Kill, a recent movie directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, becomes the movie that makes a brand new paradigm in Hindi cinema. This action-thriller does away with the musical numbers for a non-stop, blood-dripping train ride to New Delhi. The plot can be easily criticized for being not that rich, but it could be easily compensated by the action, the great look and feel, as well as the outstanding cast who managed to reflect the nature of desperation.
Primarily it is a love story of a boy named Amrit (Lakshya) who wants to run away with his girlfriend Tulika (Sanjana Sanghi). Their escape plan goes south, and they end up on a train filled with completely heartless mercenaries. It is quite a non-linear movie that puts viewers directly into the middle of the story: the characters’ intents and backstories can be guessed only through shattered memories and ambiguous phrases. This approach to structuring the episode has the effect of maintaining suspense while not making the best of character development. Though we sympathize with his affectionate interest in Tulika, much about Amrit’s background and his purposes are left ambiguous.
A Restricted Field, Prosperously Painted
Even though the conditions reflect the movie’s plot – train compartments – cinematography by Rafey Mehmood is impressive. He also uses close-ups and high and low camera positions to always maintain an atmosphere of menace. The environment gets turned into an entity that elevates the level of violence of the fight scenes in this environment. Much like the action of the narrative, the direction/photography does not afford the viewer the luxury of closing their eyes.
Action: Raw and Relentless
What stands out in Kill is the completely over-the-top action choreography. The days of some incredible fighter flying through the air and opponents delivering blows with no contact to their bodies are over. Violence in this show is portrayed well, with strong blows to the body that sometimes leave the skin bleeding. The battle actions are steered by choreographers Se-Yeong Oh and Parvez Sheikh and yet again, unlike in the case of most martial arts epics, brute force and last-ditch desperation receive considerably more attention than finesse. This approach is rather liberal, or, it may be as liberal as the participants are ready for, furthermore, such a scene may cause a feeling of nausea.
Performances Fuel the Frenzy
Lakshya dazzles in the film as Amrit. He delivers the performance of the man on the edge of his endurance and the very physicality of the actor is well-suited to the unrelenting pace and nature of the picture. While Sanjana Sanghi might’ve been a part of the film for a relatively shorter duration, as Tulika she is equally strong, sensitive and determined. The main characters are also backed by the great cast, and the sinister Harsh Chhaya, who plays the villain, perfectly illustrates the motives for the violence on the train, which is desperation.
This, while being a flawed film, is an unforgettable ride.
This may sound a little trivial but I do believe that Kill is not without its flaws. Nevertheless, the thin and not very well-developed plot as well as the characters can be considered as some of the drawbacks of the movie. But it’s the strengths where the movie shines, the exceptional action scenes, the excellent cinematography and not to mention the powerful performances that make it a very special cinematic experience. It is a movie that is for action fans who do not mind totally brutal scenes.
In Conclusion
This is rather brave in the terrible Hindi cinema which is mostly made up of terrible remakes of otherwise good movies. It takes risks by never sparing its viewers from violence and at the same time, breaks convention when it comes to Bollywood films. Thus, the action lovers will never be let down as the film is enhanced with brilliant acting and a perfect technical background. The only thing that you may want to leave at home is your popcorn as you watch the great moves on the field.