Review 43 - Khel Khel Mein (2024), Dir. Mudassar Aziz.
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The movie follows a group of friends, portrayed by Akshay Kumar, Fardeen Khan, Taapsee Pannu, Ammy Virk, Vaani Kapoor, Aditya Seal, and Pragya Jaiswal, who play a game that unveils life-altering secrets, forever transforming their lives.
The movie as a whole is an enjoyable watch. It's a fun, entertaining film that strikes a good balance between comedy and addressing serious, often difficult, topics. It manages to do this with a surprising amount of skill.
There are moments when the story starts to dip, making it feel boring, but it is able to bounce back with well-timed one-liners. This tends to happen after major secrets are revealed, typically following the reactions and confrontations, only for the momentum to be revived by the next big reveal.
The blend of drama and comedy is brilliantly executed. I found myself laughing at every joke and gasping at each twist. The timing and delivery were spot-on throughout.
Surprisingly, the movie tackles some heavy issues with remarkable sensitivity. There's a memorable scene where Akshay Kumar’s character talks to his 18-year-old daughter about sex. The advice he gives is thoughtful and left a lasting impression on me. His approach i.e. focused on creating a positive memory and ensuring she feels comfortable with her decision. Instead of being overly strict or too casual, it’s a beautifully handled conversation, especially for a topic that's often difficult to discuss.
What makes this scene even more surprising is how rare such open discussions are in India. Typically, topics like sex are either ignored or treated as taboo, with most young people left to learn from the internet. In many cases, attempts to understand or talk about it result in scolding or mockery. This scene, however, breaks that norm in a refreshing and thoughtful way.
It also tackles homosexuality quite well. When one character comes out as gay, the initial reactions of the others are selfish, reflecting something we see in real life. Fardeen Khan’s character makes a profound point, saying that just for 30 minutes, someone else's world turned upside down by pretending to be gay, imagine how hard it must have been for someone living that truth their whole life. It’s a heart-wrenching moment that adds depth to the film.
The other main characters are also well-developed, each grappling with significant personal issues like depression, infidelity, work stress, family expectations, and unresolved past relationships. The way they manage to conceal these struggles highlights just how much of a façade people maintain to appear put-together. It’s a clever portrayal of how individuals hide their true selves behind the masks they wear to protect their image.
The acting is solid across the board. Despite the characters being wealthy, they don’t come across as snobbish. Instead, they feel like people pretending to be something they’re not, perfectly aligning with the movie’s theme.
The cinematography and direction is quite good, The location and timing is quite realistic.
Although this is an adaptation, it’s a strong Bollywood interpretation. I've seen other remakes fall flat, but this one stands on its own. There's nothing about it that feels out of reach for any particular class of people. The core theme being that everyone has secrets they’re afraid to reveal applies universally. Whether it's for the thrill, fear of judgment, or simply because it’s too late to turn back, this idea resonates with everyone, regardless of their background.
The movie is adapted from the Italian film Perfect Strangers, so I assume the plot is similar. Out of curiosity, I plan to watch the original, review and compare it.
In conclusion, this is a thoroughly enjoyable film that touches on deep subjects while still managing to entertain. It’s one of the better Bollywood films of recent times, and I hope we see more of this caliber in the future.
It's a must watch. 9/10.
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