that shot taking is not film making.

Coming to the film which starts superbly and has an interesting concept of two lovers flying together but heir fate lies in the hands of others and in the end they are denied is spoiled by the makers who in their dream to make this fly high on international skies. The makers commit following blinders:

A) The characterizations is poor and its hard to connect with the two lead pairs Hrithik and Barabara who start loving each other but on what grounds is hard to believe. And its never gets explained in the film what makes them attracted towards each other when they can't understand their language.. Is it lust that brings them together or what?

B) A love story can still survive even if the reason of attraction is not convincing provided the pair oozes on screen chemistry, warmth when they come together.. Alas, the chemistry between the Hrithik and Barbara who are torn between paisa and pyaar is thanda and in minus degree celsius. A blink of your eye and Barbara in bikini is gone.

C) Even if the attraction is not convincing and the pair is not delicious on screen and you are trying to woo the international audience, still some taste can be provided if the music is melodious, song dance, naach gaan is the only identity Bollywood has had to lakhs of cinegoers worldwide and mind you I'm not talking of experts. Even over here the movie scores a zero. Even worse, previously the music director Rajesh Roshan has given his best for this banner. The helmer Anurag Basu previous flicks have scored major plus in music.

D) Even after all this known departments fail and you run out of cards then still you can rely on some quality action to punch your films prospects, which are there but again it doesn't seem to be the way it should be.. I mean not required, its not a chase movie.

E) And finally, the last nail in the coffin is provided by the language.. Sorry languages in the movie, people speak English, Hindi, and Spanish in the film where Spanish spoken by Barbara is subtitled in English whereas the English interaction are not subtitled and audience scratch their heads to recollect where and when was Hindi spoken in this Bollywood film.

The movie has some childish errors which are hard to digest like the editor Akiv Ali turns blind eye to repetitive shots. Kangana is reduced to minimum. A wounded tormented Hrithik on quest for his lost love in Mexican desert doesn't shave but manages to change his clothes. From Mexican attire to jeans...??, etc, etc. All this make this 130 minutes misadventure numbing and it's more than such a frail conceit can sustain.

Conclusion: `Good looks can deceive', go at your own risk.

Rating **