I have always believed in Shahid Kapoor. He’s got a charm and an x-factor about him that I truly believe Bollywood refuses to capitalize upon, and it is quite sad. But every now and then, a capable director reels Kapoor in, and they make magic. Kaminey is a masterful, nuanced tale of brotherhood, love, and cocaine.
This movie scores on so many levels. The soundtrack is not only filled with bangers but also a perfect complement to the film’s tonal shifts. The often-rainy, greyed setting really amplifies the dark, grimy vibe of the story. All of the side characters are put to use effectively and are portrayed by some crazy talented people (shoutout whoever played Bhope). The story itself feels fresh and unlike anything Bollywood’s seen before, and it is well-executed by Bhardwaj. But Bhardwaj’s greatest achievement is the performance he pulled out of Shahid Kapoor.
I mean holy shit. I legitimately forgot that Charlie and Guddu were being played by the same guy. Kapoor embodies both personas with such ease and brilliance; it is truly astounding. I’m not sure realistically how many acting performances I can put above this one, especially within the realm of Indian film. He commands the screen and never gives your attention back once he snatches it away. Absolute insanity what this guy is capable of when the stars align. Shahid even has scenes where Charlie acts Guddu-esque, and vice versa, and he somehow manages to play that with perfection as well. I’m queueing up Haider, Kabir Singh, Udta Punjab, and Farzi as we speak, because I need more anti-hero Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka Chopra also delivers here, and she shines during her character’s chaotic scenes of aggression, but she is unfortunately for the most part drowned out by Shahid’s quadruple-double of a performance.
I have always believed in Shahid Kapoor. He’s got a charm and an x-factor about him that I truly believe Bollywood refuses to capitalize upon, and it is quite sad. But every now and then, a capable director reels Kapoor in, and they make magic. Kaminey is a masterful, nuanced tale of brotherhood, love, and cocaine.
This movie scores on so many levels. The soundtrack is not only filled with bangers but also a perfect complement to the film’s tonal shifts. The often-rainy, greyed setting really amplifies the dark, grimy vibe of the story. All of the side characters are put to use effectively and are portrayed by some crazy talented people (shoutout whoever played Bhope). The story itself feels fresh and unlike anything Bollywood’s seen before, and it is well-executed by Bhardwaj. But Bhardwaj’s greatest achievement is the performance he pulled out of Shahid Kapoor.
I mean holy shit. I legitimately forgot that Charlie and Guddu were being played by the same guy. Kapoor embodies both personas with such ease and brilliance; it is truly astounding. I’m not sure realistically how many acting performances I can put above this one, especially within the realm of Indian film. He commands the screen and never gives your attention back once he snatches it away. Absolute insanity what this guy is capable of when the stars align. Shahid even has scenes where Charlie acts Guddu-esque, and vice versa, and he somehow manages to play that with perfection as well. I’m queueing up Haider, Kabir Singh, Udta Punjab, and Farzi as we speak, because I need more anti-hero Shahid Kapoor. Priyanka Chopra also delivers here, and she shines during her character’s chaotic scenes of aggression, but she is unfortunately for the most part drowned out by Shahid’s quadruple-double of a performance.
