Kaalakaandi (2018) Poster

(2018)

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7/10
Feel Good Movie?
pawanpunjabithewriter11 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, it of course is in the feel good category of movies. Initially, I thought it's going nowhere with highly confused plot capturing different lives at the same time. Even the adult jokes seemed to be harsh. Not only that, but the characters weren't ethical enough to connect to. However, as it progressed, so did the laughs, also did Saif Ali Khan with his brilliant acting. Most of the comedy on the movie lies with him on screen. The story was not at all sad. It was coming-of-age. It was different. Spoiler ahead - We have always wanted to watch stories that are different, but at the end come together. With this, I remember Stranger Things, where everyone used to start figuring out on the own and then reach at the same path together. This is different too. In this, you'll see three different stories that, at the end, connect to each other. It's breathtaking. Only, a few jokes in the movie seemed to be unethical, rest the movie was fun with adult comedy, and crime.
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7/10
Nice cool, new age kinda flavored
hrhkalways4 February 2018
Watch it for sure. See it without expectation. Its a lightweight cool movie. Dont look for too complicated a plot. You have time, go for it. Its a midweek kind of movie..dont save it for a weekend :)
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7/10
The perfect Indian black comedy film after ages but with some slight flaws
oazam13 January 2018
Delhi Belly created a benchmark in Indian cinema under the black comedy category. It was funny, humorous, and dark which made the film entertaining. Despite the fact that Kaalakaandi didn't create so much hype for the audience and just found out about the film at the last minute, I decided to go and watch it after seeing the trailer.

So a banker named Rauleen, who has the decency of any other human being by the fact that he doesn't drink, smoke, do drugs, or even eat butter has been diagnosed with stomach cancer and only has 3 months to live. So with these 3 months, he decides to change himself by drinking and doing drugs and going full on himself. Then there are few more parallel stories such as 2 gangsters that are hungry for money from their boss to a couple that go through certain situations. How these stories collide is basically what this film is about?

Let me start off by saying this, I thought that this could just be a timepass but quite to my surprise, I quite enjoyed this film. Akshat Verma who also wrote Delhi Belly managed to implement this with good ease. The jokes in the movie were so funny and realistic that the factors were there necessary to fulfill a good entertaining watch. The writing was good and the dialgues were simplistically consistent throughout the film

The acting in the movie was simply spot on. Saif Ali Khan gives a remarkable performance as Rauleen and the dialogues helmed by him just chuckled the living shit out of me. Vijay Raaz's take on giving foul words doesn't disappoint and he was also the hilarious factor in the film. Deepak Dobriyal was also amazing in his part and I really do fanboy him as an actor. Shenaz Treasury plays a hoity toity character and she was doggone good in the film. Kunaal Roy Kapur was just there because when I saw him Delhi Belly, he was cracked up well but in this film, he doesn't become the victim in any situation.

The music is average and the tracks doesn't have anything melodious to offer.

The pacing trips after quite some time because you will get the feeling that the film is doing well in soem point of time but later something interferes with that moment and yeah some scenes were direct ripoffs of Delhi Belly.

The direction was okay because the angles weren't shot properly and dutch angles were just unnecessary

Overall, I enjoyed watching a black comedy fater so many ages. It's dark, crude, hilarious, and peculiar. Definitely check this out in a theater near you.

3/5 - Bollywood is starting with something good.
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6/10
Cocktail of Delhi Belly and Dasvidaniya
prafullasrivastav13 January 2018
Delhi Belly (2011 movie) fame Akshat Verma has come up with dark comedy which was not serve to the audience for long duration. Script can be consider as cocktail of Delhi Belly (2011 movie) and Dasvidaniya (2008 movie) as Saif Ali Khan (actor) want to live his last days as insane. Script has some loophole which ruined multi-star movie's charm.

Performance wise, Saif Ali Khan (actor) has more screen-space than other actor and did not disappoint audience with his performance. Vijay Raaz and Deepak Dobriyal's bonding was good. Sobhita Dhulipala also left good impression. Isha Talwar and Kunaal Roy Kapur have delivered good supporting role.

Imagination and Animation goes hand in hand and one of the great thing about the movie. Sameer Uddin and Shashwat Sachdev 's music failed to impress the audience.
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7/10
Black comedy with good pace
tanujpoddar21 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is an engaging dark comedy from Akshat Verma. It follows four parallel stories during a day (and night). Yes, the plot has a few loop holes here and there, but by switching between the stories at the right time, the director maintains a good pace.

The one staring Saif gets the longest screen time. Saif's character gets to know that he is diagnosed with last stage cancer and has only a few months to live. He has always led a healthy life and thus is perplexed at the news. With nothing to lose, he decides to take lsd during a boring party. What follows is his crazyness and he insults a policeman who catches hold of him hiring a prostitute. Flirts with a girl and finally shoots himself in leg.

The second story follows a commitment phobic Tara who is going abroad for her studies and mocks at her boyfriend for proposing that they get engaged. She goes through a rough night, right before she is to leave, but gets through it thanks to her boyfriend who helps her all along. This makes her finally respect his concern and love for her.

Third story is that of Angad who gets a call from his ex, the night before his wedding and he goes to her for one last fling. This makes him question his commitment to his fiance. However, he realizes that this experience only leaves him with more gratitude for her fiance.

The fourth story is of two peddlers, deepak dobriyal and Vijay raaz, who hatch a plan to loot their boss and make enough money to settle themselves. While they are the best of pals, but can they trust each other and will karma bite back.

There is some bit of craziness in the narrative because of Saif's character hallucinating after consuming drugs. His track with the transgender prostitute is interesting and a non-melodramatic portrayal of someone dying of cancer is very fresh. The story of dobriyal and raaz is also interesting with a very natural performance from raaz. However, the movie still is not very tightly scripted like a 'ek challis ki last local' or layered like 'shaitaan'. It stops short of being a cult movie and the ending is pretty mediocre.
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7/10
A mess
gautam-moharil24 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
There are three plots with loosely interconnected threads. Saif Ali Khan has stomach cancer and does not have much time to live. Two underworld recovery agents decide to rob their boss. An ambitious woman is involved in a hit and run accident.

Saif Ali Khan is all at sea here. He does a very bad job trying to be a guy with cancer and wanting to experience new things. That is the poorest plot in the film.

Deepak Dobariya and Vijay Raaz are wasted in the goons story which lacks direction.

The hit and run story is saved by Sobhita Dhulipala who is the protagonist and does a great job.

A forgettable film.
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5/10
Saif Ali Khan Shines In A Hysterical, Uneven Black-Comedy!
namashi_113 January 2018
Warning: Spoilers
'Kaalakaandi' rides on an exciting idea, but entertains only in doses. Writer-Director Akshat Verma delivers a trippy, hysterical & absurd black-comedy that has some LOL moments, but comes across as uneven as it unfolds. Saif Ali Khan, however, aces over all & steals the show.

'Kaalakaandi' Synopsis: Three stories unfold during a wild night in Mumbai, India.

'Kaalakaandi' has three stories, out of which only Saif's chapter works. As the man who's diagnosed with cancer, who later decides to let loose & goes all-high & encounters a transvestite, is among the film's strongest points. In his story, there is also Akshay Oberoi, who does something funnily stupid right before his marriage. The other story, featuring the gorgeous Sobhita Dhulipala as a woman who lands in trouble before flying abroad, is strictly okay. But the final story here, based on the supreme talents of Vijay Raaz & Deepak Dobriyal, is a complete waste. Despite two powerhouse performers & a ton of abusive language, this story is devoid of motive or impact.

So, 'Kaalakaandi' aims to be a whacky, absurd black-comedy, with Mumbai being a character in itself in the narrative, but Verma doesn't entirely deliver. Had he stuck to only Saif's chapter, 'Kaalakaandi' would've been a laugh-riot, but alas, that's not the case. The remaining 2 stories don't stand out & even the pace in the second-hour, wobbles. In short, 'Kaalakaandi' has hilarious moments, but they are never enough to compensate for the film's other flaws.

And then there is Saif. In a fearless, over-the-top performance, Saif returns to top-form after a hiatus. Having wasted his talents in duds like Rangoon & Chef last year, Saif takes on a trippy & crazy part & excels from start to finish. His scenes with the actress who portrays the transvestite, left me in splits. Its a shame that 'Kaalakaandi' can never match up-to Saif's bare-naked madness. Of the rest of the cast, Isha Talwar is excellent & Neil Bhoopalam leaves a mark in a comical cameo.

On the whole, 'Kaalakaandi' has its moments for sure, but the minuses hit it hard. Nonetheless, not a bad way to spend the weekend!
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8/10
Name says it all!
maulin512 January 2018
Akshat Verma is famous for his dark humor and mad plot. After giving Delhi Belly as a writer, returns as a writer-director for this film, starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepak Dobriyal, Vijay Raaz, etc.

The film is all about what happened on that one night. Three parallel stories have been running in a city on the same night. There is no connection between them. But the screenplay has been written very well that we feel connected towards all of them from the very first scene of each stories.

Though, I believe that the most funny and fast paced story is the one between Vijay Raaz and Deepak Dobriyal. These two guys have chatted brilliantly about their plans and dreams in the most hilarious way. I want to thank CBFC for not deleting or muting any cuss words from this film, so that we can able to enjoy it in right manner. Without these words, What could Vijay Raaz do! LOL.

Kunaal Roy Kapoor and Shobhita Dhulipala with other two actors are there to just give us an idea what could happen in a party. Also, the other factor, which you will find out while watching, is bit overly handled according to me. That's the one thing I didn't like in this film.

The main part, or my favorite, is of Saif Ali Khan's! He has played an absolutely new character on screen. I wish I could have given chance...But, never mind! Saif has done his job superbly. Kudos to the thinker who thought the imagination and created the visuals of Saif's character. These are the highlights of the film. Isha Talwar is sweet and beautiful in her short role. Akshay Oberoi gives full support to his on screen brother Saif. By far, this story is the main part, (amm yes you got it right), of this film Kaalakaandi.

Bollywood is changing day by day. This is one of the changes. Many would not like the ending scene, but, I completely laughed out loud on that. Because you have to remember that this is just a mad, crude, creepy film. I am sure if you invest your time into this, you definitely forget all your problems. In fact, you'll forget your real life too and get trapped into this mad world! It is different from Delhi Belly. Humor is less here. Life and death and Karma... in an adult movie, which I think is only for youngsters. After watching this, I would say: Fuck the rest, Let the Karma do the Best! Enjoy!
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6/10
One time watch
jeetdutta-1658619 August 2020
According to a black comedy movie, it's good. Not up to Delhi belly's mark but it is one time watch. The starcast is fantastic. Each and every actor is talented but Akshat verma wasn't able to use them properly in the movie. Saif was good, Deepak and Vijay Raaz got a very short role but wasn't that much engaging. Shobhita, Kunal Roy kapur were also okay okay in their place. Watch it once for the actor's performances without keeping any expectations.
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5/10
Only Kaala, No Kaandi!
BubbleBollywood29 January 2018
This one is all Kaala and no Kaandi! A person who is on psychotropic drugs has the potential to create a captivating plot. But this one gets too predictable and stretched out. I am sure many of you have done crazier stuff than the one Saif indulges in the movie.

A tepid movie - would rather indulge in something else to get a high!
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9/10
Misjudged and underrated.
hrajora-0107427 January 2020
I have never reviewed a movie before but i had to write this one as people are criminally underrating it. It's refreshing to watch how lives of different people are roped together. The sub par yet rejuvenating writing is backed by tremendous performances by everyone especially Vijay Raaz, Deepak Dobriyal and Saif Ali Khan.
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7/10
Shor in the city: the sequel
twinkle-piyush22 September 2020
Similar to Shor in the city. Multiple storylines, gangster, honest persons and in the climax everything comes around. Nothing exceptional abt this, one time watch.
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2/10
An all round awful movie
khooni_billa25 May 2018
A movie so bad that you will question yourself before watching next saif's movie. reviewing it cos of all the fake reviews that has been posted on it. Not a single moment of anticipation, even the role of deepak dobriyal and vijay raj has been ruined by the awful storyline that was neither engaging nor funny. It was like the director had an imagination of what drugs felt like when he was in 6th grade. spare yourself an hour of forwarding this crap
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7/10
Fun, especially the first half
SagarMehta8722 February 2018
Indian cinema is rapt with sentimental, over-the-top and routinely cheesy films that revolve around family or romance or both and barely explores new areas. Other than the occasional horror flick from Vikram Bhatt or something out of the Kashyapscape, there's never any respite from from the drudgery of dance numbers and emo-esque melodies. A film like Kalakandi therefore has the responsibility not only to be different but to be extremely entertaining to stay relevant.

That's not a good predicament to be in, though it does succeed in being a black comedy as it claims to be. The first half has genuine laughs. Where it falters as a movie is where it gives in to the lore of backstories and motives. It isn't enough that Saif has a life-ending disease (the news of which triggers the film's "trip"), but also a failed marriage and a son he doesn't get to meet. That story arc finds only 2 mentions and adds no layers to the character.

What does work really well are the acid trip visuals. Although slightly incorrect in how they're shown and possibly a bit exaggerated, they do give a kind of preview of what a real trip might be like and also add to the laughs sprinkled throughout the film.

Another thing the film achieves, with surprising success for Bollywood, is its treatment of a transgender character. Without being overtly sexual or derogatory, it still goes through the cliches and curiosities around them. That's mature film-making.

There's 2 other story tropes, with two young couples at a night out and two thugs planning a way to loot their boss. It's a pleasure to see Shenaz Treasurywala (Ishq Vishk, remember?) and Pappi Bhaiya (Deepak Dobriyal), who holds his own in every frame with Vijay Raaz.

The star power is surely with Saif but he never steals the spotlight. It's the perfect kind of film for Saif because he has certain limitations when he's the leading man. Without him though, this would feel like an indie film about getting high and money or something. Him being there helps the film and even the scenes where he isn't there, simply because you want to go back to find out what's up with him.

The film doesn't try to tie together the three plots, except a chance meeting of 10-15 seconds. Better editing would help. The one thing I despised was the last scene when Pappi gets hit by a bullet Saif shoots towards the sky. I was reminded of the movie Welcome. That felt obvious for the film and yet very forced.

I'd say watch it for the first half, and let the second half go by without complaining.
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7/10
REJUVENATING AND CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED.
TERA-FUFFAD6 November 2021
Rejuvenating and Criminally Underrated , Crude Dark Humor Backed by tremendous performances by Vijay Raaz, Deepak Dobriyal and Saif Ali Khan.

A refreshing experiment which gives us a break from typical Bollywood Rapt over-the-top cheesy clichés. Kudos to Akshat Verma ..!!
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6/10
Performances r excellent
beevenkat2 November 2018
#Kaalakaandi is an experimental, absurd n adult film, which keeps u engaged n entertained. There r multiple stories occurring in one night. Khan is diagnosed with cancer. He is shocked because he believes he is a good person. In retaliation, he consumes drugs n befriends a transgender sex-worker. Dhulipala is flying abroad to pursue further studies n to "shag" the white boys. Oberoi is about to get married when he receives a call from his ex-girlfriend. Two gangsters decide to revolt against their boss n run away with crores. Performances r excellent. Dialogues r funny. Worth watching. Rating 3/5.
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10/10
Super hilarious movie!!!!
saurabhkotian-6145627 June 2019
I haven't seen a pure Bollywood comic movie in ages! This was worth every penny! Loved it!
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6/10
A half baked tale which could have been a better one
paragshrijoshi9 July 2019
The movie starts on a high note but fails miserably towards the end. However, the director has potential which his evident from his unique yet brilliant direction. Screening multiple tales altogether and crossing them in between is an art which very few directors have mastered in India. Out of all the three tales, the highlighted one is of Saif,who has acted very well throughout messy night. But unfortunately this story which had the best content was left midway by the director. Deepak Dobrial and Vijay Raaz have delivered great performances and got good execution of the plot as well till the very last moment of the former's role. Overall the movie could be watched once for some light moments.
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8/10
Amazing Tale
singhsubhamsks26 June 2019
The flavour of Delhi Belly but it's smarter, funnier and more entertaining,the conclusion could be more sensible like the whole narrative otherwise everyone's performance were awesome, what a treat to watch.
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8/10
Once again Saif Ali Khan delivers
sexyshao22 November 2019
One of the most underrated movie in its genre. One of the most underrated movie of this decade. A good plot and story with a great performance by Saif Ali Khan (which proves my theory that bearded Saif delivers masterpieces Sirtaj from Sacred Games, Laal Kaptaan, Race and Omkara) Flow of the story is smooth despite being multiple story lines. New actors have given above average acting. Do not go in expecting Delhi Belly because that was a comedy and this is a pure Dark, Brut and Bold comedy. I can watch it more than once
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8/10
Super fun
Jithindurden30 May 2018
The most fun film of the year. Saif Ali Khan is fantastic and Sobhita Dhullipala also gives a notable performance after her brilliant performance in Raman Raghav 2.0 which was overshadowed by the terrific 2 lead performances. I know I am in a minority here but this has instantly become one of my favourite stoner comedies.
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8/10
A fun ride
samgh-3479410 September 2018
An illogical, absurd, fun, enjoyable, new age story comprising of 3-4 sub stories somehow linked together... A fun ride of one long night.. it's mostly abt drugs, weed.. but having said that this is Saif Ali khan's best performance till date.. he's opened up and big time.. his comic timing is apt right througout the movie.. for the likes of him, an underrated actor, who was probably not choosing the right kinda scripts, it's a movie to bring him back on track.. its a "coming of age" kinda film for him.. like he says "Aisa Maine pehle kyon Nahi Kiya"!! The supporting cast was good as well.. not a bad one time watch...
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8/10
The movie works and I approve the message
ridi-arahan22 May 2020
What worked:
  • balanced screenplay, humor with layers and sub layers
  • Decent cast; Vijay Raaz and Deepak Dojriyal aced it


What did not work: -the screenplay could have been tighter Final verdict: Recommended.
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8/10
Kaalakaandi is a fresh film which gives us a break from the typical bollywood clichés.
vikasy-8108514 January 2018
Akshat Verma who wrote the Delhi Belly has now directed Kaalakaandi which in my opinion is one of the fresh and highly entertaining film you would get from Bollywood. While the industry has been quite busy in giving us some stupid love stories for years, Kaalakaandi is a breath of fresh air whose plot unfolds in the Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction type where three different stories start and then intersect each other later in the film. Saif is in his best form here and gives one of his crazy and best performance till date. This is a film which Bollywood rarely makes and that is why I would recommend watching this one in the theatres. Please support this film and don't torrent it.
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8/10
Underrated
ap-6825224 September 2021
Bollywood version of Pulp fiction. This is best black comedy I have ever seen. It touches the bar of film making style of Hollywood movies.
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