Karzzzz poster

Karzzzz

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do (?)

quick review:

No surprises. Same ol' bottle same ol' wine.

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Director: Satish Kaushik
Running time: 130 minutes
Genres: Melodrama
More Movie Info

Karzzzz - Preview

NOT A REVIEW - Just wondering how I'll resist using 'zzzz' and keep myself from taking 'vengeance' in the review if I don't like the movie...

My anxiety is shared by other fans of the original -

God knows what he is going to do to the movie

And this reaction is priceless -

Sad is the state of Indian movies which saw Himesh Reshammiya’s Aap Ka Surroorrr - The Moviieeeiie becoming one of the major hits of the year. I knew it from the onset that the near death experience will not be over soon... ... ... More than a near death experience, Himesh will be handing us a pre-death, through-death AND post-death experience with his next movie Karzzz

Since the lead character is a rockstar and the actor is a music composer and singer with his own fan following, the movie is bound to be a lot about it's music.

I love the music of the original Karz and am only happy that they decided against using the same music. They have composed completely new songs. Thank goodness for some mercies!

But originality doesn't go a long way.

Kulwinder Kally has alleged that Soniye Je Tere Nal, which features in the forthcoming Karzzz that stars Reshammiya himself, was actually written by a Pakistani lyricist, Shaonki Khan, and sung by him.

Read this for a detailed song-by-song hilarious take on the music. And another one who disliked it with equal passion says

The wounds from Himesh’s earlier barrage are still fresh and he’s back doing what he does worst - same hooks, groans, aahs and oohs.

At least we are prepared for the worst. Anything else is only going to be a bonus...

- meeta, a part of the audience

Good news - no devastating damage done (to put things in perspective, this is the guy who starred in Aap kaa Suroor) Bad news - We saw this almost 25 years ago and can watch it again at home any time we like! Then, pray tell us, why would we want to see Himessss-bhai instead of chintu-mama?

It's going to be claimed that the target is not the multiplex cine-goer but the "masses". Tell me, which section enjoys Himesh fainting down like every other pregnant woman in Hindi movies? And which section is going to be mesmerized by Urmila's fairy-tale-like vampish gait?

Character sketches in movies like these are just amazing. For instance, the woman is given such an important place in the story line...after all our man is completely and unquestioningly smitten by her...and yet her function is less than that of a prop. She just exists. It must be some sort-of an art to make the object of 'true love' a bystander whose primary function is to lick ice-creams and go on a soft toy fetish. Damn, she doesn't even bother to offer support when the man of her life has disclosed the inner turmoil he's going through!

In the 80's we thoroughly enjoyed if not thrived on the cinematic liberties taken. But hasn't the audience matured at least a bit since then? Even if each and every character, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, in Karzzzz have the best anti-aging cosmetics at their disposal. You are helpfully given 'then and now' transitions of brand ambassador Urmila Matondkar as proof. None of the characters manage an extra wrinkle, or an extra inch. I want whatever they are having!

Oh, by the way, if you were thinking the makers were ingenious enough to only take from one movie made previously, get set to be proven wrong. Kabira (Danny Denzongpa) is given only lines from old Hindi movies to fit the particular situation. They are relevant enough so, it doesn't become painful. Though every time someone said "kudrat ka karishma" (nature's freak miracle), I felt like saying, "not really, it happened more than 25 years ago (if not earlier)." And then you have the blatant references to Deewar, Shaan, Mr. India. Not to mention the mimicry artist of a villain, bad man, Gulshan Grover doing a Feroze Khan-cum-Shaakal look.

Of course, borrowing neither stops at dialogues nor at old Hindi movies. The songs are all seen there, heard that. No-no, I'm not referring to "ek haseena thi" or the signature tune from the original. (Although, the man actually sounds good when other voice-producing organs overpower the mighty nose!) I'm referring to the first song ("ishq is duniya mein") that sounds like Himesh's compositions from earlier movies. And the second, third, and so on numbers which sound like the first. So, we actually have borrowing from the latest movie!

The camerawork, background score etc. do try to give the movie a slick look - what with the action choreographer going for the home run with Himesh flying through a mansion. And however smart you make the movie look when it's about reincarnation, then the half-hearted attempt at logic/logistics in the climax makes you laugh only harder.

One argument could be that if Karz is likeable what's wrong with Karzzzz? It’s the same story after all. But somehow, the balance tilts against a Himesh Reshammiya being snickered at by most members of the audience every time he attempts emotion.

- meeta, a part of the audience

28 reviewers(?) - 2 yays 8 so-so 18 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Karishma Purshotam, desi hits : ...The film has lived up to the hype and is able to carry the audience through Monty's journey for revenge.... full review

Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, IndiaFM : ...This is a masala film; the makers never ever promised new-age cinema.... full review

So-So, by Sanskriti Media, AOL INDIA : ...Director Satish Kaushik deserves a pat on his back to have the guts of opting for a remake... full review

So-So, by Aparajita Ghosh, Apun Ka Choice : ...In ‘Karzzzz’ Himesh is not as stiff and uptight as he was in his debut Aap Ka Suroor .... full review

So-So, by Sanjay Ram, Business of Cinema : ...The editing in some places is bad and character buildups are simply wasted.... full review

So-So, by Chandrima Pal, Buzz18 : ...Karzzzz belongs to a guy who has supreme confidence in his capabilities, and for the fans who agree.... full review

So-So, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...For the newer generation who have no inkling of the original, KARZZZZ is all about love, betrayal, murder, reincarnation and revenge... full review

So-So, by Khalid Mohamed, Hindustan Times : ...Kaushik doesn’t establish a distinctive directorial signature of his own.... full review

So-So, by Goher Iqbal Punn, Radio Sargam : ...Danny is wasted in the character of filmholic uncle. Gulshan Grover is great.... full review

So-So, by Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India : ...The high point of the film is Urmila Matondkar who tries to chart a different course as the mean, machiavellian gold digger.... full review

Thumbs down, by manish gajjar, BBC : ...Being a thriller, the movie does not hold your attention due to a weak screenplay and small deviations from the original plo... full review

Thumbs down, by Baradwaj Rangan, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express : ...Karzzzz is not altogether unwatchable – if that’s any consolation... full review

Thumbs down, by Rahul Bhasin, Bolly Spice : ...Dino Morea (playing Ravi Verma) was a pleasure to watch, even though he had very limited screen time... full review

Thumbs down, by Yasser Usmaan, DearCinema : ...The strongest point of the film is Himesh Reshamiya’s music.... full review

Thumbs down, by Deep, Deep's Home : ...Himesh is really giving hopes to all the bad actors in the industry.. Shweta Kumar is too young to become an actress... full review

Thumbs down, by Aniruddha Guha, DNA : ...Karzzzz is entertaining in parts. May be not the way the makers intended it to be, but still.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...The new Karzzzz doesn't work because it has no soul.... full review

Thumbs down, by pankaj sabnani, indiatimes : ...With a poor screenplay and average performances, Karzzzz is an uninspiring remake and is completely avoidable.... full review

Thumbs down, by Harshita Kohli, indya.com : ...The one star that I will give it is for its locales and cinematography. That deserves some mention as it has been done well.... full review

Thumbs down, Movie Talkies : ...The film could have done with a crisper narrative, fewer songs and better editing.... full review

Thumbs down, by nita jatar kulkarni, Now Running.com : ...Considering that most of the actors do an average job, and the cinematography, the sets, and screenplay are not worth talking about... full review

Thumbs down, by Ashok Nayak, Now Running.com : ...The film is an out n out Himesh Reshammiya show. Apart from being the leading man, Himesh has also composed the music and sung the songs.... full review

Thumbs down, by Subhash K Jha, Now Running.com : ...The contemporised props and locations hardly help wipe out the feeling of watching a film that belongs to another time zone, far beyond the theme of reincarnation.... full review

Thumbs down, by aakash gandhi, Planet Bollywood : ...KARZZZZ is a film plagued with some serious ego problems.... full review

Thumbs down, by Raja Sen, Rediff : ... The most memorable thing about Himesh Reshammiya's take on Karz is the theme tune recycled from the original... full review

Thumbs down, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...The music is passable on its own but is blasphemous compared to the original film... full review

Thumbs down, by Nitesh Rohit, Upper Stall : ...Karzzzz the remake, is a fantasy, and the only domain it belongs to is Bollywood... full review

Twitter reviews for this movie are not available.

2 readers - 0 yays 2 so-so 0 nays

Not Interested in Watching, by ek villian

This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Plot Summary

Inky pinky ponky. Kamini (Urmila Matondkar) has a Ravi (Dino Morea). Ravi dies, Monty (Himesh Reshammiya) cries. Inky pinky ponky. Monty has a Kamini. Kamini...

What Worked

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What did not

Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here

  • However glossy a movie is intended to be, mother wearing make-up to mourn her son's death is plain disgusting!
  • Why was the girl in the party clicking Tina's pictures?
  • Where were the memories from Monty's last birth for the last 25 years?
  • Isn't it remarkable that the close friend happens to be a doctor because our lead character is going to need one!?
  • So Himesh has met with a near-death car accident. What does he do after getting out of the car? Dust his clothes! A Hindi movie hero he is, after all!

Come on guys, it’s a movie about reincarnation, I can't pick on logic and logistics matters, once I'm supposed to submit to rebirth and happy coincidences as the basic premise!

Parental Guidance:

  • Violence: Minimal
  • Nudity and sexual content: None
  • Concept: Betrayal in love, vengeance, reincarnation
  • General Look and Feel: It has a very slick look and is sprinkled with song and dance.

Karzzzz - Cast, crew, links

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Running time:
130 minutes
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Comments (3)

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I somehow have a soft spot for the movies which are doomed by their titles. Which is why I watched "D-rona", "Dar'a'wana", "Drone-On" religiously. But even I am afraid of the Four Z's of Capocalypse.

One must not spend time brooding over Himesh or his hit debut film. True, it is indeed a sad state that our film-makers are out of ideas for they have to remake past films (DON, Karz).

Those who blog or post online are not the ones that make up Himesh's market. Himesh caters to the masses (meaning the majority). It is high time Bollywood went back to basics and made films for the masses instead of being too multiplex-centric. Himesh is a Mass Hero and thats what Aap Ka Suroor proved.

"Capocalypse" Amey! lol!! Brilliant...

Mr. Inketi, true, but it still releases for me too and all I can do is voice my opinion in a small, squeaky voice.

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