I've said it before but I am a sucker for star-crossed romance. And an interfaith relationship is icing on the cake. 'Kedarnath' is just that in a natural disaster setup. For those who are not aware, Kedarnath is a town in the Himalayas that suffered massive destruction in 2013. It was a horrific tragedy that director Abhishek Kapoor has managed to capture on the big screen.
Mansoor (Sushant Singh Rajput) is a porter who helps tourists visit temples and go on pilgrimages. He is immensely proud of what he does despite religious opposition. Mukku, a daughter of a respectable Pandit, happens upon him and is instantly fascinated by this young man. Refreshingly, she is the one who pursues him and their relationship blossoms into a gentle romance. An obnoxious fiancé, conservative parents, nothing seems to stop this couple...except impending doom. You know how the story will play out yet the last 20 minutes will still leave you awestruck and are the highlight of the movie.
Sushant Singh Rajput plays Mansoor with a quiet strength that's endearing and equally admirable. But frankly, he doesn't have much heavy lifting (metaphorically speaking, of course, since he carries a tremendous amount of weight in reality) to do. In an almost shocking turn of events a lot of the burden falls to Ms. Khan. Sara Ali Khan's Mukku is foulmouthed, stubborn, rebellious, and gets to display a range of emotions. She impresses with a confidence and attitude rarely seen in a debut film. Welcome to the movies, Ms. Khan; we're glad you're here!
Abhishek Kapoor is an unpredictable filmmaker. While he has delivered great wonders like 'Rock On' and 'Kai Po Che', his last release 'Fitoor' was painfully dull. Thankfully this time around he ups his game. He has chosen the right subject and does justice to the disaster. The romance could've used a little more time and stronger music was definitely needed. Songs are an imperative part of any good Bollywood romance and better ones would've helped heighten the emotions here. Nevertheless, the film has a Titanic-like quality that works for it.
I quite enjoyed this movie. The couple is sweet and there are some incredible shots of the valley. And seeing it fall apart is painfully effective. If nothing else, it's worth a watch for Sara Ali Khan who will walk away with all the glory.
