The sweet-sounding title of Guru Randhawa‘s debut film ‘Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay‘ aptly describes the experience of watching this romantic comedy-drama. While the film sets out with the intention of delivering a heartwarming story about following one’s dreams, it, unfortunately, ends up leaving a sour aftertaste due to its dated direction, predictable narrative, and uninspiring performances.
Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay Review
‘Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay’ revolves around the lead pair of Heer and Iraa, portrayed by debutant Guru Randhawa and Saiee Manjrekar respectively. Heer belongs to a wealthy family in Agra that owns the famous sweet shop ‘Chawla Sweets‘. He instantly falls for Iraa, an aspiring IAS officer focused solely on cracking the exam. To escape family pressure, the two decide to get married on the condition that Heer supports Iraa’s ambitions.
While Randhawa and Manjrekar try their best, they visibly struggle to showcase the chemistry between the mismatched couple. Their interactions throughout the first half lack the warmth and intensity needed to make the audience root for them. Even in heightened dramatic moments in the second half, their performances come across as awkward rather than heartfelt.
Randhawa especially seems conscious in front of the camera and has a long way to go before developing an acting prowess comparable to his musical talent. With better coaching and smart script selection, he does have the potential to evolve into an engaging on-screen presence in the future. Manjrekar looks lovely but needs to add more depth to her performance.
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Supporting Cast Outshines Lead Actors
Interestingly, the supporting cast shines brightly even with limited screen time and adds sporadic moments of entertainment to this bland drama. Veteran Anupam Kher brings his expertise and impeccable comic timing to the role of Randhawa’s fun-loving grandfather. His presence on screen instantly lifts up the viewing experience.
Ila Arun as the gossiping aunty and Paresh Ganatra as the hilarious younger uncle also provide breezy light-hearted moments amidst the tedious proceedings. Paritosh Tripathi, in particular, gives an outstanding performance as Randhawa’s loyal friend and delivers the best comic punches in the film.
The lead cast includes:
- Guru Randhawa as Heer
- Saiee Manjrekar as Iraa
- Anupam Kher as Heer’s grandfather
- Ila Arun as Heer’s aunt
- Paresh Ganatra as Heer’s uncle
Special mention to the cameo by famed Telugu actor Brahmanandam who is brilliant with even minimal dialogues thanks to his impeccable grasp of physical comedy. Unfortunately, such exemplary artists were tied down to an underwhelming story.
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Cliche Storytelling Takes Away the Sweetness
The premise had the potential to offer a refreshing take by subverting gender norms if handled with nuance. However, director Ashok G and the team of writers rely too much on done-to-death tropes like the adamant patriarch obsessed with a male heir and women scheming to get pregnant.
The supposedly funny situations arising out of the fake pregnancy track range from illogical to downright insensitive. The portrayal of women lying about miscarriages and men constantly doubting them makes for terrible viewing.
The director tries to add mass appeal by forcibly inserting comedy, songs, mafia tracks, hospital dramas, and every possible crowd-pleasing element. This hotchpotch treatment backfires badly as both humorous as well as emotional moments end up falling flat.
The runtime is just 125 minutes but the film’s sluggish pace makes it feel longer with too many unnecessary scenes bogging down the narration. The only solace comes from a few witty dialogues and Agra’s picturesque locales lensed beautifully by cinematographers Jayesh Nair and R.M. Swamy.
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Final Verdict
‘Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay‘ intends to send a well-meaning message about women’s empowerment and mutual understanding in relationships. But it fails miserably to execute the same due to lacklustre direction, weak writing, and unimpressive performances.
Barring the sincere effort from some supporting actors, the film offers an utterly forgettable and predictable experience. Die-hard Guru Randhawa fans might give it a one-time watch just for their favourite singer but it is unlikely to appeal to a wider audience.
With its stale storytelling, inconsistent tone, and contrived plot points, ‘Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay‘ ends up being a bland offering that neither provides wholesome entertainment nor makes for a memorable cinematic experience. The talented Randhawa would benefit greatly from making wiser selections to prove his acting mettle in the future.
