Kill - Fearless and Rigorous

 

Movie: Kill
Rating: 3.5/5

Cast:  Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Tanya Maniktala, Abhishek Chauhan, Ashish Vidyarthi, Adrija Sinha and others 

Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Produced By: Dharma Productions, Sikhya Entertainment

Release Date: 5th July 2024

Story:

NSG Commando Amrit Rathod (Lakshya) and his comrade NSG Commando Viresh embark on a train journey from a station located two hours away from Deen Dayal Upadhyay station (formerly known as Mughalsarai) to Delhi. Amrit intends to propose to his beloved, Tulika (Tanya Maniktala), following a tumultuous day when she becomes engaged to another individual. The train is seized by bandits led by Fani (Raghav Juyal), who discovers that Tulika's father is a wealthy and influential figure, leading him to devise a plan to abduct her family for ransom. Determined to prevent this, Amrit undertakes a mission reminiscent of John Wick to navigate his way through the most gruesome bloodshed witnessed on Indian screens in decades.

Performances:

Lakshya did a superb job. The action choreography was done to appear natural, but Lakshya takes it to the next level by making it look incredibly organic. Despite not having many lines, he excels in conveying emotions, even without words. This marks an auspicious debut for the actor and likely establishes his niche genre. Tanya Maniktala does justice to her role as well. Raghav Juyal showcased an outstanding performance. The actor is full of surprises; his mastery over a character so nuanced makes it challenging to discern between what is serious and what is merely a jest. Ashish Vidyarthi skillfully showcases his experience in a negative role. 

What worked for the film:

The film's narrative revolves around a couple eager to tie the knot; their relationship dynamics may seem overused. However, the excessive innovative bloodshed that follows caters to the Indian audience, making the cliché moments a welcome respite. The protagonist is introduced along with his driving force, all unfolding on the screen. Boarding the train with no particular agenda, their plans are disrupted by the bandits' arrival. There are no restrictions, neither on-screen nor off-screen. While Fani, portrayed by Raghav Juyal, continues his brutal killings, Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, the director and writer, allows his most intrusive ideas to take the lead.

Se-Yeong Ho and Parvez Shaikh's action direction in the film is captivating from every angle, effectively utilizing the dynamic setting of an Indian train in motion. This meticulous effort in the action sequences helped the heroism angle in the film. While the film's hero gets all the required sympathy from audiences, and they urge to see him take revenge for his loss, the film's director also wrote the villain character and his gang very well. He molds them into individuals who form a gang of bandits. Consequently, whenever one of them passes away, they fall apart. They weep over his lifeless body aboard the train. As Amrit embarks on a rampage reminiscent of John Wick, they become terrified of him, revealing their fear. This emotional element adds depth to the story as you witness the human side of the various bandits, making the killings more impactful. 

What did not work for the film:

The cheesy dialogues between the lead pair amidst the terrorized backdrop appear silly. Also, the action episodes are superb, but beyond a point, they look repetitive. One can guess the proceedings towards the finale.

Kill Review and Verdict:

Described as India's most violent film ever, Kill delivers an intense display of carnage. Most of the film progresses smoothly, albeit with some dreary moments. Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat did not hesitate to pack the film with extreme gore.