Review: 'Kuch Khatta Ho Jaay' is an extended version of the cringy Insta reel one should definitely skip

Kuch Khatta Ho Jaay Review

We've all been listening to Guru Randhava with his Punjab pops and swaying to them, but now the singer is all set to make his big Bollywood debut with G. Ashok's film 'Kuch Khatta Ho Jaay'. Well, he did make a debut, but it certainly isn't big, neither with his acting, nor the film's story, or even the songs this time. Upon exiting the theatre, a lingering sense of numbness envelops me, making it challenging to articulate my thoughts on the film. However, having experienced it, here's my attempt to convey the emotions that persist.

The plot with the constant feeling 'kehna kya chahte ho'

Heer, portrayed by Guru Randhawa, finds himself deeply enamored with Iraa, played by Saiee Manjrekar. Within the intricate dynamics of Heer's family, where he is perceived as a disappointment despite his intrinsic goodness, Anupam Kher commands as the patriarch with an unwavering desire to witness his great-grandchild.

In a bid to escape the suffocating expectations of their families, Heer and Iraa make a bold decision to marry, with Heer vowing to support Iraa's ambitious dream of becoming an IAS officer. However, a twist of fate introduces a grievous misunderstanding, leading the family to believe that the couple is expecting a child. The narrative unfolds with Mr. Chawla's (Anupam Kher) perplexing fixation on seeing his great-grandchild, creating a perplexing undercurrent throughout the storyline. The film attempts to navigate a myriad of social issues, weaving threads of feminism, combatting misogyny, grappling with familial pressure for marriage and parenthood, challenging societal norms restricting a woman's aspirations, exploring surrogacy, shedding light on the unjust blame placed on females in the face of fertility challenges caused by the husband, and what not. Yet, amidst this tapestry of themes, the film struggles to deliver a coherent and impactful message. It feels like an unpalatable khichdi, lacking both flavor and substance. 

An extended version of cringy Insta reels

The storyline is feeble, but the execution fares even worse, prompting incessant queries about the purpose behind creating this movie. Imagine stumbling upon cringe-worthy reels on Instagram, where individuals from modest backgrounds attempt to act, narrating painfully meaningless tales. This film is akin to an extended version of those videos. The dialogues feel like chat GPT generated them. The characters lack depth, the screenplay is all over the place, and the story fails to be entertaining. It turns into a distressing and in-your-face two-hour experience, leaving you feeling awkward, fatigued, and utterly perplexed.  

The Performances

Guru Randhawa is better suited to showcasing his talent through singing and music videos; however, his foray into acting seems mismatched. As Heer, he makes an earnest attempt to convey a range of emotions, but ultimately, they all seem to blend into one another. Saiee Manjrekar, portraying Iraa, fits the conventional definition of a good 'bahu' and 'wife', but her character lacks depth, often appearing somewhat lost in certain scenes. Despite this, she manages to deliver a decent performance.

Anupam Kher's presence in the film feels like a missed opportunity. While his on-screen charisma remains intact, one can't help but wonder why an actor of his caliber agreed to participate in a project with such a questionable script. Ila Arun brings humor and sentimentality to her role, showcasing genuine conviction in her performance. Paresh Ganatra, Paritosh Tripathi, and Atul Srivastava deliver what the script demands, but their talents feel underutilized in the context of the film's weak narrative.

Lame dialogues and scenes

Throughout the film, there's a barrage of lame jokes and poorly delivered punchlines that fall flat. Instances of homophobia surface as characters like Paresh Ganatra, Paritosh Tripathi, and Atul Srivastava call a person 'meetha' and act in a stereotypical mannerism to address him. It seems the writers underestimated the audience's intelligence, presenting absurd and unbelievable scenarios. In the climax, Brahmanandam's character transforms from a strict dad to an overly understanding one. His daughter attempts to persuade him to let her study abroad, and with just a two-second conversation, he abruptly switches to the clichéd 'go live your life' statement. The IAS interview scene featuring Iraa resembles a scene from an Ekta Kapoor soap opera, with the panel nodding as if she delivered a Prime Minister-level speech. There are numerous faults to dissect, but I am sparing you from the rest.

The Verdict:

'Kuch Khatta Ho Jaay' is the tinge of extra lemon squeezed in your delicious food. It's a cringy narrative, not having anything in particular to be offered to the audience, and a story testing your patience and tolerance levels. 

Rating - * (1/5)