Sadly, Kaanchi doesn’t come anywhere close. Through the film you try to hunt for elements that bring back memories of some of the wonderful work by Ghai that he has been famous for. However, there are just a few faint glimpses, but by and large, the film hardly comes across as a product which has a trademark Subhash Ghai touch.
(Above): A scene from “Kaanchi.”
The film takes a long time to come to the point. The opening sequences are stretched. Mishti and her lover Kartik seem to take ages to unite. However, while you wait for that to happen, there are elements added around a company (owned by Rishi Kapoor, backed by his elder brother Mithun Chakraborty) to take over the township where Mishti and Kartik live.
A few unconvincing sequences follow. The concept of right versus wrong and fighting for one’s rights are established.
Amidst all this there is another angle. A youngster (Rishabh Sinha) is added to the plot, which seems like a quick pass to begin with. To your surprise it turns out to be the crux of the plot, which definitely lacks the “wow!”
(Above): Rishi Kapoor in “Kaanchi.”
Nevertheless, there seems to be some hope once the film moves towards the interval as there are some reasonably well-pitched dramatic sequences put together. Though you don’t step into the second half with many expectations, what amazes you is the manner in which
Kaanchi goes further downhill.
Mishti’s visit to Mumbai, the way she meets her childhood-friend-turned-cop (Chandan Roy Sanyal), the ease with which she gains entry into the lives of Rishi Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty, the sting she carries, the social and political workers that she approaches - it is a free fall!
And that’s not all. There are four to five songs interspersed in the second half, two of them entirely shot on Chandan Roy. At a number of instances there are forced references made to Ghai’s own work from the past. The pre-climax of the bigwigs getting arrested is of convenience too and so are many escapes that Mishti makes. You just hope, albeit faintly, that the climax would bring in a high to the plot but the fight sequence that follows is just average and by the time an epilogue featuring CBI official Adil Hussain arrives, Kaanchi surprisingly gets into a Prakash Jha zone.
(Above): Mishti and Kartik Tiwari in “Kaanchi.”
In the middle of all this, one does hunt for positives and it has to be said that Mishti comes across as a beautiful girl with freshness about her. With baby flesh on her face, she comes across every bit as an innocent girl though her
modus operandi leaves a lot to be desired. Also, she clearly makes an attempt to “act” rather than coming across as a natural. Comparatively, Kartik does well during his screen time and it is apparent that he has opened up a lot since his
Pyaar Ka Punchnama days. Mithun Chakraborty is good, though he turns monotonous after a point. Rishi Kapoor clearly chose this role for old times sake. Rishabh is just about okay while Chandan has his moments occasionally.
There are attempts being made to project Kaanchi as a film with a message. We however wish Subhash Ghai would rather make a commercial entertainer with larger than life appeal. That would be a movie worth watching!
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