Three boys, very different from each other but united in friendship, realize their dream of opening a sports shop and cricket school in Ahmedabad in Gujarat where they also offer tutoring to underprivileged children. They have a clear future in their minds. But life is not so perfect and has decided otherwise for the three men.
Business is good and the business expands into a large shopping center, but suddenly the earth shakes and the lives of the protagonists end in an unexpected vortex of events. Politics, love and ideals burst into the friendship putting it at risk.
Critics and audiences alike have enthusiastically welcomed this film based on The Three Mistakes of my Life, a novel by best-selling author Chetan Bhagat. One of the rare cases in which the film manages to stay focused on the essence of the book, lightening the burden of the narrative.
Kai Po Che! is the cry that rises during kite wars, when you manage to cut an opponent's string. The film is part of the Bollywood genre of male solidarity and has all the ingredients of the masala film - stereotypes, comedy and melodrama included. But the protagonists remain credible throughout all the tragic events of the earthquake and the riots in Gujarat.
It is not a political film, it simply intends to describe the developments of a human relationship between real people, made of compromises and contrasts exacerbated by events and a river in flood of emotions.
The Kai Po Che experience was a very nice surprise for me! A story of friendship, tolerance, love and hate. A destiny mapped out for three men that will shake following a multitude of elements that will place obstacles in front of this future, yet, initially, so clear in the heads of these three young men.
And, moreover, through the theme of electoral campaigns and numerous cricket matches, we have the opportunity to see how elections and the electoral system are held in India, but also to witness the fervour of the Indian people when it comes to their national sport, cricket, a sport for which they have been quite simply unbeatable for several decades now! Matches that generally last six hours and can last even longer and that Indians never tire of watching, most often, in large groups!
In terms of sets and costumes, Kai Po Che! takes place in rural India in the 2000s, in the state of Gujarat. A typical India, magnified by yellowish filters that make the image splendid and the film even more exquisite. A film that transports us into the daily life of the inhabitants of Gujarat and shows us all the facets of the lives of its inhabitants. We can rediscover this cachet that only India has, a melodious serenity or a stressful and, paradoxically, soothing din at the same time!
Performance-wise, there's really nothing to complain about. Kai Po Che! brings together a troupe of extremely talented actors at the helm of the most ambitious films in the industry today. Rajkummar Rao , who is so successful these days that most of his films are among the top 250 Indian films on IMDb, and Sushant Singh Rajput, who still has the charisma and disarming charm that I know from Kedarnath and who plays the most complex and difficult role to portray on screen.
Omi, played by a little-known actor, also plays wonderfully and his interpretation of the man lost in extremism was, in my opinion, very credible and frank. I also liked the role of Ishaan's sister, who is in a relationship with Govind and who supports her brother at all costs in his depressive episodes.
In terms of soundtrack, I enjoyed the latter without really paying much attention to it since the film has almost no musical sequences. A rich and cheerful soundtrack by Amit Trivedi (Andhadhun, Padman, Secret Superstar, Queen).
The success of the film is mainly due to the excellent acting of the three emerging actors. No big stars, but a film that drags you to the climax. Only those with a heart of stone will not be moved by the ending.
