Kuttey, directed by debutant Aasmaan Bhardwaj and co-written with his father Vishal Bhardwaj, presents a pulpy crime fiction set in the dark underbelly of Mumbai. The film aspires to be a roller-coaster ride through a morally ambiguous landscape, filled with corrupt cops, mafia, and Naxalites, all chasing a van carrying crores of cash. While the whole set up and fiery dialogues create an intrigue initially, Kuttey falls short of delivering the promised explosion on celluloid.
Plot
Kuttey’s plot revolves around three gangs intersecting on a rainy night in Mumbai, each eager to seize the van loaded with money destined for ATM machines. Greed, corruption, and a truckload of bullets ensue as these characters find themselves in a world where morals take a backseat. It’s like a dog-eat-dog world, but with humans, and they’re all ready to bare their teeth! The film delves into their motivations and the consequences of their actions, painting a dark and gory picture of an amoral world.
Performances
The ensemble cast does its best to bring life to the diverse and bloodthirsty characters. Tabu stands out as police officer Pammi, infusing her role with rawness and fierceness, providing much-needed comic relief in an otherwise dark narrative. Arjun Kapoor impresses as the trigger-happy cop Gopal, effectively portraying the various shades of his character. Kumud Mishra shines as his aide, delivering a convincing performance in each scene. However, Radhika Madan and Shardul Bhardwaj have little to do and contribute minimally to the overall narrative. Naseeruddin Shah‘s powerful character unfortunately becomes inconsequential, and Konkona Sen Sharma‘s Laxmi, while outstanding, could have benefited from more depth. Overall, it’s a mixed bag of performances.
Direction and Writing
Asmaan Bhardwaj’s direction is like a dog chasing its tail—stylish but going in circles! demonstrates a flair for style and a penchant for the crime thriller genre, and ‘Kuttey’ seems like a decent debut. The film starts off with a bang, but the first half is a bit like a snoozefest, like waiting for a treat that never comes. However, the fast-paced second half brings some excitement, but attempts to tie together the various storylines and ends up feeling chaotic at times. The film barks loudly about focusing on character over logic, but it feels more like chasing your own tail. We yearn for some meaty substance but we just more of just fluffy fur! The storytelling could have been tighter, offering a more cohesive and engaging experience.
Screenplay and Cinematography
The film’s screenplay suffers from an excessive focus on style and a lack of substance. While the characters are introduced as morally ambiguous, the narrative fails to explore their complexities in a meaningful way. You never get to see why they became their present self. The chase sequences and climactic dog fight become predictable, and the film relies too heavily on clichéd plot devices. Farhad Dehlvi’s cinematography adds some spice, but it’s like putting a bowtie on a dog—adorable but not game-changing!
In the race for a thrilling heist flick, Kuttey gets a bit leash-y with its execution. It had the bark, but somehow, it failed to bite! The talented cast tries their best, but the screenplay just didn’t have enough meat on its bones. The saving grace? Vishal Bhardwaj’s background music, like a treat to our ears! So, while Kuttey might be a fun one-time watch for action enthusiasts, don’t expect it to become the top dog of crime thrillers.
