It is cool and rainy here in Pune and I am enjoying a midweek work-free evening, surprisingly.
I’ve been wanting to write a review about Kabir Singh, the movie ever since I watched it. At the risk of being trolled for saying, I thoroughly enjoyed what’s being called a “misogynistic” film. In fact, that had kept me from putting my words on paper (well, not literally paper).
I haven’t seen Arjun Reddy so I walked into the movie hall with a clean slate.
What can I say other than Shahid Kapoor!! YOU HAVE MY HEART. Misogynistic or not, he has played his part so well that I could actually feel like I went through the journey with him! Kiara had more of a silent role as far as dialogues are concerned. She does manage to emote a bit with her expressions although I feel there were a couple of other actresses who could have done better.
Some goof-ups in the operating theatre notwithstanding this movie is a must watch. There is a Kabir Singh in me and I have identified with few of the things that Shahid Kapoor does. In fact, the removing of the bag from her neck took me into a flashback mode.
I do not agree with the tag of Toxic Masculinity for the movie. Yes, I do not agree to the slap part, but maybe the director thought it was important to portray their obsession towards each other. Kabir is fiercely ambitious, strong and career oriented. Surgeons and their temper are famously infamous and there have been many true stories of much worse tempered surgeons. Moreover, we have had many gangster movies glorifying and defending the underworld both in Hollywood as well as Bollywood. Also, this weed-ganja thing is extremely common in the student community. I have seen an equal amount of girls indulge in the same. This is a movie and that is why we should leave it at that. The movie is told purely from the male protagonist’s point of view.
The turn of the character is stunning. From a focussed doctor wanting to be a surgeon who coaxes his girlfriend to stay strong on a long distance relationship to a spiral downfall is his suffering. And what’s more endearing is that Kamini Kaushal (Daadi ) says- Suffering is personal. Let him suffer. In fact, he also tells his friends that had it not been for this episode he would have cracked Neurosurgery.
The final redemption of the character happens only of his own will and not due to any melodramatic event or relative as is generally depicted in these movies.
Songs are the soul of Kabir Singh and indeed haunt us. So do Shahid’s eyes. In an age where he is overshadowed by the likes of Tiger/Varun/Vicky/Nawazuddin and gang, this was his last hurrah of retaining his place ( and rightfully so ) in the hierarchy of Bollywood.
From Ishq Vishq to Haider and now this- Shahid Kapoor, you have won my heart…again.

To conclude, personal disasters happen in all our lives, but how we deal with it is important. I speak from my own disasters/shortcomings which I consciously worked upon to reduce on my own accord.

Life can knock the best and keep them down. To stay down or rise is our choice.

Do let me know your thoughts about the movie and your favourite song.. mine is Mere Soniya and Main tera ban jaaunga….