Movie Review – Kapoor & Sons
Dharma Production along with the director, Shakun Batra brings a new age family drama titled, Kapoor & Sons on celluloid. The film revolves around a troubled family amidst an emotional roller coaster ride of essence and tenderness. Kapoor & Sons is about a dysfunctional family headed by Amarjeet Kapoor, a 90-year-old ailing man, his son and son’s wife, grandsons Rahul Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Both the two brothers visit their parents and grandfather in Coonoor when their grandfather wants to see them. While at home altogether, several secrets come to the fore like gender orientation, extramarital affairs, second child problem etc which turns out to be a heavy heated mess and misunderstandings. A succession of emotions amidst fallacy forms the crux of the story.The characters are etched to perfection. Rishi Kapoor as a 90-year-old grandfather, Amarjeet Kapoor just stole all the performances. He is filled with so much effervescence yet innocence that brings a light of charm to the whole film. His so called love towards his own family film, ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’ and so-called ‘lust’ for Mandakini is hysterical. It’s a delight to see him on screen as lively as ever. Fawad Khan as elder sibling, Rahul Kapoor is one of the standouts. His elements of characterization as calm, composed and sensible is very impressive. Sidharth Malhotra plays his younger brother, Arjun Kapoor with spontaneity in his performance yet falls flat at parts. Alia as Tia Malik for me plays a supporting role to the story. But her happy go lucky, spunkiness and bubbly nature just woos the audience. Whereas, Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak Shah are actors class apart. Their complicated relationship, replete with misunderstandings is the poignant core of the film and they performed it with so much ease and natural. A treat to watch both of them.
Director Shakun Batra and writer Ayesha Devitre Dhillon’s family drama have so much of freshness in the story. There is a flow of connectivity between each scene and all the characters are well crafted. The treatment makes it more engaging. Cinematography by Jeffery F. Bierman is praiseworthy capturing the picturesque Coonoor. Be it the hill station, tea bungalows and the ambience created by its nature’s fresh dressing, every element is eye relishing. Music by Amaal Mallik is very impressive with a steady flow of melodious emotions. “Kar Gayi Chull” is a peppy number whereas “Bolna” as slow romantic melody just enhances the mood. The fight sequences are not heavily dramatised whereas, it looks authentic in an own way.
Dharma Production’s, Kapoor & Sons is an endearing family movie. The film poses every genre of emotions interwoven with the hue of joy & woe driven with subtle precise and pace. It’s everyone’s every day’s slice of life film. After all, it’s all about loving your family.
