RK/RKAY – A Review by John Strange
This film is… different. Imagine if you will, a man writes a film script. He decides to play the main character as well as direct. The filming goes so well that the film is “in the can” (completed) several days ahead of schedule (“well” being a qualified term in filmmaking). And then RK (Rajat Kapoor) gets a call from the film’s editor, the main character has disappeared from the footage!
The last time I watched a film where characters stepped out of the screen was 1993s Last Action Hero. RK/RKAY steps even further out of the norm, in a different direction, one that is surprising and just a little bit odd.
Characters literally walk out of the film and into real life. The interaction of these characters and their “real-life” counterparts is well thought out and eye-opening. In fact, the whole film seems to be a message about finding where you are happy and who you are happy to be with in that life.
Bizarre, odd, off-kilter, and different each describe aspects of the story. Writer/director Rajat Kapoor has given us a film that is humorous and enlightening in equal parts, leaving us thinking about our own lives through his creative use of characters and situations.
This film surprised me over and over as the story unfolded with an ending that was thoughtfully satisfying. Watch for this one. It will surprise you.
At the end of the film, just before the credits, the filmmakers list their crowd producers, 11 screens of them, the results of the crowdfunding used to make the film. I loved this! Raising funds to produce your work can be the roughest part of making a film. When people show that they have the faith to put their money into your film, that has to be very satisfying.
Director: Rajat Kapoor
Cast: Rajat Kapoor, Mallika Sherawat, Ranvir Shorey, Chandrachoor Rai, Manu Rishi Chadha
MPAA Rating: NR
Selig Rating: 4.0 Stars
Runtime: 95 Min.
Trailer: RK/RKAY Trailer
Theatrical Release: In-Theater & Virtual Cinema, locally at Cinemark Legacy and XD (Plano)
Country: India
Language: Hindi and English, with English subtitles
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
