Chaar Kabbadi - a How & a Wow!

Yup! That's a four member act - some great under the skin kinda performances in a fun film. The WOW is reserved for Irfan Khan, Konkona Sen, Rahul Bose, SohaALi Khan and Rahul Khanna in that order. The HOW (along with the Wow obviously!) is reserved for Anil Senior- the writer and director of this true blue adult comedy.

An ode to Woody Allen from India. That goes for this film in totality, and that's like handing over this gorgeous bunch of roses to the writer-director!

Simple. Steady. Direct. That's the kind of filmmaking, which is easy on the eye and the mind. 

Funny. Insightful. Intelligent. That's the level of writing, and that IS remarkable.

Life-like. That's the pace of the film, which makes for a very relaxed viewing. (No, a film need NOT be a slick flick for no reason!)

A natural blend of humor with whacko moments caused usually by emotional discomfort for and by the lead characters when they come into contact with one another. Phew! That's the screenplay, which is actually as difficult to put together as the sentence that describes it.

A wonderful mix of sex, spice and nothing nice. That's the emotional psyche of the lead roles themselves. (Whatta mix! Absolutely delightful.)

Aah...! What a relief from the stereotype formula which the south seems to be turning out (and burning themselves out in the process!) with every big hero. Here, anything village is a great film. There (in Hindi) all things urban makes a good film. 

And I'm very happy with a good film, by the way. They are a rarity as it is! The greatness can be thrust upon them later on, during the numerous festival visits!

Breaking screenplay structure, allowing actors to talk to the camera on and off thus taking us back and forth into their lives; using characters as catalysts (Kaya played by Payal Rahtogi & Raga played by Saba) to unveil emotional changes in the characters of Samit (a very much in control - even when it's over the top act by Irfan Khan) and Rishi (a totally beautiful portrayal by Rahul Bose, yes, beautiful.); the complex passive aggressive type played to perfection by Konkona, the prudish yet I soooo need to be loved but wont tell you type played with uniformity by Soha - and of course, I wish I had a guy like that act from Rahul Khanna - all this makes this Kabbadi of Hearts, a very good 2 and half hours of clean, adult fun.

Did I say clean, adult fun? Ha! Need I say more?