The Kite Bites...

THIS KITE DID NOT FLY TOO HIGH....A scoop of vanilla sprinkled with almonds, nuts, chocolate flakes, hot whipped cream and served with a cherry on top – and you have Anurag Basu’s ‘Kites’.

The marvellous cinematography by Ayananka Bose to the chemistry between Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori beautifies this clichéd love story. Furthermore, it is sprinkled with the colour of three different languages - Hindi, English and Spanish. But unfortunately, what you get is a desperate attempt to make a slick, international movie that flutters onscreen in spite of its ‘it’ moments. If seen meticulously, one can find a strong impression of Basu’s fetish with wild chasing sequences; highlighting key moments in a deep-red hue and the lead pair reuniting after death in fields (Gangster) or in this case, under the sea!

At the onset, you have Hrithik explaining the reasoning behind Kites. In the end, you see the allegory. ‘J’ (Hrithik), a dance teacher who is free of all virtues marries immigrant women to help them procure green cards. He sweeps ‘Gina’ (Kangana Ranaut) off her feet and plays the love game to lay his hands on her fortune. Kangana belongs to a super rich family with dad, a casino owner (Kabir Bedi), mom and a snooty, vicious brother Tony (Nick Brown). Coincidentally, Natasha (Barbara Mori), an illegal, Mexican immigrant in Vegas plays the same love game with Tony. Its only when the Indian hustler J falls for the Mexican Natasha, the plot thickens. We are asked to believe that theirs is a true love story where we are not even shown the falling-in-love part (all we get is an unconvincing initial attraction and lovey-dovey glances.) Despite being unfamiliar with each other’s languages, they communicate through symbols establishing that love has no language. The movie asks us to revel in the amoral adventures of J and Natasha, but when it comes to their love, the film turns utterly moral. The film keeps shifting between the past and the present. Then, a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase between the protagonist and antagonist ensues.

‘Kites’ does have an international appeal but it is unsteady at places hinting at an untidy script. Rajesh Roshan’s music isn’t mesmerizing and lacks the magic of his ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’ days. The track ‘kites in the sky’ sung by untrained Hrithik is an emotional number. The exotic, oomph of Mexican Barbara Mori isn’t phenomenal, though her broken English dialogues, flashy smile and bubbly charm do the trick. Kangana does a mere cameo and is wasted. Kabir Bedi does what he is best at; playing the rich sophisticated daddy. Nick Brown seems lukewarm and gets marred by a conventional characterization.

In spite of the exotic locales, superb stunts and heart wrenching climax, this cross culture romance is no ‘Ek Duje Ke Liye’ nor is it ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’. You leave feeling something was missing. While the plot of the movie is delicious, the manufacturing certainly errs. Don’t expect this kite to fly too high ‘cause it certainly has a mediocre MANJHA (string) pulled by Anurag Basu.

-Priyanka Wali, Bespoken Words Team