Star Cast: Farhan Akhtar, Deepika Padukone,Ram Kapoor, Shefali Shah, Vivaan Bhathena, Vipin Sharma, Yatin Karyekar
Director: Vijay Lalwani
Definitely, with the exciting promos, Karthik Calling Karthik has been able to create a lot of curiosity among the movie buffs. Everyone wants to know what is this film all about? Is it about a fantasy, or about two different Karthiks with Farhan having a double role or for that matter about a split personality?
But, a film maker’s job is not only to create curiosity in a film but to make a film, which ultimately works at the Box office. Director Vijay Lalwani has succeeded in making the film work till a major part of it until the last bit in Karela, where the beautifully built story gets washed away. Bollywood audiences want the story to be told in depth leaving nothing to think about, something this film fails in doing.
Karthik Calling Karthik is about Karthik (Farhan Akhtar), who is a man with an introvert nature and total lack of confidence. He is into an ordinary job, which gets him a below average results. Moreover, at his work place, no one really cares much about him – neither his boss (Ram Kumar) nor Shonali [Deepika Padukone], the girl he loves, who doesn’t even know that a person named Karthik exists in her office.
But then, one fine evening he receives a call from someone, who also calls himself Karthik and says that he is here to change the life of Karthik, who has received the call. Soon, the unidentified caller becomes Karthik’s guide and mentor, showing him the way in his life.
The biggest achievement that film maker Vijay Lalwani has managed to achieve with Karthik calling Karthik is that he has managed to combine and tell two different stories together – a love story and a suspense mystery. The film is a fine mystery, which keeps you guessing and deepens as the film moves on. What’s even better is that the director has not only managed to create a mystery around Karthik but also his girlfriend and psychiatrist, increasing the interest of the viewer even further.
Director Vijay Lalwani seems to be promising but the film could have been even better had he worked on the script a little more. The film begins on a good note but proves to be a let down as it moves on. The second hour of the film has been stretched for too long. Even the climax of the film is not very convincing.
But, other men behind the camera apart from Vijay Lalwani seem to have done a good job. The music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Cinematography by Sanu John Varughese is perfect. The dialogues are simple and funny.
The high point of the film is the acting skills of both Farhan Akhtar and Deepika Padukone, who have both proved with this film that they have the capability to be good actors. They have been supported well by Ram Kapoor Shefaali Shah, Vivan Bhatena, Tarana, Vipin Sharma and Yatin Karyekar.
Although, the climax of the film is not all that convincing, Karthik Calling Karthik is good for watching once.
