Knotty Affairs - Kapoor and Sons

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Judge me. But I am the kind of movie goer who enjoys scenic locales, good looking star cast, contemporary setting and warm characters. No crime thrillers, violent sagas or sob stories for me, thank you. Is it any surprise, therefore, that I was looking forward to Kapoor and Sons.
Watch the trailer here.

As we know, stories are about protagonists, their goals, the obstacles they face and actions taken to overcome the obstacles. Talking of obstacles, a wicked villain mouthing dialogues like, “Tumhari maa aur behen meri kabze mein hai” is so eighty-ish. Khaandaan ki izzat is outdated. As is ‘parental dushmani’. Today, when parents are encouraging children to find love, when dacoits are missing and dons boring - hindrances come from the regrets, mistakes, quirks and obsessions of characters. Remember Piku? Or Dil Dhadakne Do? Both were about quirky characters and human fallibility where characters had created their own demons. Plus, of course, the magic of small moments. Likewise, Kapoor and Sons is about a flawed family where fault lines get exposed when characters come together.

Rajat Kapoor and Ratna Pathak Shah are struggling to save their marriage when their sons, Rahul (Fawad Khan) and Arjun (Sidhartha Malhotra) arrive to visit their ailing Dadu (Rishi Kapoor). The simmering acrimony between brothers and parents unfolds as Tia (Alia Bhatt) gets caught between a handsome Rahul and an embittered Arjun. While the elder brother, Fawad is weighed by a personal secret, the younger brother, Sidhartha, is desperate to emerge from the shadows of his successful brother. And then there is a dirty old Dadu (Rishi Kapoor), obsessed with a wet Mandakini of yore.
While every character is endearing, the holy bubble that encapsulates them keeps getting punctured as secrets tumble out. Several parallel tracks merge to unfold a tale. Set in picturesque Coonoor, the story is soaked in limpid showers of love, moist clouds of emotions and ominous rumblings of resentment.

Any engaging movie has to be about the seductions of magical moments. Like when Ratna cooks bhindi and Sidharth makes a face, when Fawad finds cigarettes in a cassette, when Dadu asks for a credit card to watch porn on I-Papad(I-Pad), or when Alia helps Dadu cheat while playing cards.

I have to admit that while watching Fawad Khan in Khoobsoorat, I felt he was overrated. In Kapoor and Sons, I stand corrected. His debonair looks and sheer presence lends oodles of charisma to the screen. Sidhartha Malhotra, as a second-best son in the film is equally impressive, if not more. With her impish smile, unbridled charm and glowing freshness, Alia Bhatt lights up the screen. She tugs at your heart when she narrates the story of her parents. 

Ratna Pathak Shah as the new age mom is perfectly at ease with taking care of the family and wanting to be an entrepreneur. She is in sync when she is with her sons, but strikes a jarring note with Rajat Kapoor. Just a bit.

Much like Amitabh in Piku, and Anil Kapoor in Dil Dhadakne Do, Kapoor and Sons belongs to Rishi Kapoor. Towards the end, you wonder, how a porn obsessed dirty old man can be so affable. However, I felt his prosthetic make-up could have been toned down. The thick layers hide the twinkle of his eyes when he says, "Itne bade bade bhi hote hain" and the torment of his emotions when he requests the boys to return.

This is not to say that Shakun Batra directed Kapoor and Sons is devoid of unpalatable moments. The film hinges on emotion but oftentimes the bickering between Ratna and Rajat gets over-the-top. Like in the scene when 90th birthday celebrations get hijacked by Ratna's knee-jerk reactions. But then, the story is about a dysfunctional family. Not a Sooraj Barjatya-ish perfect sweet family.

Despite minor flaws, the film succeeds in leaving a merry wink and a moist eye. And, yes. In the film, 'Ladki kar gayi chull' doesn’t sound as nonsensical as it does on the radio. It just blends like the imperfect yet warm characters. The film might not be Oscar worthy, but it is definitely fun worthy. I had a tripping good time.