Karthik Calling Karthik (2010)

I'll tell you why so serious

Good concept, poorly executed.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Watching it is like watching the spectacle of a class clown at their best: you laugh at their jokes, instigate their defiance, and "ooooh" when they get in trouble.

My first word of appreciation is for Farhan Akhtar whose films Rock On!!!, Luck by Chance, and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag made me respect him. This is the fourth movie of his as an actor for me, and I salute his intellectual choices. The best aspects about his films is that they are far from the usual masala fare,make a whole lot of sense, and are very relatable.So, the movie starts with poor Karthik being bullied by all sorts of people. And that made me connect instantly. Farhan really brought the character to life, and gave such a realistic feel to it. The movie goes on to depict a little of Farhan's past, which totally convinced me, and his fears in the present owing to his past. Farhan's rise to success was engaging too, and I know I'm repeating myself, but nothing was overstated.For me, the best films are the simplest ones. And this movie does not engage in any kind of complexity. Every subplot is neatly explained, leaving no room for confusion.On the flipside, yes, initially I felt that the romance was a little unnecessary like many others have said. But it worked out so well in the climax. I loved the positive ending, the fact that Shonali was so sensitive to Karthik, and that the film did complete justice to a person representing the mentally disturbed. He was given a second chance in the film, and there was no twist in the end, simply for the heck of thrill. A very sensitive approach by the writer-director.I was disappointed to find that this film did not win any notable awards in its year-2010-when very undeserving films with loud comedy, and unnecessary violence & gore took away all the attention. Awards and popular opinions encourage a certain breed of films, and films like Karthik Calling Karthik deserve much more.I'm a loyal fan of Farhan now.

The basic premise of KCK is indeed novel and the entire team should be lauded for defying the run-out-of-mill formula and having the conviction to come up with something real hatke! The premise has strong potential of a gripping psychological thriller albeit for the reader audience. Lets accept it, owing to the visual limitations certain aspects of the plot cannot be effectively translated to screen and potentially the seams tends to give away. I am sure the intent was to make make the audience jump out of the seat and say "Whoa! Where did that come from?" (read that "The Sixth Sense" effect). The Indian audience over period of time have been exposed to plots dealing with twist endings. In that respect the ending was sort of coming (atleast for me). Had KCK was made about a decade ago it would have made dent in the audience's mind. Performances::Ø Farhan Akhtar is spot-on in both Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. The transformation to the suave Mr. Karthik was albeit a bit too quick.Ø Deepika has a strong presence. She appears quite tall to Farhan but that's pardonable. Her lifestyle reflects the urban life we are living in. And gone are the days where the girl used to bin the cigarette, its boy turn to take vengeance.Ø Ram Kapoor was well suited to don the Indian Boss.Ø Yatin Karyekar had a short but effective role.Ø Shefali Shetty was an unwarranted character in the movie. Introducing this segment actually starts the thought process of playing devil's advocate.Songs deserve a special mention. KCK have a few awesome number, thanks to SEL. Lyrics to Javed Akhtar carry a nexgen feel.Verdict: Okay for one-time watch. And I am sure it has garnered substantial multiplex audience.

After 'Luck by chance' Farhan Akhtar is back on the big screen in 'Karthik calling Karthik'. With this role it gave him the opportunity to play a character that was more simple, vulnerable and emotional. The role has many shades and is not one sided. As in the same vein as 'Don' the movie belongs to the suspense thriller genre. Many people may have seen movies like 'Phone booth' and 'When a stranger calls', so this will be very familiar territory to those. The movie revolves around the telephone devise and how it becomes the centre of concern for a certain individual. The movie is directed by a newcomer by the name of Vijay Lalwani. He has also apparently written the script. I have doubts that he may hail from the school of Farhan Akhtar. His technique in making this movie are highly reminiscent of Farhan's style. For a directing debut feature Lalwani has shown competency in this department but in terms of writing there seemed to be a lack of substance. He talent has potential but the plot I personally feel required more complexity.Prior to watching this movie it is advised not to conduct research in to the mystery elements and the plot of the movie. This would most possibly eliminate all the suspense factors. For one to enjoy the movie at its highest level it is best to watch it with a clear mind and not have high expectations. The opening scene will indeed give the viewer doubts towards discovering the truth behind his characters past, however it is not as simple as it seems. The star cast is small and Ram Kapoor and Shefali Shetty have been included to make it worthwhile. Deepika Padukone who seemed perfect for the role manages to give good support to Farhan. Initially due to the age differences I felt that they did not suit each other. But their relationship is projected from a mature perspective so the pairing felt acceptable eventually.SPOILERS The plot revolves around the main character 'Karthik' played by Farhan. He lives by himself and shy and a introvert by nature. He has serious confidence issues and is constantly suppressed by his work boss. He secretly admires Shonali (Deepika) but is unable to express his feelings to her. Later to his surprise he discovers that she is in a relationship with a fellow work colleague. He purchases a new a telephone. This adds to his frustration in life as he begins receiving calls at 5.00 am everyday from a stranger who refers to himself as Karthik also. The callers voice also appears to be identical. After repeated phone calls Karthik begins to befriend the stranger as he supports him through tough times. He helps Karthik to become more sociable and gain self esteem. Shonali too becomes close to Karthik and they fall in love. He tells her about the caller and they attempt to discover who it is. Unfortunately after breaking the callers promise of not letting anybody know about the phone calls, Karthik's life becomes a nightmare as his life begins to fall apart. Shonali too rejects him. This forces him in to living in recluse and moving to a destination where he cannot be followed. Meanwhile Shonali and Karthik's psychiatrist attempt to locate him. END OF SPOILERAs the theme is not groundbreaking, it has been brought to the screen in an authentic manner. The director has incorporated many stylish camera angles which enhance the intriguing moments throughout. He has also managed to sustain the pace of the movie by simultaneously developing the character while progressing the plot too. The suspense and curiosity factor sustains through the movie however the love track tends to make the movie loose its grip at times, because it becomes a speed breaker. However the love track has its importance to the main plot.The climax is acceptable however I was expecting something a little more different. However it was not a disappointing revelation. It can be believable to a certain extent. The theory has been used in a few other movies. The background score was appropriate to the movie's theme. It helped bring on the correct atmosphere but was overused. Many scenes did not require it.Farhan Akhtar gives his best effort to pull off a complex role however I did not feel it was suited to his ability. He was unconvincing in portraying the emotional and fearful traits. Maybe a more experienced actor could have done a better job. Deepika Padukone again plays the love interest. Her hair, make up and costumes bring out the sheer beauty within herself. She does what she is best at and that is looking glamorous. Her acting abilities are improving and maturing from every movie she does. She gives good support but does not have much practical involvement towards the end.

This is the first review I am writing and I am writing it because I just had to. So impressed was I after watching this movie. I am still surprised that it has come from Bollywood and not Hollywood. The script is the strong point of the film (I shall not delve into it as it is a suspense story). It is original (as far as I know) and neatly does the job of keeping you guessing till the end. Though some people are not happy with the ending I was quite satisfied with the explanation given. It is an acceptable resolution from a psychological point of view. This film must be the first psychological thriller from Hindi filmdom and quite a credible one at that. The execution of the script is also exceptional. Acting by all the key people (which by the way is only a handful) is very spontaneous and natural. Cinematography is in line with the thriller genre with a lot of shadows thrown in for good effect. Music (both songs as well as background score) also fits the mood of the film perfectly. Editing is tight and there is no lag in the movie. Overall this debut effort by Vijay Lalwani is quite appreciable as he steers clear from stereotypes and clichés. Kudos to the whole team behind KCK.Alongwith "A Wednesday", "Rock On", "3 Idiots", "Dil Chahta Hai", "Munna Bhai 2", "Chak De", "Lagaan" & "Rocket Singh" this movie makes it into my list of all time favorite Hindi movies in recent times.