Kaam Chalu Hai Review: Rajpal Yadav, Gia Manek’s Performances Overshadowed By Lazy Script, Flawed Execution
This film doesn't do justice to the selfless work of Manoj Patil!
2 / 5
There are a lot of issues in our country that the common man faces daily. And since I am currently living in Mumbai, one of the major issues that comes to mind is bad roads with big potholes, that become worse during the rainy season. While there are a lot of inconveniences that citizens go through because of this, we do not care enough to do something solid about it, like, question the system. Rajpal Yadav and Gia Manek starrer Kaam Chalu Hai directed by Palaash Mucchal is inspired by the real-life story of a man named, Manoj Patil who lost his young daughter to the negligence of the authorities to provide the common man with proper roads. However, it is also a story of resilience and dedication to bring about a change, if not in the system, at least on the ground level. While the story is important to know and take a lesson from, the storytelling and direction miss the mark. Kaam Chalu Hai has good performances by the lead cast with moments where Rajpal Yadav is at his best.
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Plot
Kaam Chalu Hai has a simple real-life story inspired by the tragic life of Manoj Patil, a resident of Sangali, a small town in Maharashtra. Rajpal Yadal plays Manoj Patil, Gia Manek plays his wife Radha Patil and Kurangi Vijayshri as the daughter, Gudiya Patil. The story revolves around the life of the nuclear family and the bond that the parents share with their only child. In the first 40 minutes, the plot establishes the father-daughter bond and the overall interpersonal relations that the family members share. Manoj Patil’s love for his daughter and his dream to see Gudiya become India’s top cricket player is the major highlight in the first half of the film. Kaam Chalu Hai suddenly becomes the tragic story of loss when Manoj Patil’s daughter passes away after an unfortunate accident due to a big pothole. It further shows Manoj Patil’s attempt to fight the system, but after realising that the path would lead to nothing, he took up the daunting task of filling all the potholes that came his way, only to make sure that nobody had to go through the trauma of losing a loved one.
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What Works?
Rajpal Yadav delivers a sincere performance as Manoj Patil. The actor shares a wholesome bond with his on-screen daughter. He lives the character of a loving and dedicated father whose life revolves around his daughter’s dreams of becoming a successful cricketer. The actor especially shines in the second half of the where he exhibits the strong emotions of a grieving father. Rajpal Yadav is a natural talent and that is evident in his performance, however, he fails to shine thoroughly because of flawed storytelling and confused direction.
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Gia Manek was also a treat to watch. She plays this typical Marathi mom who takes the education of her daughter very seriously. Gia Manek has transformed herself into the character very efficiently and I hardly have any complaints. She is adorable during the happy moments, and convincing as a mother who is shattered after her daughter’s death.
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What Doesn’t?
Kaam Chalu Hai has a very abrupt format of storytelling. The events highlighted in the film are not structured well which left me confused and disappointed. I found myself forwarding some scenes because I failed to connect with the emotions of the characters in the film. As a result, I felt no rush of emotions during the scene when the parents discover that their daughter is no longer alive. The jump from one scene to another was so loosely connected that it does not deliver the thought-provoking message of how a personal loss can force humans to bring about a revolutionary change in the country, no matter how small that is.
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The direction also lacks the conviction to tell the powerful story of a man who continues to work to make this world a better place so others don’t feel that pain that he has seen very closely. At some points, the supporting characters look caricaturist, as if I am watching some amateur school drama where the actors did not take their roles seriously. In an attempt to make the audience feel how much the father loved his daughter, some scenes are stretched way too much, and this is felt throughout the film which runs for 1 hour 22 minutes.
The unnecessary addition of songs randomly during the movie was distracting and it did not add any value to the plot as well. There is a scene when Manoj Patil carries his daughter’s body to the graveyard along with other men while Ram Naam Satya Hai’s song plays in the background. The lyrics and composition of the song sung by Divya Kumar are beautiful, but they take away from the emotions displayed by the characters of the film.
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Also Read: Amar Singh Chamkila Review: Imtiaz Ali Film Ft Diljit Dosanjh, Parineeti Chopra Is A Flawless Work Of Art On Elvis Of Punjab!
Verdict
Kaam Chalu Hai is a movie about a man (Manoj Patil) who turns his frustration and anger towards the system into a motivation to bring change. However, the storytelling is limited to being so straightforward that it does not explore the development and journey of Manoj Patil, and touches upon the subject with a one-dimensional approach. Rajpal Yadav and Gia Manek are impressive but their performances are not to be blamed because the script did not do justice to the great work that Manoj Patil continues to do for humankind.
Kaam Chalu Hai will premiere on Zee5 on March 19.
