Banner : Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision Ltd.
Producer: Dhilin Mehta
Director: Sanjay Gadhvi
Cast: Imran Khan, Minnisha Lamba, Sanjay Dutt, Vidya Malavade, Rahul Dev and Reema Lagoo
Rating: 2/5
Much after Dhoom 2, Director Sanjay Gandhvi returns to give us Kidnap. While Dhoom 2 was all show and no sense, Kidnap is what you would call a step down that is no sense and no Show. The entire premise of the movie is a banal game which you neither want to play nor see for more than an hour and half. The film is long, mind-numbing and thoroughly unconvincing.
Beginning on a high note with sketches of a child in a juvenile detention centre being mistreated, Kidnap tells the story of a boy who spends quality time confined for a crime that was actually never committed. But then the angst of a father backed by his riches is more than enough to convince that what the boy, Kabir (Imran Khan) committed was good enough to have him locked up for good. Wanting to seek revenge Kabir, abducts Sonia (Minnisha Lamba) and ensures that his little game of revenge is played by her father Vikrant Raina (Sanjay Dutt). The same man whose actions tormented Kabir all through his youth. Somewhere in between also lie Sonia’s unconvincing mother Mallika (Vidya Malvade), her agony and her relationship status.
When the audience is laughing at what might be the films’ most serious part, shows that they are so no into it. Kidnap is just so full of hard to believe settings that laughing at them is but natural. What begins on a fantastic note soon turns forced and as though it was actually carried out unplanned. The characters and the setting for starters are hard to digest. Malvaade plays mommy to Lamba; no one is really buying that. The word game is literally translated into a whole film of hide and seeks. What actually saves the film is the small portions of wit, which make you take your eyes off your mobile phone and look at the screen. A few dialogues are amazingly real, almost something you would have said and then there are others which put you back to sleep. The film does have its fun moments but the word moment says it all.
The film starts off quick and you are relieved that the pace is good, that of course till the second half. It is then when you realize that this game is really long and extremely monotonous. Go see the scene where Malavade is grinding her teeth and cursing Dutt; it is long, boring and stealing precious time from the film. If that is not enough check out the long sermon delivered in the end, mind-numbing. The only character that is actually developed is that of Khans’, all the others just seem superficial.
Kidnap also scores low on its musical element. Music which is an integral part of any film almost seems to have been overlooked. Chase sequences or emotions that could have been heightened using music are given a miss. Even the songs of the film are no great and spring up at the most unlikeliest of places. The consistent editing and camerawork salvages the film from falling any deeper into the abyss of ‘absurd flicks’.
If anything you should see Kidnap for is Khan, who after Jaane Tu… delivers a mature performance. The body language and uncanny style of his character is certainly praiseworthy. Lamba is unimpressive and has little room to perform. Being tied up or being kept hostage really does not give her much room to perform. Especially when the film is all Khan and Dutt. Speaking about Dutt, this film would have to be his worst yet. He looks exhausted and the least bit interested. Malavade’s character would have to be the most unconvincing ones ever created. She too has little room to perform and with all that she does, is satisfactory. Lagoo is hardly seen and her role sans any significance. Dev on the other hand is given an impactful role which he manages to ham through.
Go play Cricket, hop scotch or football. You are better off playing something fun rather than sitting in the theatre to watch this film. If you like Khan, then go see him give a first rate performance. If not wait for the DVD and watch it then. The latter is strongly recommended.
