KALYUG - A film with a contemporary and modern feel

Rating:- * *

If Mohit Suri tackled two plots side by side in his directorial debut ZEHER -- murder mystery and the husband-wife relationship -- he does a similar thing here. If the first 20 minutes give an impression of KALYUG being a routine love story, it changes lanes soon after both Kunal and Smilie are taken into custody. With Smilie's suicide and Kunal keen to get to the bottom of the conspiracy, KALYUG now dons the garb of a thriller.

The post-interval portions are provocative and absorbing at the same time. The film has a tight screenplay with no diversions absolutely. In fact, a number of sequences in the second hour are the mainstay of the enterprise.

Director Mohit Suri has extracted topnotch performances from the principal cast, most of them newcomers. Music is in sync with the narrative and the numbers that stand out are 'Jiya Dhadak Dhadak Jaye' [excellent composition] and 'Dheere Dheere' [erotic to the hilt, in terms of rendition and filming]. The remix version of 'Aadat' [on the end titles] is far more imaginative than the one before. Cinematography [Rituraj Narain] is appealing. Dialogues [Jay Dixit] are wonderful.

Kunal Khemu makes his big screen debut with KALYUG and delivers a knockout performance from start to end. The boy exudes the intensity that very few newcomers can boast of and with a personality that grows on you,

Amrita Singh makes a terrific comeback to the big screen with KALYUG. Newcomer Smilie looks delicate and though she has a brief role, she does manage to make her presence felt.

Emraan Hashmi makes a brief appearance and the actor is, like always, highly competent. Ashutosh Rana is effective. Farid, as Amrita's henchman, is efficient as well. Nisha Lalwani [Amrita's daughter] is natural to the core.

On the whole, KALYUG is a well-made film that has a contemporary and modern feel to it.