Rebel without a cause or pause

Nonika Singh

When a love story comes packaged as Kabir Singh, you can only envision it to be centred on its male protagonist. So, there he is (played by Shahid Kopoor), all puffed up, an errant student of medical college whose anger management, to put it mildly, is zero. Why is he a college topper, a brilliant student perpetually on an inflated ego trip is a mystery that we can’t quite unravel till the very end! 

Before we can settle this query, he, who loses his shirt at the drop of the hat, falls in love at first sight. Preeti (Kiara Advani) is lovely and demure; though once again her reasons for falling for him are inexplicable. Which 21st century girl, an aspiring doctor at that, would like to be known as ‘his bandi’, be bandied about as if he owns her, even out of love, beats us completely.

But guess in our Bollywood, actually Tollywood too, for this one is the remake of Telugu blockbuster Arjun Reddy, love knows no reason. Nor does the film! Partly fashioned after Devdas, unable to attain his ladylove, our hero boy goes on a self-destructive mission. He gulps liquor bottles by the dozen, snorts drugs and smokes endlessly. And, you are partly reminded of Shahid Kapoor of Udta Punjab. He may claim he is no rebel without a cause. Yet, hailing from a rich family comprising a loving bother (Arjan Bajwa is reassuring) and parents, the source of his rebellion is actually tougher to decode than the medical jargon he often throws our way. Lest you forget, he keeps reiterating; ‘you know I am a surgeon’ and conducts operations in intoxicating state. Though, if this is the state of our doctors, God help us! 

This one certainly deserves a statutory warning and it is not just about smoking. Strangely, for a film riding on romantic love, it treats its women rather shabbily and we are not just talking about the heroine who, it seems, has no say at all in love or in marriage. And in case you want to take a guess at what is the height of friendship? A friend offers his sister in marriage to a man who is a complete loser. Touché! 

We are left defenceless against the lack of rationale amidst this dosti. Women fall for bad guys is reinforced more than once as Nikita Dutta (Jia Sharma) too succumbs to his offensive charm. Certain dialogues where Kabir’s stud status is trumped up as a trophy are simply cringe-worthy. 

The only time the film redeems itself somewhat thematically is close to the climax. Kabir’s love for his sweetheart touches yet another level. Since it involves a spoiler, we won’t tell you what it is. 

Suffice it is to say, it is immediately followed by a downer. Still, despite the hackneyed and time-  honoured twist, those are the only moments you feel the intensity of their love. In the rest of the film it gets lost in Kabir’s misplaced angst and agony which simply leaves you cold. A fine actor that Shahid is, he does try to do justice to a part that otherwise finds little justification. Ditto for Kiara Advani, only she gets to emote in just a scene or two. Yesteryear actress Kamini Kaushal’s wisdom as daadi is as pointless as today’s powerhouse Adil Hussain’s presence. As you walk away from the film, two questions plague your mind. Why did Preeti not slap Kabir when he dares to plant a kiss on her cheek in full public glare? And why did Shahid Kapoor say yes to this film which is misogynist in intent and action. In the movie he frets Preeti apna duppata theek karo…. Run for cover. 

nonikasingh@tribunemail.com