Katti Batti Review

Nikhil Advani who bewildered and disappointed the audiences with his ‘Hero’ last week is back again this week with another film of his, Katti Batti. When was the last time a director had 2 releases in 2 weeks? The last instance we can think of is when Priyadarshan’s two films Kyon Ki and Garam Masala released together during Diwali 2005. So is Nikhil finally able to get back to his Kal Ho Naa Ho form or is he still in Hero hangover? Is Kangna able to continue her Tanu Weds Manu Returns form? Will Imran Khan finally be able to redeem himself? Let’s dissect.

Story: Katti Batti doesn’t stick to a linear format as the story of the lead couple Maddy (Imran) and Payel (Kangna) is told in a series of flashbacks after Maddy tries to commit suicide when Payel leaves him. We get to know of their sweet relationship which they developed in college. The whole of first half is spent trying to show us the initial stages of the relationship and the second half shifts focus to the present day. Maddy gets to know that Payel is getting married to her ex in Delhi and leaves for Delhi to get her back. The journey of Maddy to get back Patel is what forms the crux of the remainder of the film. Does Maddy get her back? And why did Payel leave him in the first place? We get to know the answers in the climax.

Reviw: Nikhil Advani has to be one of the strangest movie directors we have in Bollywood. He has tried to dabble in a lot of genres but ends up being the jack of all trades and the master of none. He should stick to one genre and perfect it before moving on to new genres. In Katti Batti, he and his cowriter Anshul Singhal mixup various Hollywood romcoms and make a mess of it in the form of Katti Batti. The true strength of a romantic film are the subtle moments and Katti Batti is mostly just filled with buffoons who amplify every moment because apparently subtlety is a word they have never heard. Katti Batti is a jumbled up, boring, incoherent film. None of the comic moments make a mark and neither do the romantic ones. And the climax is one big disaster!

Technically, Katti Batti gets it right. The production design is quirky and suits the zaniness of the story that Nikhil has tried to tell. The costume design is appropriate. The editing is alright but should have been more pruned although the editor does a good job of sticking together the past and the present storylines. The music of Katti Batti is one of the best things about the film even though they crop up at unnecessary moments in the film. Sarfira, Sau Aasoon and Lip to Lip are able to make a mark. We loved the way Lip to Lip song was shot and edited.

Acting: Inspite of what people might believe, Kangna doesn’t overshadow Imran at all. In fact, Imran is much better at being Maddy than Kangna is at being Payel. Imran hits a home run as the guy with the boyish charm and manages to win over a part of us with his charm. The problem with Kangna in Katti Batti is that she has been given a weird look and there doesn’t seem to be many shades in her character although the climax sheds some light on this. Regardless, we expect a lot more from Kangna. Vivan Bhatena jumps from one Nick Advani film (Hero) to another (Katti Batti). He plays the same character in all films. The other guy, that is. The poor man’s Rahul Khanna. Manasvi Mumgai looks hot.

Conclusion: Katti Batti is an adequate romantic comedy for people who have never watched another romcom in their lives. It borrows heavily from countless Hollywood and even Bollywood romcoms and still manages to jumble everything together. It is unfunny, too loud, too clichéd and sadly even boring for major parts of its running time. It is redeemed by the lead actor who makes a return to films after 2 years. If you are in the mood to be bored, then Katti Batti should be right up your alley. Although, we are still left with one question after watching Katti Batti. Who really directed Kal Ho Naa Ho?

Pros:

• Imran is back in his prime territory of romantic comedy and is great
• The music is very good and quite a few songs stay with us

Cons:

• Kangna is a huge disappointment in her role
• The movie itself is boring and unfunny
• The script is a mix of countless romcoms from yesteryear classics and even duds
• The characters in the movie are frustrating and defy logic

Rating: