Film: Kuttey

Cast: Arjun Kapoor, Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kumud Mishra, Radhika Madan & Shardul Bhardwaj

Director: Aasmaan Bhardwaj

Rating: 3.5 Moons

It’s not easy to make an interesting heist-thriller, especially in Bollywood, but Aasmaan Bhardwaj’s debut directorial Kuttey is gripping in every sense. Who would say it’s his first piece of work as a feature film director? Starring a stellar multi-cast of Arjun Kapoor, Tabu, Naseeruddin Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma, Kumud Mishra, Radhika Madan and Shardul Bhardwaj, Kuttey takes us through one rainy night in the outskirts of Mumbai and how three stray gangs unknowingly cross paths on the hunt.

The 1-hour-50-minute long film begins with a Naxalite group leader Laxmi (Konkona Sen Sharma) explaining to Inspector Paaji (Kumud Mishra) what is it like to be someone’s slave while being locked up in jail. After being released, she, along with her gang members, kills every police officer except Paaji. Thirteen years later in 2016, Paaji, who now works under officer Gopal (Arjun Kapoor) , doesn't forget the feeling of being treated unfairly.

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Things go haywire when both Gopal and Paaji are suspended after agreeing to kill Mumbai’s biggest drug mafia Narayan Khobre’s (Naseeruddin Shah) competition. Now helpless, Gopal and Paaji land up at Officer Pammi's (Tabu) van, their only ray of hope. But what begins as a mere deal between the trio takes a U-turn when the Mafiosi’s daughter Lovely (Radhika Madan) and her lover boy Danny (Shardul Bhardwaj) also join in for ulterior motives.

Now, Lovely, Danny, Gopal, Paaji and Pammi are all behind a van that’s carrying crores in cash. Unaware of each other, these three stray gangs cross paths on the hunt. Unfortunately, all of them have the same plan. Bullets... Blood... Betrayal... It’s every man for himself. All the dogs are after one bone. Will these dogs bite the bone, or will they lose to greed? Well, for that, you will have to watch Kuttey.

Kuttey is not a basic crime drama. It is a well-made heist-thriller. The film is divided into three chapters and ends with a kickass epilogue. The first of the film keeps us intrigued with the character-building formula and the second half keeps us on the edge of our seats. The only thing lacking in the film is realism but well, they justify it with their ‘no logic, only character’ dialogue. The film might feel confusing if one does not pay full attention to it. The climax, however, will leave you impressed.

Arjun Kapoor fits into his role of a crooked police officer perfectly. He keeps up the good work with evil expressions and strong body language. Tabu, however, is the icing on the cake. No one could have played the role of a lady cop better than her in this one. She is headstrong, bold and a pure daredevil. Her rowdy dialect and A1 acting skills are as captivating as it gets.

Kumud Mishra is the next best thing in the film. As Paaji, he might not speak a lot but when he does, he owns the entire screen. Konkona Sen Sharma gives a great start and end to the movie despite having an extremely short role. Radhika Madan, Shardul Bhardwaj and Naseeruddin Shah are a treat to watch.

Full marks to Aasmaan Bhardwaj for his direction. He lives up to his father Vishal Bhardwaj’s legacy in his first outing as a director. The film’s story, written by Aasmaan and Vishal, is as engaging as it gets. Cinematographer Farhad Ahmed Dehlvi shoots the film like a pro in the dark. Editor A. Sreekar Prasad keeps Kuttey crisp and interesting. Vishal Bhardwaj’s music is a treat to the ears.

PeepingMoon gives Kuttey 3.5 Moons!