Kites-spotting

Indians may not have warmed up to this Hrithik-starrer, but it’s weaved magic in the West. They love Kites, and adore its ‘dashing hero’.

If you live in India, you’ve probably heard the words ‘kites’ and ‘international’ used together more often than the Brits have heard David Cameron and Nick Clegg these past few weeks. We’ve learnt that the film has an international version edited by Rush Hour director Brett Ratner. That it released simultaneously in India, the US,  the UK, South Africa, Australia and 30 other countries last week, and the second phase will see the film going to 30 more countries. That it has broken into the list of top 10 films at the US box office.  

So we decided to check out the international quotient for ourselves with a simple test: reviews in the international media. While it has got the good word from the US press, a search for ‘Barbara Mori’ on the website of Mexico’s influential El Universal threw up Maori jewellery as the first result. But there’s nothing that warms the cockles of our hearts more than being loved by the West. So here’s a selection of reviews from Hollywoodland.

‘…In its telling, the love story draws from westerns, musicals, film noir, chase thrillers with stunts so preposterous they verge on parody—and it gets away with everything because of Basu’s visual bravura and unstinting passion and energy… The film is free of both subtlety and irony, and it demands of its charismatic stars, Hrithik Roshan and Bárbara Mori, that they act their hearts out with the utmost sincerity. The result is an exhilarating escapist entertainment that plays out like a violent and floridly poetic allegory… Mori has a sultry gorgeousness that at times recalls Ava Gardner. Roshan, a sensational dancer, has the dashing, chiseled looks of a silent movie matinee idol.’ 

‘A carefully calibrated assault on resistant international markets, the movie harnesses English, Hindi and Hispanic talent to an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink plot, replaces dancing with explosions, and choreographers with stunt specialists. The result is a lovers-on-the-lam blast of pure pulp escapism, so devoted to diversion that you probably won’t even notice the corn… Mr Roshan requires viewing uncut: writhing on the dance floor or just gazing into space, the man was made to drive women crazy, one movie at a time.’

‘…This is opera. This is the big stuff, folks. This is a choir, a drum machine, a synthesizer, a 17-piece orchestra and an echo chamber all screaming ‘Love! Love! Love!’ Go in smirking, but by the time it’s over, you’ll believe.’

‘…What makes the movie pop is a standout performance by Roshan… Blessed with near-divine good looks and a chiseled form, the green-eyed actor also happens to be Bollywood’s most accomplished dancer… Despite the extremes of Basu’s script and producer Rakesh Roshan’s story, Roshan anchors the film with a solid, believable performance.’

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Sohini Chattopadhyay