Kaam Chalu Hai

Kaam Chalu Hai has been chosen for promotion by IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association) at the Cannes Film Festival 2024. The film was digitally released on 19 April 2024 on ZEE5. Kaam Chalu Hai received mixed response from critics with praise for its poignant portrayal of a father's journey and the important social message it conveys, while some others criticized its uneven pacing, repetitive scenes, and lack of depth in character development and plot progression.

Indian Express awarded half stars out of 5 stars, called it "static and bland" and wrote "Kaam Chalu Hai strictly remains an issue-based film with largely familiar beats and a narrative filled with plot holes. Angel Rani of Deccan Herald of wrote "Kaam Chalu Hai is a commendable effort that raises awareness about the great Indian civic apathy that claims several lives on the road."

Up until this point, Muchhal's film is a montage of shots and songs strung together to depict a happy family. The film's pace is slow and the execution is like a dramatised version of a social service advertisement. Performances up until the big twist are purely cursory, to the point of being caricaturish. The banter between them seems quite artificial. It's only in the second half when the film begins to deliver its message. It's understandable to show the happy family so the audience can relate with them, but the first half is way too animated. Nonetheless, the seriousness of the subject is well documented, as the story progresses and one can relate with just how diabolical and dangerous these potholes can be. They can snuff life out of anyone within seconds or worse still, maim people for life. But the administrative apathy is so rampant that it's frustrating to see why it doesn't lead to serious consequences like falling off of a government.

While some may criticise the film for its straightforward narrative and lack of embellishment, it is precisely this simplicity that lends the movie its strength. By eschewing flashy gimmicks in favour of stark realism, the film succeeds in capturing the essence of its subject matter with unflinching honesty. While some may criticise the film for its straightforward narrative and lack of embellishment, it is precisely this simplicity that lends the movie its strength. By eschewing flashy gimmicks in favour of stark realism, the film succeeds in capturing the essence of its subject matter with unflinching honesty.

Between 2013 and 2020, a staggering 20,000 lives were lost due to treacherous potholes on Indian roads, accounting for 5% of all road fatalities. Metro cities averaged around 10,000 potholes each, highlighting the severity of the issue (Ref: Deccan Herald). Amidst this neglect and inefficiency, one individual's tireless efforts stand out as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that even in the face of bureaucratic failure, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.

This movie, based on a true story, tells a straightforward and unfiltered narrative that exposes the deep-rooted bureaucracy in India and serves as a poignant reminder of our collective failures as a society. Raghuvir Yadav's flawless performance is the highlight of the movie, complemented by Giaa Manek's shining performance, and their chemistry adds depth to the unflinching storyline. While uneven pacing and occasional dramatic moments hinder the overall impact, the movie still effectively conveys the power of citizens in making a difference. Positive change is not solely dependent on government action, but can be sparked by individual initiatives! A good watch.

I wish everybody watches this film. It's not about entertainment, it's not about liking or not, it's about the message behind this movie. The first half of the movie is slow paced, shows a bond. The second half, I lost my words. Most of us live happy lives. We enjoy with our friends and family. We don't care about the rest. This film shows us the other side. I felt the pain on the other half of the movie. Great performance by everybody involved. I was always a fan of Rajpal Yadav and loved his comedy genre movies. But this one is different and Yadav proved that he can lit any role he's given. Besides actors, it was well executed by the director. The writing could have been better in the first half of the movie. If you ask me whether you should watch this movie or not, I would say, Yes. You should watch this 1 hour movie once in your lifetime. This film shows a lot of things, the message. 7 out of 10.