This is the first look of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next ambitious film after Saawariya. Guzaarish stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai. Hrithik plays a character suffering from paraplegia. Hrithik retains his Kites bearded look for the film while Aishwarya Rai’s image reminds of me of her look in Taal.
The cast of Zoya’s next movie ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ Hrithik, Katrina, Farhan, Abhay and Kalki did a photoshoot for some days ago in Mumbai near Bandra. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara stars Hrithik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan along with Katrina Kaif and Kalki Koechlin. The project is targeting a 2011 release.
Too many strings attached to this “Kites” that never soars to the heights it should and becomes a predictable tale of star-crossed lovers set in the glittering lights of Las Vegas and the brooding deserts of Mexico. It’s “Matchpoint”, “Bonny and Clyde” and much else rolled into one, failing to take off on its own.
The problem with “Kites” is that it is never truly its own film. The first half constantly takes you back to Woody Allen’s compelling “Matchpoint” with the doomed quartet of Jai (Hrithik), his girlfriend Gina (Kangana Ranaut), her brother Tony (Nick Brown) and his fiancée Natasha (Barbara).
Life is set to roll for the rakish, down and out Jai with Gina, the fabulously rich, hopelessly in love daughter of a Vegas casino owner, until he meets Natasha, the exotic Mexican immigrant also looking out for the good life. The attraction is inevitable – and fatal.
The pull is irresistible. Designer watches, flashy cars and jewels beckon but Jai and Natasha are caught in a relationship that transcends language. She knows no English and he knows no Spanish.
So far so good, before the script decides to meander into a “Bonny and Clyde” caper with the couple on the run from the powerful Tony robbing a bank. Completely unnecessary and giving no time for the intensity of the romance to develop.
The narrative moves back and forth in time, beginning with a bloodied Jai tumbling out of a train wagon and stumbling across the desertscape to look for his ladylove.
So you get a sense of what is in store. The predictability of the script is not really a problem – the opening line of the film lays the tenor, with Jai in a voiceover telling you that two kites flying together can never soar very high or very long because one has to get cut.
This is a chronicle of a tragedy foretold, much in the way of other epic romances. Dare I say Romeo Juliet!
It could have worked. The much talked about chemistry between the lead couple is in evidence, but not enough. Director Anurag Basu is at his best in the intimate scenes.
Like when Jai looks out of his window to see Natasha being roughed up by Tony and goes to comfort her. There are no words but the shadow play on the wall of their fingers intertwining is romance as it should be.
The soul of true love is there somewhere, but it gets lost in the two-hour film that also brings in murder, torture and gunmen galore. Basu seems lost in the larger macro frame of the film.
The two main characters are not fleshed out enough, and the others around them are like caricatures. How many Bobs (Kabir Bedi as the powerful, ruthless casino owner who does not balk at shooting down cheaters) have we seen, or Tonys, the archetypal jealous boyfriend with an army of goons behind him?
New Delhi, Super duper hit and the successor of “3 Idiots” is how multiplex bosses predict the future of Hrithik Roshan-Barbara Mori starrer international love story “Kites”, which is releasing Friday.
“We have very high expectations from ‘Kites’ as after ‘3 Idiots’ this will be the biggest release. We are going to have 13 shows per three screen and 14 shows per four property respectively for the movie,” Deepak Taluja, senior vice president (business and operations) of Fun Cinemas, told IANS.
“In terms of paid previews, as of now we just have one show (for Thursday night) but if (booking) response will be good, we’ll look for more,” he added.
A senior executive from PVR cinemas said on condition of anonymity that “Kites” has a very good pre-release buzz. “And after ‘3 Idiots’, we have very high hopes with this one. If all goes well, this could anywhere be the successor of ‘3 Idiots’.”
“On an average we are keeping around 10-15 shows per property for the movie. The advance bookings have already opened and it’s picking up well while the paid preview bookings for Thursday is decent so far,” the source added.
Produced by Rakesh Roshan and directed by Anurag Basu, “Kites” is a mega-budget venture worth Rs.150 crore in three versions – English, Hindi and Spanish. While the Hindi version will hit screens Friday, the crisper and racier English version, edited by Hollywood fame Brett Ratner, is scheduled for a May 28 release.
The film also stars Kabir Bedi and Kangana Ranaut in cameos.
Releasing simultaneously on more than 2,300 screens worldwide, including over 500 overseas in over 60 countries, it is being distributed by Reliance Big Pictures.
Hrithik Roshan at the “Kites” premiere at Times Square, New York.
Hrithik Roshan and Barbara Mori at the “Kites” premiere at Times Square, New York.
The two mega stars Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif promise sparkling chemistry between them which will set a light the silver screen and send the cash registers ringing. Zoya recognizes this potential and hence the pairing.
Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan will soon be seen together for the first time in director Zoya Akhtar’s next venture “Running with the Bulls” and those who have seen the exclusive photo shoot images of the duo together are all praise for this sizzling hot jodi.
A source revealed,
Those who have seen their pictures for the magazine’s anniversary issue will agree that the chemistry between the two is electrifying. Both Katrina and Hrithik are extremely good looking actors and a pair to watch out for. They show great potential of being an iconic onscreen couple since they look simply perfect together” Both the stars are very excited to work with each other.
“Katrina is very enthusiastic about her different films and in this film you will see her adventurous streak. She is also very kicked about working with Hrithik and hopes that the audience will like their pairing” adds the source.
What do you think about thier pair?
