Movie Review: ‘Katti Batti’
Movie Review: ‘Katti Batti’
Rating: 2/5
Director: Nikhil Advani
Cast: Imran Khan, Kangana Ranaut
Presented in a non-linear pattern, the movie starts with Madhav Kabra aka Maddy (Imran Khan) going through a tough time post his break-up with live-in girlfriend Payal (Kangana Ranaut). A heavily drunk Maddy mistakenly drinks Phenyl and is rushed to the hospital by his best friend. After this supposed suicide attempt of his, everyone around Maddy is trying to explain him that ‘its over’ with Payal and that he has to forget her.
An unconvinced Maddy wants to confront her and seek answers for their break-up. In the midst of all this we are shown flashbacks of how Payal and Maddy met as college sweethearts and soon headed to Mumbai in a live-in relationship.
Back to the present Maddy learns that Payal is marrying her ex-boyfriend in Delhi. Of course, Maddy catches the next flight to Delhi to confront her. Is Payal still in love with Maddy? Why did they break-up? All of this is left to unfold in a boring second half.
After a bearable first half, the film plunges into an abyss in the second half so deep that it didn’t even try to climb up. Nikhil Advani has used every generic trope from every Hollywood film he must have watched. Advani relies on Imran Khan to entertain us for majority of the time where as Kangana is playing hide and seek with us as she appears rarely. The director manages to make certain romantic gestures look pretty. Also at a point Maddy’s desperation to get in touch with Payal in a scene where he keeps re-dialing her knowing that the phone is switched off is a scene crafted with good insight. But otherwise, this silly story stretches long, only to give you a twist towards the end which is even more depressing than the entire film.
One of Katti Batti’s few strengths are the performances Nikhil Advani extracted from its lead pair. Imran Khan makes a confident comeback, as a believable protagonist who goes through his downs and more downs following the breakup. Unlike the rumours, he is not overshadowed by his now far more popular co-star; instead he has a bigger role here and he makes us root for him with his charming performance. This is a role right there in his safe zone. Kangana Ranaut, although let down by poor writing, delivers a commendable performance, especially during the end portions. Both share an adorable chemistry, during in the flashback portions, reminding us of Leonard and Penny from The Big Bang Theory. We only wish the director could have fleshed out those portions well. The first half is breezy though not outstanding and the camera work by Tushaar Kapoor captures the beauty of both Mumbai and Delhi well.
If you wanted to watch the film for Kanagana Ranaut, well you will be fooled because she is hardly there. I wonder why Kangana signed the film as it neither has a good character sketch for her nor can she make it any better with her act. Sadly, all her talking about how versatile she is goes down the drain with this film. Other than having a dolled up face in the film, there is nothing in it for her.
Imran Khan is the lead of the film. Yes! Take a deep breath. There is not one scene in the film without him in the frame and he is totally all over the place. As Maddy, Imran does his typical act. He still seems to be the same since his last films.
The supporting cast too is not strong enough. Vivan Bhatena who was seen last week in Hero plays the irritating ex-boyfriend. Manasvi Mamgai essays the office hottie who needs no reason to flaunt her cleavage.
Bollywood lacks the nerve to come up with believable romantic dramas. Fairytales are fine with us but a mixture partial reality is harmful. Katti Batti is a a port wine presented as Chardonnay. Katti Batti is a stale, boring and insensible film that seems like a mockery at love and relationships, thanks to its crassness.
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