Kaagaz Review : In an effort to sustain his band-baja business, Bharat Lal (Pankaj Tripathi) seeks a loan from a local bank in Uttar Pradesh. However, he soon discovers that his uncle and cousins have deceitfully declared him legally dead, seizing his rightful share of the family land. Despite the comedic references to the late 70s setting, the gravity of Bharat Lal’s plight is evident as he vows to fight against his conniving relatives and the bureaucratic red tape that ensnares him.
Movie Ratings
4/5
- Release Date 7 January 2021
- Language Hindi
- Genre Biography, Comedy, Drama
- Duration 1h 49min
- Cast Pankaj Tripathi, Monal Gajjar, Satish Kaushik, Mita Vashisht, Brijendra Kala, Amar Upadhyay, Lankesh Bhardwaj, Neha Chauhan, Garrvil Mohan, Pranay Narayan, Amit Pathak, Sharat Sonu, Ratan Lal, Mahesh Chandra Deva, Arun Shekhar, Dinesh Sharma, Yogesh Kumar Shukla, Sandeepa Dhar, Ajay Singh, Lal Biharimore…
- Director Satish Kaushik
- Writer Satish Kaushik
- Cinematography Arkodeb Mukherjee
- Music Pravesh Mallick, Rahul Jain
- Producer Salman Khan, Nishant Kaushik, Vikas Malu
- Production Salman Khan Films, The Satish Kaushik, Entertainment Production
- Certificate 13+
Released amidst a climate of growing intolerance, “Kaagaz” arrives as a timely narrative, loosely inspired by real events. While it aims to instill confidence and self-esteem in its audience, the film’s slow pace and simplistic storytelling approach hinder its impact. The use of two narrators, Salman Khan and Satish Kaushik, fails to enhance the narrative, while the inclusion of songs dilutes the seriousness of Bharat Lal’s ordeal.
Nevertheless, Pankaj Tripathi shines in his portrayal of Bharat Lal, effortlessly transitioning from a jovial musician to a determined rebel. Tripathi’s performance remains the film’s highlight, showcasing his remarkable acting prowess. However, director Satish Kaushik’s execution falls short, with parallel characters lacking depth compared to Tripathi’s compelling portrayal.
Despite its shortcomings, “Kaagaz” succeeds in capturing the essence of rural India and a bygone era, thanks to the work of costume designer Sujata Rajain and cinematographer Arkodeb Mukherjee. Ultimately, while the film showcases Tripathi’s talent, it falls short of delivering the emotional impact it promises, leaving audiences wanting more depth and resonance from its narrative.
