KAMBAKKHT ISHQ
Considerably low on the hype & the hooplah involved, the movie still manages to dance at theatres but fails to make the audience sing from heart.
by Vishal Verma

An Eros International Release (2030 screens worldwide) of a Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Production

Producer : Sajid Nadiadwala
Director : Sabbir Khan(debut)
Story : Anvita Dutt Gupta, Ishita Mohitra & Sabbir Khan
Screenplay : Kiran Kotrial, Anvita Dutt Gupta, Ishita Mohitra & Sabbir Khan
Genre : Rom Com
Target Audience : General

Starring

Akshay Kumar...... Viraj Shergill
Kareena Kapoor...... Simrita Rai
Aftab Shivdasani...... Lucky
Vindu Dara Singh...... Tiger
Amrita Arora...... Kamini
Javed Jaffrey……. Kesvani
Boman Irani……… Doctor
Kirron Kher……….. Aunt

Special Appearance

Sylvester Stallone
Denise Richards

Shooting Locations (City & Country)
Italy
United States Of America

Technical Analysis

After all the hype, the wait is over. 2009 first most awaited movie arrives & boy “ Kamnakkht Ishq’ makes you wonder whether the Nadiadwala’s production house doesn,t have a quality-control department or the existing one was asleep after the credits rolled in. This highly publicized & hyped high-gloss rom com featuring bollywood’s still saleable (can,t guarantee after this)  & hot stars Akshay & Kareena (Tashan – their last disaster) starts with a playful first hour that makes the most of its high-attitude cast. Directorial debut by Sabbir Khan seriously swings wildly between exuberance and vainness, syrupy sentiment and spectacular song-and-dance, "Kambakkht Ishq’ is a zesty hodgepodge that is expected to score from its hype, the power of lead player Akshay Kumar but seriously not the content. The actor needs a good advice before signing any project.

Messy romance & ametur handling of the world,s most finest emotion called love by a team of 4 screen writers which include the debutant helmer - Kiran Kotrial, Anvita Dutt Gupta, Ishita Mohitra & Sabbir Khan is just another recall of bollywood’s dumbest moments in scriptwriting. 

Narrationwise its shapeless and shameless, Sabbir fails to impress but still some no –brain diehards regulars will find it considerably engaging and undeniably amusing. Akshay is a winner as a performer in the flick as a successful stuntman with the likes of the delicious Denise Richards falling for the Punjabi charm. Kareena strikes an eye candy pose with Akshay with attitude, the lass looks sizzling in a bikini & seems to be enjoying lip locking with her co-star & acts fantastically. They both try their level best to keep the movie watchable but are handicapped by the increasingly chaotic script.

Songs are eye-catching but musically blah.

Directing from a script he co-wrote with Kiran Kotrial, Anvita Dutt Gupta & Ishita Mohitra, Sabbir Khan displays a blithe disregard for consistencies of tone and characterization – Akshay is a stunt man & lives like a hip hop star. Kareena is a supermodel & a trainee surgeon.

Sabbir keeps things moving at a brisk to some extant during the first half. Colorful supporting characters that include Aftab, Amrita, Javed Jaffrey & ofcourse Kiron Kher not to forget the highly publicized Sylvester Stallone & Denise Richards appearance in the film but unfortunately its turns out to be nothing exceptional.

Sabbir switches ‘Kamnakkht Ishq’ from romantic drama to a comedy or vice versa, whenever it suits the needs of the location or the actors. Lensed on location in US of A & Italy brilliantly by Vikas Shivraman, the movie is considerably low on the hype & the hooplah involved. Viewers may laugh at the pic.

The movie gets 2 out of five.

One for Akshay & the other for Kareena for their valiant & sincere attempt.

The Story

Kambakkht Ishq explores the relationship between two individuals as different from each other as chalk and cheese. No matter how many times they are pushed together, there are only fireworks... no fire. Viraj Shergill (Akshay Kumar) is a swashbuckling stuntman in Hollywood who lives by the mantra ''women are only good for two things... making love & making love'' Simrita Rai (Kareena Kapoor) is a firebrand who is more than able to stare down the most arrogant male with her caustic wit and sardonic tongue... he firm belief ''there's no such thing as love''. So what happens when the two people who hate each other the most meet at Simrita's best friend Kamini's and Viraj's brother Lucky's wedding? ...a wedding that both Viraj and Simrita are violently opposed to and desperate to stop. Sparks fly, accidents occur, And both are thrown together in the most absurd, hilarious situation until one dramatic twist of fate binds the two together in a manner that they could have never ever even dreamed of in their wildest fantasies.

Promotion

Has gained considerable hype due to the involvement of Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone & the hottie Denise Richards. The outdoor & indoor promotion had already done the trick. Anyways, the promos gives a feel that its an extension of Akshay’s previous no brainers.

Business Analysis

KAMBAKKHT ISHQ: This 85 crore movie (including publicity) is being released in 2030 screens worldwide. At an average of 5 lakh per cinema, it can reach 100 crores & cash on the hype. But afterwards, the unwanted swing between exuberance, vainness, syrupy sentiment even though with spectacular song-and-dance & popular elements, KAMBAKKHT ISHQ’ may dance at theatres but will fail to make many sing from heart.

Other Credits
Executive Producer: Sunil Lulla & Prachi Thadani. Cassettes and CD's on: Eros Music. Singers: Rdb, Neeraj Shridhar, Alisha Chinoy, K K, Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan, Shreya Ghosal, Eric Pillai, Anushka Manchandani & Karsh Kale. Lyricist: Rdb, Anvita Dutt, Guptan & Sabbir Khan. Music Director: Rdb, Anu Malik, Sulaiman Merchant & Salim Merchant. Cinematography: Vikas Shivraman. Choreography: Vaibhavi Merchant. Action: Spiro Razatos. Art: Acropolis. Dialogue: Anvita Dutt Gupta. Costume: Shabina Khan & Aki Narula. Publicity Designs: Rahul Nanda, Himanshu Nanda & HR Enterprises. Media Awareness: Raindrop Media. Reviewed at Zee Preview Theatre, Andheri, Mumbai. Certified with an A certificate.     

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