Kaagaz review :
A biographical comedy drama on Lal Bihari - a poor farmer from small village in Uttar Pradesh - who was declared dead on official paper (or Kaagaz as the title goes) but he fought the corrupt system for 18 long years to get his name and self respect restored in the Govt. records.
Pankaj Tripathi, in the lead role, is outstanding. So is Monal Gajjar as his wife. Director Satish Kaushik, who also plays a pivotal character, has lend his film a nice comic touch even as he exposes the serious rot in our system where a greedy relative can bribe a Government official to declare Lal Bihari dead just to usurp his property. Later, Bihari forms a political party of all such "dead on paper" mrutaks and contests elections with help from his local constituency MLA. A perfectly cast Mita Vashisht, playing that role brilliantly, states in one scene "Raajneeti mein aise bakre paalne padte hain taaki sahi waqt pe unki qurbani di jaaye" So very true!!
Kaagaz has an uneven pace with an unnecessary item number tucked in; but it is a true story earnestly told. Most importantly, it has its dil and dimaag in the right place. I am glad a hardcore commercial star like Salman Khan has produced it. A parting note for his fans : Dont miss his noteworthy presence at beginning and end of the film.
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
A biographical comedy drama on Lal Bihari - a poor farmer from small village in Uttar Pradesh - who was declared dead on official paper (or Kaagaz as the title goes) but he fought the corrupt system for 18 long years to get his name and self respect restored in the Govt. records.
Pankaj Tripathi, in the lead role, is outstanding. So is Monal Gajjar as his wife. Director Satish Kaushik, who also plays a pivotal character, has lend his film a nice comic touch even as he exposes the serious rot in our system where a greedy relative can bribe a Government official to declare Lal Bihari dead just to usurp his property. Later, Bihari forms a political party of all such "dead on paper" mrutaks and contests elections with help from his local constituency MLA. A perfectly cast Mita Vashisht, playing that role brilliantly, states in one scene "Raajneeti mein aise bakre paalne padte hain taaki sahi waqt pe unki qurbani di jaaye" So very true!!
Kaagaz has an uneven pace with an unnecessary item number tucked in; but it is a true story earnestly told. Most importantly, it has its dil and dimaag in the right place. I am glad a hardcore commercial star like Salman Khan has produced it. A parting note for his fans : Dont miss his noteworthy presence at beginning and end of the film.
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.