The inspiration behind the conception of this romantic thriller is very interesting, as one can find out from its brief Wikipedia article.
28-year-old Anitha (Sruthi Menon) and 23-year-old Irfan (Shane Nigam) are in unconditional love for some time. They have acknowledged their difference in religious and caste interests, but fear that their orthodox families may not take it easily. Hence, they seek help from the police, who may not be as helpful and scrupulous as they hope them to be. What follows is an intimidating chronicle of two lovers who are forced to dance due to ancient beliefs and acute police degeneration.
Kismath is NOT a love story, but kind of its aftermath. How the couple's decision to stay together no matter what works against them, catalyzed by their own family, their notions, their practices and traditions, and the police. In addition to chronicling their harrowing time at the police station as they seek help from the station in-charge, Ajay (Vinay Forrt), the story also throws light into police apathy and cruelty against those without power or influence. The sequences showing romance are fewer than those showing the characters in distress, which is what the film primarily tries to convey. One can blame a series of things for the couple's ill-fated destiny, but one thing that's loud and clear from this is the backward mentality of the society as we close the year 2016. And the real-life incident took place sometime in 2011, just five years ago. Members of the society still think that inter-caste marriages are a curse to the whole society and everyone incorporated in it, but what they fail to consider here is that caste and religion are all man- made inventions which have no rationality attached to them, but just sick fallacies.
Nigam comes out as a surprise package, having showcased his support in films like NPCB (2013). His air as the hapless lover who has evidently taken a wrong decision is decent. Menon can act, but her expressions gave her away in some sequences that demanded seriousness and authenticity. Forrt shines as the corrupt policeman who is disturbed the second he learns about the girl's caste, a scheduled one. Alencier Lopez, Sunil Sukhada, and all other supporting cast are very good. However, I had qualms with the seeming side arcs that were happening throughout the film, as if the writer lost focus on what his primary subject was: the fate of the star-crossed lovers or police immorality.
All in all, the story about a real-life couple will provoke you, and may possibly give you power to fight against the wrongness in your own personal life. Highly recommended!
BOTTOM LINE: Debutante Shanavas Bavakutty's "Kismath" is an enticing tale of two lovers who find themselves in the wrong place among wrong people for a blame which is not even their own. Rent a DVD now!
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES
