Kaun Kitney Paani Mein

Nila Madhab Panda's 'Kaun Kitne Paani Mein' is a Surprise! This Satarical Comedy is well-written, simplistically directed & superbly acted. Certainly, an overlooked film!

'Kaun Kitne Paani Mein' wryly expresses the changes in hierarchy, caste and the power equation when water, the most important resource, vanishes and how the oppressed become the oppressors. The story is told through two villages which were split based on caste and money but never through water. In the current situation, through reversals of fortune, the old world order has been broken and water becomes the biggest game changer. It has a domino effect on everything from social order to economics, even love and marriage. The film takes a satirical look at respect for resources, caste divides, and rural life against the backdrop of a traditional love story but all set in a realm where water is the new currency.

'Kaun Kitne Paani Mein' is strongly structured. I was connected by the eccentric characters, be it the penniless raja, his henpecked son or the aspiring politician along-with his superbly sly daughter. Nila Madhab Panda's Direction is simple, but effectively done. The Writing is crisp, although the concluding moments are a bit underwhelming.

Performance-Wise: Kunal Kapoor, Radhika Apte, Saurabh Shukla & Gulshan Grover are up for vie top honors. Kapoor, a highly underrated actor, pitches in a natural performance, enacting a very non-heroic role with believability. Apte is a marvel. Not only is she gorgeous, but an actress to reckon with. She's flat-out-fabulous! Shukla & Grover are seasoned players & hence, they don't fail to mesmerize. They are stupendous as feuding rivals, who easily steal the entire narrative.

On the whole, 'Kaun Kitne Paani Mein' needs to be watched.

Shekhar Kapur's epic movie on the burning subject of 'scarcity of water' has been in the news since last few years with a probable title of PAANI. But as the project still remains in the 'announcement stages' only even after several years, it was indeed a quite intelligent move of director Nila Madhab Panda to come up with a satirical comedy on the theme hitting on the nail first. However despite choosing a great subject with an interesting cast, the director fails to deliver a fine product and the opportunity goes wasted missing the desired impact.

With its less exciting promos revealing it all, I wasn't expecting much from the film personally since I couldn't appreciate Panda's last two ventures too, including the award winning I AM KALAM (reminding me of RK banner's AB DILLI DOOR NAHIN). Anyway in his latest offering, the director begins with a typical 'seen before' sequence of honour killing in a village sowing the seeds of hatred for the coming generations. And later falls back on the same old path wherein a young boy is intentionally sent to win over the rival village owner's daughter to gain some 'water benefits'.

The first few sequences of the film featuring Saurabh Shukla are interesting, raising the viewers expectations looking for an enjoyable satirical comedy coming ahead based on 'shortage of water'. But the film sadly delivers nothing of that sort in the next 100 minutes and just keeps revolving around the usual melodrama with a slower pace and a less engaging script progression. After a point the writers try to incorporate too many issues together ranging from honour killing, caste division, problems of agriculture, soil re- mineralisation, a routine love drama, religious superstition, forced sexual references, a secret tunnel dug for stealing the water and more. As a result the basic focus on the subject of 'scarcity of water' gets blurred and the possible outcome of a thoughtful satire isn't there.

Recalling the few positives, KKPM has an appreciable art direction and an entertaining act delivered by Saurabh Shukla along with a routine yet sincere performance by Gulshan Grover. But other than that its narration falls flat, music fails to make any kind of impact despite the traditional touch and both Kunal Kapoor and Radhika Apte clearly become a victim of poor characterisation from their 'uninventive' writers. Having said that, Radhika does brighten up the screen in her first appearance wearing a pure white suit playing with the Holi colours.

In all KAUN KITNE PAANI MEIN is a perfect example of a great idea not finding an equally great execution by its 'experimental director'. So the subject still remains 'untouched' and we would have to wait for Shekhar Kapur to deliver something seriously eye- opening predicting the future ahead.

If someone comes to me, saying that he only has money to watch one movie this weekend, what should he watch: Phantom or Kaun Kitne Paani Mein; then I will confidently ask him to go for Kaun Kitne Paani Mein without any hesitation.

Its a well scripted, satirical commentary on the contemporary social evils, and in a way the movie projects a solid message for the public as well as the Government as to how the evils can be handled.

Set across the backdrop of Odisha, with rich flavors of the region including the music, dialogues, costume and life-style, KKPM will enchant you, upset you and make you feel good by the time the movie finishes.

Water is the catalyst here, as it provokes, incites and carries forward the story. Basically, this movie is all about the choices our leaders make, and how it impacts the general people. Water is just a symbol of the problems and issues which we face, and how it can be handled.

Saurabh Shukla steals the show with his awesome performance of playing a King whose wealth has been dwindled away; and is now seeking desperate measures to bring back the good ol' days. His village has no water, and no one willing to buy the land.

I will say his acting in this movie is one of those path-breaking, high quality stuff which cinema lovers crave for. On the other hand, Gulshan Grover plays the democratically elected leader of another village which is rich, powerful and full of water.

Radhika Apte has truly arrived with this movie; she makes you laugh, cry and captures the screen every time she is given a chance. Her acting prowess and a level of strange acting maturity level makes KKPM a treat to watch. Kunal Kapoor aptly supports her, but he is simply overshadowed by Radhika in the movie.

Witty, humorous dialogues, well edited screenplay and completely hilarious situations make KKPN an epic social saga of 2015, on par with the logic of Well Done Abba.

You shouldn't miss this.

Had heard a lot about this movie but didn't get a chance to see it until today. It is not very surprising in our Bollywood that such movies slide away without anyone knowing about them. However, if we have enough strength to watch those masala packed entertainers than this should come fairly easy to us. This movies clearly shows a genuine effort of every cast and crew to weave a satirical story around plethora of issues in our country. I must admit I have a soft corner for Kunal Kapoor as I feel he is good talent wasted, and same so goes for Saurabh Shukla & Mr. Grover. Not only the lead characters have played their part honestly but the supporting cast is equally good.

Overall, the story could have been better like the songs but still is FAR better than most of our mainstream movies. It's definitely a one time watch, and through out the movie you won't feel bored at-least I didn't.