Kai Po Che (2013) User Reviews

Cricket, Love, Friendship, Passion, Politics.... phew... what a film!

[gops-s21 · 9/10 · 24 February 2013]

Before watching "Kai Po Che!":

Me: Hey! Let's watch Kai Po Che.. A movie about Friendship, Forgiveness, Passion and..

Bro: wait.. yet another movie on 'friendship'! Another 3 idiots! Another Zindagi na milegi dobara... Come on! Don't you get tired of watching movies about same old stuff.. Can't we watch 'Die Hard'..? Yippee ki yay!

Me: No.. 'Die Hard' got bad reviews.. And seriously? Choosing 'Die Hard' over 'Kai Po Che' is the dumbest thing that must have ever come to your mind. Nopiee ki nay!

Bro: OK then.. let's go.. But we will watch Die hard after we are done with Kai Po Che.. OK?

Me: OK. Cool.

The film:

The film title Kai Po Che is originally a Gujarati phrase that means "I have cut the kite" which refers to a kite competition where one of the competitors uses his kite to cut off another competitors kite and yells "Kai Po Che!"

Adapted from "The 3 Mistakes of my Life"(Chetan Bhagat) and Directed by Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On!!) this is a character driven film about friendship, forgiveness, passion, love.. all in the backdrop of some real events. The story mainly revolves around three friends, Ishaan played by Sushant Singh Rajput, Govind played by Raj Kumar Yadav and Omi played by Amit Sadh, who set out to open a sports training academy.

The Good:

A film about friendship is not a new thing in Bollywood. We have already witnessed "3 Idiots", "Rock On", "ZNMD", "Dil Chahta Hai". "Kai Po Che" looks similar at first but peel off the layers and it's much more.

Adapted from a book titled "3 mistakes of my Life" this film is a tightly scripted and crisply edited drama that never bogs down or dumbs down for its audience and instead resorts to subtlety.

Playing with themes like dreams and aspirations, friendship standing test of time, a commentary of our education system is not an easy task and the director does an incredible job of weaving everything together.

Cinematographer Anay Goswamy has made look Gujrat so beautiful that I feel like taking a vacation and running off to that place for the Kite festival. Also, music given by "Amit Trivedi" is refreshing especially the song "Manjha".

But it's the characters that drive this film and the three leads are a revelation here. Rajkumar Yadav, Amit Sadh and Sushant Singh Rajput not only have a good screen presence but they can actually ACT! (Sorry about me shouting and all.. but can't control my emotions right now) The actors have such great chemistry that it reminded me of my college days. These guys are not actors in this film. They ARE Govind Patel, Omkar Shastri and Ishaan Bhatt. And this is where this film hits it out of the park.

A capitalist money minded friend. A political friend. An emotional/day dreamer friend. These are people whom we have met somewhere at some point in our lives. These are people whom we can relate to and care about.

The Bad: Not applicable.

Final verdict: Cricket, Love, Friendship, Passion, Politics.. It's all what India is about and it's something that any sane minded Indian wouldn't and shouldn't miss.

After watching "Kai Po Che!":

Bro: Damn you… (sniff)

Me: What! You didn't like it? (sniff)

Bro: My eyes are watery. It's so embarrassing! F***ing friendship movies… (sniff)

Me: Oh come on now! Since when did you start crying for a film (sniff)

Bro: Oh and why is there a bubble under your nose?

Me: I.. I got cold. (sniff..) OK.. So next Die Hard.. I'll go buy the tickets and then..

Bro: F*** Die Hard. Let's watch this again. (sniff)

This kite will fly very in the sky

[budhrajavishal · 8/10 · 22 February 2013]

This Kite is very high in the sky. An ordinary story with extraordinary acting, screenplay & direction. This flick has once again proved that start cast should be the last ingredient. It is an adaptation of 3 Mistakes Of My Life, with much fresh content. All the characters are well placed and every single part is believable. Sushant Rajput delivers one of the best debut performance of Bollywood. Yadav plays his role with expression with minimum dialogues. Govind & Amrita is just perfect in their roles. Abhishek Kapoor is brilliant as he knows his job very well. Cinematography is awesome using very fine detail. Screenplay has a novelist touch(Bhagat's touch). Last words: Bollywood is going in right direction. Go and appreciate this perfect job.

The Best Movie Of The Year So Far..

[bharat047 · 9/10 · 22 February 2013]

Set against the backdrop of the Gujarat riots of a decade ago, Kai Po Che tells the story of three best friends - Ishaan Bhatt (Sushant Singh Rajput), Omkar Shastri (Amit Sadh) and Govind Patel (Rajkumar Yadav), who are trying to chase their dreams in the advent of the new millennium. This was a time when India's nuclear power was ostensibly shining - a perfect place for the three Ahmedabad boys to start a business that could be their ticket to fame and riches.

In a country like that of ours, where cricket is a religion, they hit upon a brilliant plan to start a training academy that could produce India's next sporting superstars. But, destiny plays cruel joke in the lives of three boys whose equations with each other are thrown into severe turmoil by calamitous event of the Godhra riots. This is when Ishaan, Omi and Govind struggle to keep their friendship intact, but on the other hand, their dreams are shattered as it pushes their grand plan of building a sports academy off the rails.

Positives : Kai Po Che is a refreshing tale of friendship, dreams and passion that might leave you with a mild dose of reality. The movie unravels the madness that the common citizen of the country has about cricket, cinema and politics, and the effects that it is making on the process of growth and the ethos of the country. There's no over-the-top, filmy, dramatic dialogues, instead, those in the film sound very realistic and genuine.

Verdict : Kai Po Che is an ode to true friendship. The movie works wonder on every sphere, say it brilliant acting, realistic plot or heart-touching dialogues. Hence, this one is sure to make a prominent place to the year's Best film award nominations. So, go and grab your tickets at the earliest and relish the beauty of the flick.

Ratings : 9/10 !!

Blockbuster!!!

[avi-coer · 10/10 · 25 February 2013]

Earlier to, many movies tried to capture the incidents of Gujarat but this piece of work stands out from all of them. Beautifully and sensibly linking all of them with great success. Movie for not even a second deviate audiences. Million time watchable movie. And amazingly great work by the actors specially by the little kid Ali. So true in his cricketing skills. Great casting by the group.Great direction work.Music very different with studded Gujarati words and appeals all us north Indians. And purely one way a family movie which touches a bit from every person's life in the country and binds everyone with the highly accepted religion of cricket. Cons: should have been extended 1 hour more.

Fabulous Presentation

[kunder-akshay3 · 10/10 · 25 February 2013]

Rock On!!! A movie with a simple story. Could have gone unnoticed but what held it was the presentation style, the performances,the music.

Coming from the director of the same is Kai Po Che!!

As the movie starts it gets deep into you as you watch the start credits along with Amith Sadh's expression and riveting background score and you will tell yourself that hardly we had seen such a breezing start to a movie.

Substance is what holds this movie very well. The movie is set between 2000 and 2002 and has friendship and cricket as the main backdrop. Events that take place in their lives as the movie progresses flawlessly from light drama to a dark venture.

Sushant Singh Rajput makes a confident Debut. Amit Sadh is superb. Amrita Puri makes full justice but the one who stands out is Rajkumar Yadav.

The Music of the movie is the Soul and song timings are perfect in the movie. Background Music is the best we had heard in recent times.

In all its a movie which requires recognition since we are used to masala murder flicks and this movie brings us the deserved change.

Kai Po Che is sure to rock and will end up with a cult following as Rock On did.

Watch it for the direction, intensity and simplicity! A treat.

[rahulturbo · 8/10 · 22 February 2013]

Kai Po Che- Magnificent direction and excellent performance by each one of the cast member, you will find it hard to get a loophole there. The film is based on 'The Three Mistakes of My Life', more than the story it is the execution that sets this film apart. On account of direction this movie has set some high standards, it's a through and through professional job; priorities, preferences, perspectives and lives of people are so beautifully gelled that it is a treat to the senses. Music has been used to touch this movie just enough to keep it untouched, yet it has provided the desired effect- may be a notch less you can say This is mostly a single paced film, that in no way means that it is on a lower level; actually whole film has been set up on a higher platform. It is not an outright feel-good thing like DCH or RDB, and it is intense even in it's lightest of moments. The climax is short, fitting and crisp - a message has been delivered without going in disputed territories So, don't go in with any presumptions and watch it for some exceptional stuff but at the same time there is no guarantee for everyone's satisfaction

Kai Po Che defines "Good Cinema".

[janianmol · 10/10 · 23 February 2013]

Believe me when I tell you this, almost anybody can write a book as long as you have a pen and paper and the thought of it. But to read a book like "Three mistakes of my life" makes you kill yourself and to even make a movie from that book, that takes more than a set of balls. I have many friends who are simply mad behind Hollywood movies, who say that it's just amazing. But when I ask them about Bollywood movies they just say one thing, "its not good cinema". Well, here's your answer, Kai Po Che is what truly defines good cinema. It's just beginning of the year 2013 and we already have a film which is well acted, has as much as comic feel and emotional reel and a big story behind it. Direction is very raw, which is something I like. The movie has a Desi feel to it which I believe everyone likes. The most important is that the Film music consist of only three songs, which is very well written and perfectly sung. If you haven't seen this movie than I will definitely recommend you to do that.

Kai Po Che in Tamil means "Lost my hands" which will probably happen to you when you will be applauding to this movie.

Brimming Niceties, Fantastic Performances & A Scintillating Ode To Friendship (& Its Destruction)!

[nairtejas · 7/10 · 22 February 2013]

Kai Po Che, thus gives Bollywood a new wave of actors. Sushanth is a charmer. Amit Sadh is elegant and genuine. Yadav is creepy but portrays his role fantastically. The supporting cast is bold with Manav Kaul getting my uninterrupted attention. The music goes haywire sometimes, but the direction compensates it. Cinematography, I perceive has been a copy of Dil Chahta Hai while screenplay is non-linear & appreciable. The climax is different from the book & adds up little emotion to the film. Even if you haven't read the book, this one will give you a total feel of it.

"I took the pains of making 3 Rock Ons!! for this," Anhishek Kapoor was himself quoted saying. And I second that. The glory of this adaptation is its screenplay, run time (135 minutes) & the audacity of film-making as a whole.

Yes, there are some ennui-inducing sequences specially the romance thing which might... MIGHT annoy at times, but that is passable. Not much of dilly-dallying or item songs or stereotype ridden script or dialogs, this one. Indeed, KPC is a victory in itself! Yes, Gujarati people say it after achieving victory over kite flying, but after watching this, I too can say pretty much the same phrase with oomph. Except that the political hue was necessary, but the gore & violence made it look cranky. 7/10 for compressing such a magnificent book into a short film.

BOTTOM LINE: Kai Po Che! is a pretty good film; a must watch this weekend (compared to Zilla Ghaziabad), but talking it with the likes of Dil Chahta Hai or Rock On!! would be mild disgrace to the latter because KPC doesn't talk more about friendship than it talks about its destruction. KPC will make you think, but it is not a GREAT* film as it tries very hard to achieve but still gets a cold spot.

WATCH OUT FOR: Sushanth Singh Rajput, Manav Kaul, Amit Sadh & some tit- bits.

*refers to actual meaning in the dictionary with in celluloid context.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Language: Very Mild | Sex: No | Nudity: Very Mild | Smoking & Alcohol: Mild | Violence: Very Critical | Gore: Mediocre | Mouth-Kiss & Foreplay: Mild | Traumatizing Quotient: Strong

Best Adaptation Movie in Indian Cinema

[TheArthurFleck · 9/10 · 22 May 2013]

Who said Indian's cannot adapt a novel to movie. This is one of the best adaptation in Indian cinema. This story is one of the best Indian novel. This is the second Chetan Bhagat's novel adapted for the silver screen after "Five points someone" (made a block buster in World cinemas list as "3-Idiots" directed by Rajkumar Hirani). Many people don't know what happened in Gujarat including me. Gothra train incident, election incident etc. Chetan Bhagat wrote this story in 2008. He is also one of the Screenplay writer for this movie. Directed by "ROCK ON" Abhishek Kapoor. Screenplay is really good. They have connected each and every incidents very well: Friendship, Love, Passion, and Revenge. Good casting also: Omi, Ish, Govi, Vidhya and Ali. I like the Ishaan character played by Sushant Singh Rajput. The real passion about cricket. Finally: Must watch Movie. .. 9.5/10.

Sincere Attempt

[dpatel13 · 7/10 · 4 March 2013]

Abhishek Kapoor won the hearts of cinema goers with his last outing "Rock On!" and has seemed to continue his trend with this film as well. Kai Po Che is an example of excellent film making coming from one of the emerging and talented directors of Indian Cinema.

I haven't read the book (3 Mistakes of my Life) that the film is based on, so I can't comment much on the screenplay. But I would say that the film moves at a slow pace. The story revolves around the effects of societal issues on the lives of the three protagonists. The director does a good job of showing the gravity of each issue. However, each hurdle is crossed with relative ease which I found to be a weak point in the script/direction. However, all other aspects of the film are executed to perfection; background score is elevating, costume design is on point and acting is amazing (especially from the new comers).

With all the garbage films (Dabangg, Khiladi 786, Son of Sardar) garnering 100 crore+, its good to see that a sincere film such as Kai Po Che is gaining praise critically and at the box office. Indian cinema is heavily dependent on emotions and a protagonist who is nothing short of a super hero. While this film doesn't offer the latter, this film is definitely emotional throughout. You can tell the film was made with a lot of heart which can be felt by the viewers.

@in2deepjagani

My oh My!!!!

[ashishgautam87 · 9/10 · 24 February 2013]

This movie exceeded my expectations.Kai Po Che! does not redefines Indian cinema and brings nothing new to the table but still it ranks among the best films made in recent times just because it gets the essentials right.The acting by all lead stars and the supporting cast is excellent,editing is good ,direction is commendable and so is the story(much much better than the novel). Speaking of acting Sushant Singh deserves all the praise but one has to agree his role was the most likable of the three.Amit and Raj's role was challenging as well which they have played with due diligence.Even the support cast of Omi's "mama" and Vidya were brilliant and did justice to their role.But the real beauty of this movie lies in its simplicity.I never felt a scene overdone in the movie.The fight scenes (among the friend and riots)specially don't look pacified as in most of the Hindi movies for censor certificates.There is enough use of abuse in the movie but it never looks overdone and out of context.At the end of the day Kai Po Che! makes you feel nostalgic ,gives you heartwarming moments and heart breaking moments as well but then you realize that good cinema does not necessarily needs to be ground breaking,you can make a good movie just by following simple rule of good story,good acting and good direction.

Bromance+Cricket+Religion = Kai Po Che!!

[ssuujjuu-1 · 7/10 · 22 February 2013]

Kai Po Che (2013)

(P.S. - for people who have not read the book, there are some light spoilers sprinkled here...others can read on)In spite of being a movie adapted from a book, by all means director Abhishek Kapoor's "Kai Po Che" is quite an original piece of work. By switching the primary character of the book (the narrator) with a supporting character, the director has hit some jackpots, as well as made a few misses. Also along with some plot changes, the movie is quiet refreshing even for those who have read the book. But saying that, the plot of the book had a better structure. In the book, the gradual three mistakes committed by the narrator towards the 'lump in throat' finale, gave the story a larger purpose. This, I some how felt got lost in the movie. Speaking of the positives...the book which had a rom-com track, a highly unrealistic sporting scenario in Australia and a very clichéd, loud, filmi albeit dark climax is totally done away with in the movie.

"Kai Po Che" has an even heartfelt tone, which grips you instantly. It may be due to "already read the book" syndrome, the story did feel rushed in parts. The "Bromance" scenes are very touching and the icing on the cake are the scenes showing the epic Eden Garden India-Australia Test match of 2001. They literally gave you goosebumps...boy that will always be the best cricket match of our lifetime!! Cricket fans will make an instant connect with the joy and celebrations shown post victory. The film-makers have hit bulls-eye with the casting, Amit Sadh as the vulnerable 'Omi' and Raj Kumar Yadav as the stingy geek 'Govind' are perfect. They are heavily overshadowed by Shushant Rajput as 'Ishaan', the guy have an amazing screen presence for a new comer. The rest of cast too get their job done right.

Shot in the (hardly ever presented in Bollywood) small but gorgeously decorated Havelis, narrow colourful by-lanes and temples of Gujarat, the visual warmth of the movie is immense. The cinematography by Anay Goswami is spot on for the movie. Even better is the music by Amit Trivedi, the three delicious songs and the BGM supported the settings movie beautifully. With a run time of just two hours, the editing is pretty crisp too.

Kai Po Che is a gutsy movie to make, all credits to the director Abhishek Kapoor. The ultra-sensitive topic of communal instability is very maturely handled by the makers. Its a movie with many messages, without getting preachy in a single scene.

Good at the beginning becomes sucky towards the end. Only Sickulars would enjoy it thoroughly!

[ambnetworks · 2/10 · 3 March 2013]

After taking a tough-ass MBA exam, I was hoping to enjoy this movie with my friends. In the beginning the movie was good but a little unbelievable from the start. There are several technical and factual errors in the movie. First none of the actors know how to speak proper Gujarati and sound like pretentious bastards! Another the camera work is not good in places and sometimes it doesn't focus where it meant to focus. For example, the cell phone scene or the scene where they drive on the long stretch of road or whatever. Age wise all of them look in their late twenties, I don't believe any sane parents would allow such 'parasite singles' and losers to sit home and watch TV all the time! Another thing I don't understand is why Mama (Uncle of one of the characters) keeps helping these losers despite knowing that they won't ever return his money back! The lead role guy is a total loser and he even hits her sister! what a loser! why the director has to show such scenes of violence towards women? does he want to prove that the Sushant guy was mentally unstable or something? When I heard the word "Karsevakas" I was praying to god wishing they won't show those unfortunate events but they did and that to in a sickular way, they tried to show that Moslems were unarmed victims and Hindus butchered them without mercy-that paints really a bad picture of Gujarat. They could have show the situation on both sides but for some reason they didn't show how the Karsevakas where burnt alive. So after Earthquake I seriously felt like leaving the movie and hated it to the core. I believe the government should have banned this instead of Vishwaroopam. This movie is seriously ain't that good as the other sickulars claims it to be. Waste of money and time.

a 'good slice of life' type film

[nair-vinith · 8/10 · 29 May 2013]

'Kai Po Che' chronicles the life of 3 friends in Gujarat(India) & how their dreams, passion, friendship and brotherhood undergo various upheavals thereby changing the dynamics of their relationship in the face of natural disaster, religious strife's & politics of Gujarat. The lead actors in the film are new & young but has given a terrific performance.

Kai Po Che's script is more like a chapter of book rather than a story in whole but nevertheless the director is successful in showcasing chetan bhagat's book in a fluid manner. At no point the film becomes monotonous nor the script is dragging but it keeps you interested the whole time wanting for more. Audiences will surely recall '3 idiots' when the film begins.

The young starcast pulls it through....

[ckaran80 · 9/10 · 22 February 2013]

Kai Po Che is on screen adaption of Chetan Bhagat's '3 mistakes of my life'....and i have to admit that despite having read the novel, this movie leaves the same impact as if reading the book....or perhaps even more than that...

The direction has been amazingly superb along with the screenplay.....the background score is simply outstanding and influences the entire movie...but its the actors who steal the show completely...Almost all the parts in the book have been covered except the Australian one and wasn't needed either..The simplicity of the script is what makes it superfluous...The combination of real life incidents with the lives of the main characters is portrayed perfectly...The most astounding feature of this story is how different aspects of society - cricket, politics and religion intervene to some conclusions...

The cast is new, but director Abhishek Kapoor manages to pull out something really extraordinary from them...Debutant Sushant Singh Rajput is the show-stealer with an award-winning performance , nicely supported by others...Raj Kumar Yadav plays his role to perfection...

This movie is classic tale of friendship,cricket,politics and its impact on the lives of 3 friends...The movie is flawless in its every part barring the climax which is far too sudden. The climax is totally different from the novel and better than the novel as well...Thumbs up for KAI PO CHE and its brilliant cast and direction...

You won't make a mistak !

[siddhantgiri1994 · 8/10 · 21 February 2013]

This week has basically two releases for 'Bollywood' and I opted for 'Kai Po Che'. The reason behind my choice is crystal clear that's one and only for 'Abhishek Kapoor' – the man who delivered the best musical film of 'Bollywood'. So now an inevitable question rises that – Did Abhishek really succeed again with his adaption of a book which I felt was filled with many potholes and flaws like 'Ali swashbuckling the deliveries of the Aussies'. Did Abhishek again sensitively handle the newly derived success formula of 'Bollywood'- male bonding ??

STORY - As most of us know that it is an adaption of 'Chetan Bhagat's' novel – 'The Three Mistakes Of my Life', sorry I have to correct myself 'It is an successful adaption'. Yes my friends this flick is really enjoyable. The director has handled with care every genre that passes along this movie and gives it a nice 'Bollywood' touch. The central theme that is bro-mance is one of the best. It reminds me of '3-idiots' but it would be quite daring to say that it outranks '3-idiots' in that field. From the cryptic trailers everyone would have got a silhouette of the movie but don't go with your intuition. Because the movie demands a watch. Unlike other directors this one has not spread himself too thin in an attempt to please the audience. For instance the seduction by Vidya to Govind isn't stretched to an obscene amount. The setting of the story in 'Gujarat' is one of the big highlights of this movie as you will love the cinematography. This movie plays and reflects the stereotypes of this so-called 'Modern India'. The movie's character are from middle class so it does play a staple dish .

PERFORMANCES -'Raj Kumar Yadav' excels and 'Amit Sadh' too but the man of the movie award goes to 'Sushant Singh Rajput'. It's no doubt that the three of them were good but at the end of the day someone is best.'Vidya' played by ' Amrita Puri' is cute with a tinge of joviality and naughtiness . She is a perfect sister and a lover. Little 'Ali' does look strong and playful. Others are good. I can't through the whole list in one word I will label the cast 'very good'. The transition made by the three lead characters seems like a facile victory. I won't dig enough cause I don't want to spoil it for you.

MUSIC- 'Gujarat' means 'Garba' and thus means 'beautiful'. The songs are good . Unlike the previous venture 'Rock On' this one is a bit traditional and you will love it. If I will go for the best song I will vote for 'Shubharambh'. God! You will love it. Music is too good.

OTHER ASPECTS -The cinematography is really fitting. You will surely succumb to the depth of 'Gujaratiness'.Editing is good and I'm not that kind of aficionado in film-making so I did like the other aspects too like camera work , editing and blah,blah,blah.

FINAL VERDICT -Go for it. You won't make a mistake.

Spellbinding, Enthralling, Amazing and So On...

[Somak21 · 9/10 · 22 February 2013]

There were times when our master storyteller Jeetendra's nephew Abhishek Kapoor was keen to make a dynamic debut as a hero in Bollywood. Sadly that potential got beaten up badly. But what really worked wonders was rise of a dynamic director and storyteller Abhishek Kapoor through his luminous work "ROCK ON!". It was no less than a masterpiece and also one of the best movies based on friendship in ages. 'KAI PO CHE' is also another friendship movie where behind the story and script is none other than Chetan Bhagat, one of the most exceptional young writers in ages.

Though 'Hello', adapted from Bhagat's 'One Night @ The Call Center' didn't cast any magic on box-office, following one '3 Idiots', adapted from his 'Five point Someone' is the highest grossing movie on box- office till date and most favorite to numerous people. Which shows well- handled direction can work more than wonders if a superb script is given. And, Chetan Bhagat novels are so distinguished that an imposing script can be easily extracted from them. Though Hirani in 3 Idiots added more humor and his own creativity, Abhishek Kapoor follows the theme entirely of Bhagat's 'The 3 Mistakes Of My Life' and illustrates beautifully on screen as per demands of the script.

Though 'The 3 Mistakes Of My Life' is the most diverse story inked on novel among other works by Bhagat, Abhishek Kapoor skillfully adds many stereotypical dimensions in the film which makes it even more beautiful than the novel itself.

Friendship is such a wonderful genre that if you can present it beautifully that one can't stop praising it. DIL CHAHTA HAI, RANG DE BASANTI, ROCK ON! to ZINDAGI NA MILEGI DOBARA have been remarkable journeys so far. KAI PO CHE ushers itself in this wing.

But KAI PO CHE doesn't hold its boundary only around FRIENDSHIP. It's a tale of unconditional friendship, endless love among themselves as if they hold under some brotherhood, it elucidates politics and portraits the illimitable passion for sports. But the movie depicts an unforgettable tale based on three real-life events that changed the main three protagonist's lives forever - a conducive cricket match between India & Australia, Gujarat Earthquake and Godhra Massacre and Riots based on that. I'm just amazed at how a marvelous story is woven under these three real-life events and based on the story, the screenplay is so well handled and composed by Pubali Chaudhuri, Supratik Sen, Abhishek Kapoor & Chetan Bhagat himself.

Kai Po Che is the story of three friends Govind (Rajkumar Yadav), Omi (Amit Sadh) & Ishaan (Sushant Singh Rajput). Govind aspires to become a big businessman one day, so he along with his two friends, encouraging their passion, opens a cricket goods and training shop. Everything was going fine till the events that transpire against the backdrop of all that occurred in the city during that time change the lives of each of the friends in very different ways.

Director Abhishek Kapoor yet again proves that he is a pedagogue storyteller. His previous work ROCK ON! and KAI PO CHE may be harmonious is some shades but KAI PO CHE is much more emotional, has too many layers and strikes a chord among the middle class youngsters out there which is very hard to commit to. KAI PO CHE is not only just a simple story of three friends, it's a perfect depiction of the role of society on the lives of the people living in outskirts. Plus, Abhishek Kapoor's brilliant storytelling completes it.

Amit Trivedi's short and soulful music adds special charm. "MANZA" and "MEETHI BOLIYAAN" are delightful to listen to even the film could have easily worked without any song. But the songs gleam the spirit of the movie in a very melodious way. Anay Goswami's cinematography is first- rate.

The three focal portions of the movie are exquisitely carried away by the three youngsters. It's amazing that Abhishek took a risk by choosing newcomers on such a introvert script but his clarity of vision helped him make a superb decision by choosing them.

Sushant Singh Rajput's amazing potential, timing, acting skills and screen presence astonishes me completely. He already has YRF and Raju Hirani project in his pockets and no wonder why. Here rises an upcoming hugely successful star, that can be clearly seen. Amit Sadh enacts his part perfect. He can now come on focus of many talent seekers. Rajkumar Yadav enacts deliberately just like he did in his previous works. His role in every movie has different shades but this talented actor carries out skillfully every time.

Rest of the cast do their jobs perfectly. Amrita Puri, the lone leading lady character in the movie aloof carries out her role amazingly. Manav Kaul & Asif Basra are excellent. Digvijay Deshmukh aka Ali is magnificent. Wish to see him in future more frequently.

There can be no end of praising KAI PO CHE. Throughout this whole review, I failed to point out a single blemish in this fine piece of work. Every shot, every character, every moment in this movie is so flawless that one can't help being amazed at times. Films like KAI PO CHE are as hard to make as hard not be flabbergasted at. It's an incandescent saga of friendship that transcends the boundaries of penchant.

Best Movie Of This Year So far. Strictly Recommended.

A Good adaptation of the Novel.

[bikiwood · 7/10 · 22 February 2013]

Kai Po Che truly stands out to be a good adaptation of a Novel. It was a better adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's Novel ,3 Mistakes of My Life , than 3 Idiots for sure. The screenplay was too delicately taken care of such that the actual story of the Novel doesn't change too much. The crisp surprise in the climax of the story made an attempt to save the soul of the movie and differentiate it from the Novel. The actors did a great job no doubt. The pace of the movie is just perfect to take you through each page of the Novel. The movie was all over a good watch, but nothing special or phenomenal. The story could have been changed a bit more, as viewers who have read the story can predict the next scene with ease. Abhishek Kapoor (Gattu) did a great job in direction, so did the Screenplay writer and Editor. I recommend that you watch this flick once.

One Time Watch.

Kai Po Che makes you laugh , cry , thrilled , excited and inspired. It is simply irresistible

[ketgup83 · 9/10 · 7 March 2013]

Kai Po Che makes you laugh , cry , thrilled , excited and inspired. It is the movie which has universal appeal and will be appreciated by one and all.

Ishaan is a cricket enthusiast who has never achieved anything in life but dreams of turning a local intelligent boy into international cricket star. Omi is a regular guy who is pushed to join politics by his uncle. Govind dreams of opening a flashy sports shop in a big mall. Kai Po Che ( means " I have cut the kite") tells the story of these three young lads who one thing in common " To give India the next big cricket stars"

Based on novel " 3 mistakes of my life" by Chetan Bhagat , Kai Po Che is the second attempt by Abhishek Kapoor after the brilliant Rock On. With Kai Po Che , Abhishek Kapoor has gone first step ahead in terms of direction and story-telling. Right from the beginning with beautiful background score , Kai Po Che is spellbinding in every scene. The movie goes into the flashback mode and depicts the events which shook Gujarat right from earthquake in 2001 till 2007's Godhra riots massacre and how these events affects the life of three friends. Hats off to Abhishek Kapoor for handling the sensitive subject with maturity and with the backdrop of Gujarati culture and music , Kai Po Che is a cakewalk for you. Screenplay keeps you busy with crispy editing. Art direction is good. Cinematography is eye-grabbing capturing the gorgeous locales of Gujarat. Background and original score by Amit Trivedi is the highlight of the film with all the songs gelling well with the mood of the film. Climax scenes are thrilling and bold which would not be liked by many audience. Sushant Singh Rajput gives it all. The character of Ishaan was tailor-made for him and he gives his best. He is sure to be well-liked for his role. Amit Sadh is another new finding and he gives his best shot when he realizes about his parent's death. watch out for him. Raj Kumar Rao was great as Govind. Watch out for him when he shouts at Ishaan for stealing the money without informing him. Amrita Puri was effective in a small role.

Kai Po Che will go down as one of my favorite movie. The story is inspiring and motivating with brave direction , strong performances and energizing background score. It is simply irresistible. Very good 4/5

Must watch for a well told story and great editing

[ssvikas · 7/10 · 25 February 2013]

Chetan Bhagat should be one happy man! This is the third of his books to make it to the big screen, after 'One Night @ the Call Center' turned into 'Hello' and 'Five Point Someone' lit the screens as '3 idiots'. This time it is 'The 3 Mistakes of My Life'.

The film begins in the present day setting where Govind Patel (Raj Kumar Yadav) makes a slick presentation on his academy 'Sabarmati Sports'. He then picks up Omi Shastri (Amit Sadh) from a prison and they drive towards a stadium. On the way, the film cuts back to 10 years in the past, to a story of three friends, the third one being cricket freak and otherwise lazy Ishaan Bhatt (Sushant Singh Rajput).

The trio, who are otherwise not gainfully employed full-time, start off a business. While Govind is the more calculative businessman, Omi brings in the bucks by way of support from a doting uncle Bittu Mama who is a local politician and is keen to see Omi joining the party. Ishaan is the emotionally driven one and coaches cricket, something he loves most and from his experience as a district level player.

The business takes wings quickly and they are about to expand too. In the meantime, Ishaan has identified a local talent Ali, a shy boy and the son of Omi's uncle's political rival. And with Govind teaching Maths to Ishaan's sister Vidya (Amrita Puri), sparks fly between them and a new romance develops, unbeknownst to Ishaan. Suddenly, things are set to change when an earthquake strikes and riots happen!

'Kai Po Che' which stands for a cry when a rival's kite is cut in a kite festival, has a very earthly charm with realistic characters. In a way, not having star power for its lead actors works well in the film's favor allowing the script to prevail. While its lead actors and especially Raj Kumar Yadav & Sushant Singh Rajput do well, probably the most powerful performance comes from Manav Kaul as Bittu Mama.

Edited with precision mostly seen in Hollywood, 'Kai Po Che' has a runtime of hardly over two hours and manages to capture a whole gamut of events, transformation of characters and still managing to leave an overwhelmingly heavy feeling in the end. Nowhere is time lost for songs as Amit Trivedi's soundtracks blend into the setting and the story. The song 'Manjha' is already popular and works as its soul.

Real life events, the 2001 Gujarat earthquake and the 2002 riots that happened in the aftermath of the inhuman burning of pilgrims at Godhra where one of the key characters is shown to have lost his family in the fateful coach that was burnt. In what could be described as controversial, the film takes the liberty to portray one religious community as an aggressor and the other, mostly as a victim, thus playing it safe.

To sum up, 'Kai Po Che' is definitely recommended, irrespective of whether you watch it with friends or family. Let the hype around the movie not raise your expectations beyond what the movie can deliver. All that it has to offer is a drama that dwells on the lives of three friends and some events that seem to change their lives forever.

A journey down the memory lane

[beratul · 9/10 · 21 April 2013]

I have always been an avid follower of IMDb ratings and reviews. But this movie made me write my first review. I read the actual book quite some time back and was not sure about what to expect from the movie. Eventually that helped me getting sunk into the mesmerizing world of simplicity and friendship much deeper. I still remember the moment when I came out of the movie hall. I found myself standing in the middle of nowhere. I was not able to relate myself to the traffics and cars and buildings and roads and malls of Bangalore. Far from my home, my mind was still completely soaked up with the memories of my childhood, playing cricket in the narrow lanes in my hometown with my friends I am hardly in touch with.

'Nostalgic' is the word if I have to express my thoughts about this movie. More than than the movie, which anyway for sure is and will be one of the best 'buddy movies' ever made in bollywood, I think, it's the detailing with which the three main characters have been portrayed, makes this movie a treat to watch. How they talk, how they react, how they fight, how they dance....I bet you cherish the fond memories of your childhood in every single sequence.. Amit Trivedi's songs were inspiring and tailer-made for the plots..

For me, 'Kao Po Che' was not a movie, rather a key to open the lock of the door of my 'slowly- getting-faded' past, enabling me me to take a pleasant walk down the memory lane..

Abhishek Kapoor's Skillful Adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's Prosaic Novel Makes Kai Po Che A Rich And Engaging Experience Overall, However The First Half Is A Tad Predictable

[sashank_kini-1 · 7/10 · 22 February 2013]

Usually, I would not recommend a Chetan Bhagat novel to anyone. My lack of love for the author stemmed after reading 'The Three Mistakes of My Life', his only work I've read. Finding his writing style prosaic and his characters' world uninteresting, I could not push myself to touch any of his other books though I own all his earlier works (birthday gifts). But now, I think I have some people whom I would surely recommend his novels to: while anybody who reads great English works will not generally waste his or her time with a Chetan Bhagat book, I believe any talented scriptwriter or director should get his hands on a Chetan Bhagat book, which have proved to become great film adaptations, and turn it into a fine film with the help of a talented crew who rise above expectations, breathing some vitality and maturity into the stale characters penned by the author in his works.

In fact, Bhagat can change his profession by entering screen writing or start pitching good ideas for cinema. Take Three Idiots for example, which was based partially on '5 Point Someone' and proved to be one of the most watched films of the year and though 'Hello' which was adapted from 'One Night At A Call Center' tanked, Kai Po Che is the second time a Chetan Bhagat novel has proved to work as a great adaptation. Abhishek Kapoor, the film's director and scriptwriter is able to visually present with great effect the motifs in the novel, and while his approach is safer and more faithful to the novel than 3 Idiots, KPC is very absorbing nevertheless thanks to the arresting background score and honest, understated performances.

The motif working best in KPC is that of the television which repeatedly appears to influence the lives of the film's characters. When the film begins, the television appears first when Omi (Amit Sadh), just out of jail is taken by his close friend Govind (Raj Kumar Yadav) to a café/restaurant where people are watching a cricket match. In the next shot, an Indian batsman who is to play in that very match is seen watching the game. Then moment cuts to flashback where a young Omi is watching the game with his best buddy Ishaan (Sushant Singh). And as the movie progresses, taking us through the lives of the three men with differing attitudes and ambitions, the television motif recur, appearing as news presentations during the Gujarat earthquake and more importantly the riot segments. And with each appearance, something in their lives and kinship changes and Abhishek Kapoor is able to film his characters' personal struggles rising from conflict internalization skillfully. It shows that the director has a good idea about the difference such motifs can create in transcending a simplistic plot to a rich and engaging experience.

The plot is simple and, if not for the tragedies struck in the second half, quite predictable. Ishaan is an ex-cricket player who opens a sports shop cum tuition center along with his buddies Omi and Govind, using Omi's uncle's money. So while Govind runs his mathematics classes, Omi handles the shop and Ishaan trains the youngsters in the sport of cricket. Ishaan sees a great potential in young Ali, who hits sixes on the leg-side in almost every ball but does not have enough stamina to last more than a few overs and also never plays off-side, and he decides to train the kid so he can play in major tournaments and fulfill (vicariously) Ishaan's own unrealized dream of representing the Indian team. Omi meanwhile tries to extricate himself from his uncle's repeated insistence on joining his political party until later in the movie. Govind on the other hand dreams of shifting their business inside a mall, which he believes has a great possibility to flourish in the future (remember, the movie is mostly told through flashbacks and the time period is still the early 90s). Under Ishaan's insistence, he teacher mathematics to Ishaan's younger sister Vidya but their classes soon turns into romantic dates and the two soon fall in love. The first tragedy in the form of Gujarat earthquake hits just before the interval, while the second, the Gujarat riots, strikes just when everything slowly starts turning to normalcy for the characters.

Before interval, I heard a number of members in the crowd grumble that the movie was slow. It would rather say that everything until the earthquake segment felt like something we'd seen many times before. Actually, almost all the youth-centric films in India seem to progress in a similar patters: introduction of characters and their inter- relationships, one main romantic subplot, happy moments where the lead characters take long drives, drink and rejoice, all shot brilliantly (so in a majority of the movies, I find the cinematography flawless) but also quite predictably. The predictability of dialogs is another thing hampering almost every Indian film, and I believe that's because the range and skill of improvisation in many Indian actors/directors is underdeveloped.

Post interval, things are set right when the trust and common ambition among the lead characters unravel with changing and worsening times. All three male leads are all right, but I found that they did as the script told them without the extra factor that lends complexity to their characters. For example, Sushant could've worked more on the plot involving his desire to see Ishaan in the Indian team, a desire he himself couldn't fulfill; this is actually a condition in psychology and had Sushant conveyed this more through his gestures and expressions to the audience, it would've added depth to his role. It is Amrita Puri who gives the best shot, sounding more convincing as a Gujarati (Sushant's accent slips a lot) girl who is spirited, charming and optimistic.

Most impressive attention-to-detail segment: Omi outside theater in queue for Basic Instinct, a film released in the 90s.

Kai Po Che - Yes!!

[hotmaleajayg · 1/10 · 25 May 2013]

Kai Po Che is on screen adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's '3 mistakes of my life'. Well what do i say, i love the colours used in the movie, the screenplay, direction, sense of bond and humour shown amongst the friends.

Surprisingly the songs are also soul touching and blends really well in to the film. The newcomers in the movie do a really good job. But it had to be newcomers who would do more justice to the job.

Taken an emotional theme in the entire movie. Cricket is something that the entire Nation is glued to. If you're a sports person you can identify better. The song "manja" gives you goose bumps and is well intervened in the story to give you an emotional high.

The only sequence in the movie i didn't like it the minority angle. Oh come on, the poor "victim" mentality. The field reality is totally different. It looks like a lot of these new writers and "intellectuals" like some kind of open or subliminal Hindu bashing. Remember it always takes two to tango. Just to substantiate, there aren't any Hindus in Iraq and Iran, afghanistan, pak but there are still conflicts there. There was no need to get this angle, i found it really misleading and amateurish. Well if you're really smart then why not expose love jehad, or the NWO or the CPI tactics etc. But lets leave it at that.

Amit Sadh provides a very intense role. Rajkumar Yadav is calm composed and the think tank. Whereas Sushant Singh Rajput is confused, impulsive and passionate about his dream.

But overall - 1. good theme, its about a dream, 2. good direction 3. good acting 4. script and screenplay is also a winner.

Go for it!

Best film in 2013 so far

[sabina-n-khan · 9/10 · 18 May 2013]

Book has been beautifully filmed by Abhishek Kapoor. Casting has been done superbly. Each actor played their role with full conviction. Sushant Singh Rajput did not look like a newcomer at all. He also made a convincing cricket expert. Music was good.

The Gujrat earthquake was presented really well. The scenes were portrayed with real emotion. The sadness related to natural disasters are not explored as much in Indian cinema.

All of the actors were amazing. They really made me laugh, cry and smile. Looking forward to more films with Sushant Singh Rajput! Hope he delivers more excellent films such as Kai Po Che!

Indian movies have really evolved. No more singing and dancing around trees. Real stories with actual facts about society.

Meticulously crafted crowd-pleaser

[mahadyuti-adhikary · 8/10 · 23 February 2013]

Kai Po Che is a winner all the way. Meticulously crafted, it's neither a spellbinding celluloid marvel nor a half-baked Bollywood potboiler. The story of friendship, heartbreak and redemption through a stormy ride of betrayal by fate and history transforms Chetan Bhagat's mediocre work into an honest and heartwarming crowd-pleaser. The three towering aspects of the film are - the casting, cinematography and music. Anay Goswami does a terrific job with the camera. Amit Trivedi, yet again, vindicates his position as the most consistent and bankable music director in the industry. If A.R.Rahman is the Sachin Tendulkar of Bollywood, Amit Trivedi surely is Michael Clarke. Sushant Singh Rajput delivers a stellar performance as Ishan who is mercurial and temperamental, infectiously warm and gullible, trapped in a bubble of naivety. Amit Sadh as Omi is a knockout too, bringing out the complex nuances of his character with a steady transformation from unwavering loyalty towards his friends to a gradual, stuttering descent into murkiness. But, Raj Kumar Yadav as Govind, eclipses his other two equally brilliant co-stars. Ambitious and miserly, hesitant and calculative, yet a quiet intensity amidst the incoherent traits of minimalism adds many shades to his character, and he plays out his role with mathematical precision, complementing and acting as a perfect foil to Ishan's volatility and Omi's vulnerability. With GoW, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has taken the elevator-route to capture the imagination of cinephiles and critics. LSD, Shaitan, Shahid and Kai Po Che - Raj Kumar Yadav prefers a ladder instead, taking slow and assured steps to the rightful place where he belongs.