Dharma Productions, known for their romantic films, takes a bold departure with the intense and visually captivating movie Kill. The film made a splash at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023 and has now been picked up by Lionsgate for a wide theatrical release in the United States on July 4, 2024.
In the upcoming film, TV actor Lakshya portrays the lead character Amrit, a brave Indian Army commando making his silver screen debut in a Dharma Productions project. Amrit rushes back from a mission to find numerous unread messages from his girlfriend Tulika, played by Tanya Maniktala. Tulika’s influential father has planned her engagement to someone else, prompting Amrit to embark on a mission to save her before the impending wedding ceremony.
Amrit unexpectedly appears at Tulika’s engagement celebration, with his comrade Viresh (played by Abhishek Chauhan) stationed in the escape vehicle. Tulika suggests that it would be wiser for Amrit to save her following her family’s journey on an overnight train to Delhi. Consequently, both Amrit and Viresh clandestinely board the train for the rescue mission.
Regrettably, a group of approximately thirty bandits has set their sights on the train, planning to separate specific cars and loot the passengers within half an hour. While they expected it to be a simple task, they did not anticipate the presence of commandos among the passengers.
After Amrit and Viresh successfully incapacitate many thieves in their carriage, a sudden escalation occurs when one of the bandits lunges at Viresh with a knife. Without hesitation, Viresh swiftly reverses the blade’s direction, fatally injuring his assailant. This unexpected turn of events alters the dynamics of the conflict, prompting the gang to extend their objective to eliminating not only the commandos but also any innocent passengers who may obstruct their path.
The movie consistently explores the impact of death as a recurring theme. Every time a character from either the bandits or non-bandits perishes in the conflict, it intensifies the situation by fueling a desire for vengeance among those still alive. By emphasizing that every character has someone who will mourn their loss, the film successfully prevents the deaths from being seen as insignificant, which is a challenging yet commendable objective in a movie with numerous casualties.
Adding to the tension is the confined space where the intense battle unfolds. Amrit and Viresh engage in combat with the enemies in a tight corridor on the train, being cautious not to harm any scared passengers nearby. The fight feels more comfortable when they move to the relatively spacious area near the bathroom. Throughout the skirmish, both sides cleverly employ various objects as weapons. Amrit’s brutal use of a fire extinguisher stands out as especially vicious.
That being said, the film Kill is characterized more by its bloodshed than its graphic depictions of internal organs. The level of violence in Kill may be higher in terms of blood, but it is not as shocking as other violent scenes in Hindi cinema. The context plays a crucial role here, as Kill clearly establishes itself as a movie focused on violence (as evident from the title). In contrast, I found the violence in a film like Boss from 2013 to be more disturbing due to its inconsistent tone. One moment, the protagonist played by Akshay Kumar is comically using coconuts to hit his adversaries on the head, and then suddenly he brutally impales a man with a circular saw blade.
The level of skill and precision in the action sequences of Kill is unparalleled. Directors Se-yeong Oh and Parvez Shaikh infuse each movement with significance, expertly guiding the characters through tight spaces with seemingly impossible agility. As the characters sustain injuries, their fighting prowess diminishes to create a more realistic portrayal.
Lakshya has quickly established himself as a genuine action star, impressing audiences with just one film. While Vidyut Jammwal moves away from martial arts movies and Tiger Shroff reflects on his recent box office failures, Lakshya is poised to step in and captivate viewers. Viresh, played by Chauhan, brings an equally dynamic and thrilling energy to his fight sequences.
In Maniktala’s Tulika, she proves to be more than a helpless maiden when faced with danger, bravely confronting Fani, the son of the bandit leader. Raghav Juyal skillfully portrays Fani with subtlety, avoiding excessive creepiness or intimidation while still exuding a sense of threat due to his privileged status.
It is quite unexpected that Kill turned out to be a great movie considering it was directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, who previously helmed the disappointing Hurdang in 2022 and the lackluster Apurva in 2023. Dharma Productions must have recognized something in Bhat’s talent that I had not seen before. Ayesha Syed, the co-writer of Kill, also deserves recognition for her contribution.
The film’s success lies in its frequent pauses, providing characters and viewers with moments to delve into their emotions. It acknowledges that sustained fighting for two hours is unrealistic, allowing Bhat to explore the melodrama, anger, and heartbreak experienced by the characters during these breaks in action. This aspect aligns Kill with the cinematic style of the studio behind Kabhi Khushi Khabie Gham.