Have you ever seen an ECG graph…it moves up and down and when the person dies it just goes down and down and stops. That sums up KARTHIK CALLING KARTHIK, the movie starts well…keeps you engaged…gives you some (ONLY SOME) gripping moments but finally ends without anything…it’s just what you had thought it would be.
Karthik [Farhan Akhtar] is an introvert shy guy who has no confidence what so ever in his abilities. He is the guy who can be bullied and given all the work in office. That is witnessed in the way his boss [Ram Kapoor] treats him and also by the fact that the girl he is madly in love with, Shonali [Deepika Padukone], doesn’t even know that he exists. In short, Karthik is a LOSER!
Suddenly, one night, his phone rings and guess what, the man on the phone is Karthik himself. The man says he’s here to change Karthik’s life and Karthik accepts the phone as a part of his life. Soon, the man becomes Karthik’s friend, guide and mentor and turn Karthik in a confident and charming man!
KARTHIK CALLING KARTHIK is a love story as also a suspense fare that keeps you on the edge of your seats BUT only in bits and pieces. While the love story track between Farhan and Deepika works really well…the suspense element lets you down in the end.
The debutant director Vijay Lalwani, does well till the end but it’s the script that lets him down. All the suspense gives you is something that you had thought of right at the beginning. It lets you down more because towards the second half you are forced to think that there is a spine chilling suspense waiting for you.
The music of Shankar-Ehsaan and Loy’s music is good with Hey Ya and Uff Teri Ada the best of the lot. The movie could have done without one of the songs, Kaise hai Ye Udaasi. Special praise for the background score…its really good and adds to the appeal of the movie!
Farhan Akhtar’s performance shows that this guy is a MULTI-TALENTED man, director, singer, producer and actor…WOW. He handles the extremely difficult role with ease. Deepika Padukone looks stunning, to say the least and is really really good in her part(in the limited scope she gets). All the other artists, Ram Kapoor, Shifaali Shah and Vivan Bhatena pitch in effective performances.
Final Word – The film works…ONLY in some parts and the climax is a BIG BIG LETDOWN…
My Rating – 2.5/5
February 27, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Oh.. Thanks for this review, Vishal!
I had high hopes from .Karthik…’ after watching those promos and trailers.. Comes as a shock to me!
February 27, 2010 at 1:42 pm
@Parth – I too had high hopes and that’s the reason I went the first day itself…its a good first half but a disappointed second half…especially the climax
February 27, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Vishal I must say that u write very well defined reviews…..even better than some we read in the dailies………I have been following yr reviews since 3 idiots……..
goood job!!!!!!!
February 27, 2010 at 3:48 pm
I thought this must be good movie of different kind after a long time!
February 27, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Pankul – Thanks a lot….that’s a great compliment
Try my best to help the readers decide on whether to watch it or not!
February 27, 2010 at 4:08 pm
@ S.R. Ayyangar – It ends as a total whimper…You could wait for it to come on DVD or Television
February 27, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Nice review… But I didn’t go for KCK… instead I saw Shutter Island this week… (downloaded it from the net)… it was great….
February 27, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Dear Vishal…First of All My Word of Thanks to You … I really Liked the review…but I also would like to give my opinion , I personally feel that as an Actor Himesh Reshamiya didn’t work really well and the same applies to Farhan Akthar.He (Farhan) is a great director to work with which is also evident from movies like Dil chahta Hai, Lakshya, Don.But he should stop acting right now.
February 27, 2010 at 9:16 pm
@Yajur – Thanks
@Himanshu – Thanks…but I would like to say that I really liked Farhan’s performance…it was more the problem with the script..Infact the performances of the entire cast were really good.
February 28, 2010 at 12:57 am
Nice review….and good that I didnt go the first day…Guess will avoid it now…Thanks
February 28, 2010 at 1:00 am
thanks Ina…
March 1, 2010 at 11:49 pm
I agree to wat u say… the ending could have been better…. however I liked the movie may be because I had no high expectations out of this movie…
Its worth a watch atleast once…!!!
March 4, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Hey!!
I actually adore Farhan Akhtar. Well written review though. But, will still watch it once for him.
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March 4, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Good review, I was slightly disappointed with the film, though it seems to have improved in retrospect. My thoughts noted here: http://morethanfilms.blogspot.com/2010/02/film-review-kathik-calling-karthik.html
March 24, 2010 at 10:49 am
It was a sad sad movie!