Dark Bollywood comedy-drama fails to properly execute a very strong premise

RECENT Indian Netflix release has attempted something different with the two leads and some supporting characters playing fictionalised versions of themselves.

Anurag Kashyap is a maverick director shunned by Bollywood, who kidnaps the famous daughter of superstar actor Anil Kapoor and then films him in real time trying to find her. What follows is an actor put into a real-life situation, where he has to be a hero without any help and contend with a taunting director filming his every move.

Although Anurag Kashyap is not on writing or directing duties, this film follows a similar pattern to most projects he has been involved with, in that there is a strong build-up and a very weak, dissatisfying ending.

The dark comedy-drama has a unique approach, but gradually starts to lose steam as the story progresses and soon becomes frustrating. The writing isn’t able to build on a strong premise and hobbles towards what is supposed to be a surprise conclusion, which turns into an ending that confirms this to be a vanity project. In that regard, Anil Kapoor is made to look heroic, Kashyap gets to scratch his itch as an actor and failed actor Harshvardhan Kapoor gets a little screen time. It is a project that seems to be concerned more with the protagonists and those who know about them, ahead of telling an engaging storyline that would have a broad appeal. So, it isn’t a story that will connect with those who don’t know about Bollywood and ultimately frustrate those who do with what turns out to be a ridiculous ending.

The film is also a let down with very weak music, which includes an awful rap song at the end.

Overall, the film Ak Vs Ak should be applauded for trying something different, but it needed a much stronger screenplay, ending and music.