I have cut the kite) is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language crime drama film directed by Abhishek Kapoor and produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur under UTV Motion Pictures, marking the banner's first solo production under the Disney·UTV brand.
Adapted from Chetan Bhagat's 2008 novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life,[3] with a three-song soundtrack by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Swanand Kirkire, the film stars Rajkummar Rao, Amit Sadh, and newcomer Sushant Singh Rajput as the three main protagonists while Amrita Puri plays the female lead.
revolves around three friends, Ishaan "Ish" Bhatt (Rajput), Omkar "Omi" Shastri (Sadh) and Govind "Govi" Patel (Rao), who want to start their own sports shop and sports academy; the film also revolves around the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, the 2002 Godhra train burning and the 2002 Gujarat Riots.
[2] The film received five nominations at the 59th Filmfare Awards, including Best Director for Kapoor, Best Supporting Actor for Rao, and Best Story.
While halting at a restaurant mid-way, Govind and Omi reminisce about their lives ten years ago, and remember their friend Ishaan.
Omi is the nephew of a Hindu politician, Bishakh "Bittu" Joshi, who funds his father's temple, and Govind has a penchant for business and numbers.
Ish leads a group of Muslims, including Ali and his father, to the relief camps set up by Bittu's party.
Bittu loses the elections in his constituency to his opponent Subodh Mehta, who is supported by Ali's father Naseer Hashmi, a local Muslim leader.
In response, Bittu sends pilgrims (kar sevaks) to Ayodhya to the Ram Temple, including Omi's parents.
Enraged, he thrashes Govind, while Omi enters the premises with a gun in hand, desperate to find and kill Ali and Naseer.
“Omi” Shastri Filming began in Vadnagar in Mehsana district of Gujarat along majority of scenes canned in old Ahmedabad and continued further in Porbandar, Diu.
Reportedly, Sushant Singh Rajput had to undergo four months cricket training under two coaches to fit into the book adapted character of 'Ishaan'.
[19] The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has granted the director permission to use footage from a historic India–Australia Kolkata test match from 2001 in Kai Po Che!.
[34] Actors like Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Huma Qureshi, Arshad Warsi and film-maker Shekhar Kapur praised the film and acting performances.
Sukanya Verma for Rediff.com gave 4/5 stars and says Abhishek Kapoor's clarity of vision makes Kai Po Che!, the adaptation of a mediocre novel, so irresistible.
"[40] Resham Sengar of Zee News gave 4/5 stars stating, "The magic of the film lies in its details!
[42] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave 3.5/5 stars adding, "Abhishek Kapoor uses Kai Po Che!
as an apt metaphor and crafts a lovely, emotional film on abiding friendship and the values that make life worth living.
"[48] Rajeev Masand of IBN Live gave the movie 4/5 stars saying that "It's only February, but one of the year's best films has arrived".
[13] Critic Aaron Hillis of The Village Voice gave a negative review, stating that "The dramatic stakes are so puny that every obstacle can be overcome with a simple work-it-out montage, a cheap device prevalent enough in this movie to start a drinking game.
"[51] Rachel Saltz of The New York Times wrote that the film "Mixes, not quite successfully, traditional Bollywood storytelling with something less conventional.
Through starting by criticizing the lengthy amount of Cricket portrayed in the film (which he describes as "a game that remains mystifying to North American audiences"), this aspect does not prevent Bruce from giving a Kai Po Che!
He further compliments the cinematography, stating that it shows "an India of contrasts, both sun-baked rural landscapes and chaotic urban scenes."
He concludes his review by stating that even audiences with little knowledge of recent Indian history or the complexities of cricket "are going to find Kai Po Che a poignant and satisfying experience.
[55] Deborah Young of The Hollywood Reporter complimented the film for leaving the traditional Bollywood formula, by "boldly plunge[ing] into two major historical events: the 2001 earthquake that killed 18,000 people and... the violent Hindu-Muslim clashes of 2002."
She also states that the Hindu-Muslim riot scene and subsequent reconciliation transforms the film into a "powerful drama" that "allows audiences to leave the theater with a tear in the eye".
Her concluding message further commends the film: stating "thought-provoking, moving and ultimately heart-warming, Kai Po Che!