Kalank Teaser: Will Kalank be another Thugs of Hindostan or will it break BO records?

Karan Johar\’s Kalank teaser released on Tuesday and the first impression was this is HUGE (in capitals for the impact). Yet to see any movie in the recent times looking this big. The last was Aamir Khan-Amitabh Bachchan starrer Thugs of Hindostan and I dread venturing in that territory again. Though I was in the minority who liked the film. I watched it again on Amazon Prime when it arrived a month back. But as I said, I am in minority as far as TOH is concerned and Aamir Khan is not going to reward me for saying this.

Since this post is about Kalank so back to Karan Johar\’s magnum opus directed by Two States director Abhishek Varman. The film boasts of a huge starcast rarely seen in Hindi films these days. Madhuri Dixit Nene, Sanjay Dutt, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha – these are just the lead characters. Obviosuly, there will be more and we shall know them in the coming days. The sheer scale seen is the Kalank teaser gives a feeling that no stone has been left unturned in making Kalank look big. But so did TOH and the film failed to set box office on fire. Here and also in China where Aamir Khan enjoys a huge fan base.

The real test of the second directorial venture of Abhishek Varman would be the treatment and the script. Yes every frame in Kalank teaser looks grand. The sets, costumes, dance sequences – everything. It would not be unfair to compare the Kalank teaser to a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film. But that is where the comparison should end. Because Bhansali films have everthing else working for them. Music, story, execution, cast. This is where I have my doubts. While the producer may have manage to get the cast including current hearthrobs Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, will it reply only on these two?

Sonakshi Sinha looks like she has walked in from Lootera set. Her looks are so much Lootera-ish that Ranveer Singh would have made the jodi complete. Instead we have Aditya Roy Kapoor. Now, after a rather promising start with Aashiqui 2, his career has been downhill to say the least. Even coming together with Shraddha Kapoor failed to lift OK Jaanu. Sonakshi Sinha made her presence felt through item numbers – the last one in Total Dhamaal. Missed it? Watch now and wonder WHY she agreed to do this.

Karan Johar himself had disclosed that late Sridevi was supposed to do Madhuri Dixit Nene\’s part. Madhuri even spoke to Sridevi\’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor after Sridevi\’s untimely demise on February 24, 2018, before coming on board. The change in the cast resulted in Madhuri sharing the screen with her ex-lover Sanjay Dutt after 21 years.

Johar had said that Kalank was his father late Yash Johar\’s dream project and the script was lying with him for the last fifteen years. Director Abhishek Varman showed interest in the script and rest is what we now know.

Coming to the music of Kalank, like you I also heard the singer who will never ever sing for Salman Khan, Arijit Singh crooning just one line. I checked Twitter and his fans were going gaga with just that six word piece in the Kalank teaser.

It was a meh teaser. Until Arijit voice kicked in. Then it was awesome #Kalank https://t.co/b8O2ZUlAnS

— Musal (@FoniLunbo) March 12, 2019

So TOH director Vijay Krishna Acharya regular Pritam who was dumped for the magnum opus, is doing the honours here. Varman dropped the trio of Shankar Ehsaan Loy who scored the wonderful soundtrack of 2 States. The album was adjudged Album of the year, so I have no clue why SEL were dropped. Actually, SEL are losing out on lot of Dharma projects while Pritam is getting all the big ones. This needs some investigative journalism so wait for it. Will Pritam be able to manage justice to the period film of this scale?

Kalank releases on April 17, on a Wednesday and not on a Friday April 19 as announced at the time of launch. Another TOH similarity. It also released on Wednesday to gain the maximum from Diwali holiday block. Kalank will have a proper trailer with all the dialogue baazi. This reminds me of Alia Bhatt. The Twitterati cannot get enough of her dialogue.

\”Jab Kisi Aur Ki Barbaadi Apni Jeet Jaisi Lage… Toh Hum Se Zyaada Barbaad Aur Koi Nahi Iss Duniya Mein\”

Incidentally only two voices can be heard in the teaser. The second one I have mentioned first because the first one is nothing to write about. I mean why do they give Varun Dhawan dialogues? He can emote much better without opening his mouth much. Case in point is October. What a performance Varun. But Kalank is just not suiting him. Body, biceps, dance steps are all fine but can you please do something about that voice of yours? May be take a tip from Gulzar saab?

Here is the teaser (if you have managed to miss all the links that came your way). Do write in the comments section if you liked the piece, hated it or want to call for a boycott.