Also read at http://moviereviewsbybinduc.blogspot.in/2014/04/kaanchi- unbreakable.html
The Plot: Kaanchi- The Unbreakable, a romantic-musical thriller, a much awaited movie of Subhash Ghai after a gap of five years (last movie was Yuvvraaj). Story of an ordinary girl Kaanchi fro m a village Koshampa (a village for army men) in Uttrakhand. It is about her grit, determination, courage to even question the system in her own manner. Trailers gave a feeling of Kaanchi being a completely romantic piece, but Subhash Ghai has gone for the blend of Romance with other issues viz. Patriotism, Political leaders' ruthless / shrewd ways, corruption, even business leaders laying down the rules of the business, black money, helplessness of the common man facing unresponsive bureaucracy and government etc.
The movie opened with Sub-Inspector Ratanlal Bagula (Chandan Roy Sanyal – Oh, I loved him in this movie, excellent work, refer the 'Cast and their Performance' header below) being questioned by a few Police officers and mainly by an investigation officer Arun Roy (Adil Hussain). Bagula is asked about the whereabouts of Sigdi Aka Kaanchi (Indrani Chakraborty, renamed by Subhash Ghai as Mishti). Arun asks Bagula to tell him the 'truth behind the truth'. The story unfolds with his narration.
Koshampa is a village of retired army men and their families, in Uttarkhand and the heroine of the village is none other than Kaanchi. She stands for 'what is right' and Mr. Ghai has even projected her as giving abuses to men, if men trouble her, projected her fiery temperaments, never-compromising attitudes. Proud of her martyr father's legacy, Kaanchi swaggers around wearing the thick khaki belt which was a part of her father's military uniform.
Kaanchi is in love with Binda (Karthik Aaryan – Pyar ke Panchnama & Akaash Vani fame). Binda runs a Military Training School. He has three major philosophies:
1. Fear no evil 2. Do what is right 3. Fight for what is right.
There are definitely wonderful moments of love and teasing between Binda and Kaanchi (minus 'Jhand', 'Jhalli' etc.). Then the entry of Kakda(s) in Koshampa: Politician Shyam Kakda (Mithun Chakraborty) and his businessman brother Jhumar Baba Kakda (Rishi Kapoor) and Sushant Kakda (Rishabh Sinha – Qubool Hai- Zee TV serial fame and in this movie, son of Shyam Kakda). Binda is fighting a court case against Kakda(s) for their land of Koshampa. Kakdas want to buy this Koshampa village for their Koshampa Vally Infrastructure project.
Sushant Kakda, an artist, (and in his words he is unlike his dad and uncle), happens to meet Kaanchi with whom he falls in love. Sushant's humbleness and Kaanchi's simplicity and beauty bring them closer. Sushant gets miffed up on being rejected by Kaanchi, which made him an obsessive beast (overnight!!!).
Kaanchi gets a major setback / blow in her life, and she becomes a witness to her own miseries. But Kaanchi doesn't mourn, she just gets up, moves ahead and reaches Mumbai at Ratanlal Bagula's (her childhood acquaintance and senior in school) house and seeks support from him. Now it is Kaanchi vs. Kakda (s). What ensues is to be seen.
How the story moves further? What actually made Kaanchi to stand against Kakda (s)? Does Bagula join her journey ? Who all becomes partners to Kaanchi's journey ? What is the motive of Kaanchi ? Does her mission remains personal or it shifts gears to a wider arena – socio-political ? Does she get to see success in her efforts ? We generally sing Sare Jahan se acha Hindustan humara – is it really so ? Or we need to sing Sare Jahan se acha 'hoga' Hindustan humara ? Is it all about women empowerment and an ode to new-age womanhood ?
Director: Director Subhash Ghai definitely does things in a style. And there are lot of Subash Ghai moments in the movie, right from introducing the main protagonist of the movie Kaanchi to adding glitz, glamour and some typical bollywood masala of item number. Kaanchi is well handled by him. I just wished, he could have added moments of more romance of Binda and Kaanchi, but then, he had to do justice to 2.5 hrs of the movie. Dialogues could have been much better. Overall a good effort by Mr. Ghai.
Moments to watch out for: Kaanchi's indomitable spirit Kaanchi's relationship with her mother Kaanchi's strength as a female protagonist
Thumbs up: Watch this movie if you love Subhash Ghai and also to understand the very spirit of Kaanchi.
Thumbs down: Dialogues! Was it necessary to make Kaanchi ill mouth or say slangs ? Jhumar Baba's fling with girls not impressive. The character Kaanchi's strength is tried to be justified through her training visuals at Military Training School of Binda but still, it is difficult to comprehend and believe that she survives her jump from a high point to deep river.
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