Krrish Review

It's a season of grand comebacks. Superman returns (yet again), but more importantly, Hrithik returns. Finally, Krrish Mil Gaya. Praise the Lord he's nothing like Shaktimaan. Who's Shaktimaan? Hopefully, not alive.

A sequel to the human-alien bhai-bhai Koi Mil Gaya, Krrish picks up from where its predecessor had happily retired. Krishna (Hrithik Roshan) is the brilliant progeny of KMG's Rohit (who befriended an alien and switched from autistic to paranormal). Courtesy genetics (and the writer's pen), Krishna turns out to be a little boy with enormous powers.

Living with dadi (Rekha) (parents conveniently bumped off) in some secluded mountains, wonder boy Krishna is as at ease with the birds and the trees, as was Mowgli. But he's also as lonely. Tucked away from civilization (apparently people in the mountains don't qualify as civilized), Krishna with his wind-blown hair outraces his white horse and climbs mountain walls like a veteran Spidey.

Along comes a girl Priya (Priyanka Chopra), and handglides her way into Krishna's heart. Part of an adventure camp, she comes and then goes. But not before ogling at wonderboy's superhuman capers. Priya's with Star TV (Singapore), and you can figure out the rest.

Krishna's invited to Singapore so that the world can witness this human marvel (and Star TV pull up its TRPs). Of course, superboy thinks it's Priya's love (which it's not and then it is). His past catches up with him, and unwittingly the bucolic Krishna is fashioned into a glossy masked Krrish.

The plot twines into an engaging story, and superhero Krrish stumbles across mad-bad scientist Dr. Arya (Naseeruddin Shah). The past and the present coincide, and the stouthearted Krrish must now fulfill his superhuman duties.

What one dreads in a Hindi sci-fi movie is the rampant ray of light emitting from people's eyes. And it being made to pass off as special effects. Fortunately, Krissh excels in the special effects department. Krishna's characteristic semi air-borne striding is a pleasure to watch. The fight sequences are gracefully executed. And the cinematography is both alert and aesthetic. Even Dr. Arya's laboratory is designed appropriately, with gadgets and gizmos that appear authentic.

For all those cynics who see the movie as a Superman, Batman and Matrix replication, there's only this - leave originality to God (look what he came up with - Man!). Krrish delivers what is expected of a decent Hindi flick. The movie plays itself out like a bildungsroman with the gradual unfolding of Krishna's supernatural powers. Krishna discovers the significance of these powers along with the other characters, and this makes the film ring true. His loss of innocence and eventual taking on the world, will endear him to audiences.

Though there is definitely room for deeper characterisation of the superhero (the self-doubting type) in Krrish, the film does manage to grip one's attention. The loneliness accompanying the superhero tag - "The Different One" - is brought out well.

Director Rakesh Roshan seems to reflect a knowing, almost self-reflexive attitude, throughout the movie. A scene in the film perforated with flying bullets leads one to anticipate a Matrix-like dodge, but it doesn't make use of that stunt. It's as if Roshan is sharing a private joke with the viewer. Krrish the superhero doesn't fly like Superman nor does he zip around in a Batmobile. He adopts his own balletic jump-cum-walk style. He may remind you of Hollywood's superheroes, but he sure ain't one of them.

Hrithik is the soul of the movie. And he's delicious in that swirling black cape and carved mask. Rekha is dignified, while Naseeruddin is sleek as the twisted baddie. Priyanka Chopra is, well, herself - average.

There's only one relevant question after a movie ends - can one ask someone else to sit through three hours of moving images? For a movie like Krrish, you can take the risk.