Karzzzz is a 2008 Bollywood musical thriller directed by Satish Kaushik. It stars Himesh Reshammiya, Urmila Matondkar, Shweta Kumar, and Raj Babbar in key roles. The film is a remake of the 1980 classic Karz, which starred Rishi Kapoor and Simi Garewal.
The film tries to recreate the magic of the original with a modern touch, but it received mixed to negative reviews from both critics and audiences. While the music gained some popularity, the movie itself failed to impress. Let’s take a deeper look at Karzzzz.
Story and Screenplay
The story follows Monty (Himesh Reshammiya), a popular rock star, who starts experiencing strange visions. He later discovers that he is the reincarnation of Ravi Verma, a man who was killed in his past life by his wife Kamini (Urmila Matondkar).
Monty sets out on a journey to uncover the truth and take revenge on Kamini, who is now a powerful and rich woman. As he gets closer to her, the past and present collide, leading to a dramatic climax.
While the original Karz had a gripping screenplay, this version fails to create the same impact. The film feels too long, and some scenes seem unintentionally funny. The dialogues and emotional depth that made the original a classic are missing in this version.
Acting Performance
Himesh Reshammiya plays the lead role, but his acting feels flat and unconvincing. His expressions and dialogue delivery do not match the intensity required for such a role. While he shines in musical scenes, his performance as an actor is weak.
Urmila Matondkar, as Kamini, tries her best to portray the evil character, but at times, her over-the-top acting makes the character more comical than terrifying.
Shweta Kumar, who plays Tina, Monty’s love interest, has a forgettable role. She does not leave much of an impact with her performance.
Veteran actor Raj Babbar and others in supporting roles do their job well, but the film’s weak screenplay does not allow them to shine.
Direction and Technical Aspects
Director Satish Kaushik had a tough task in remaking a classic, but unfortunately, he fails to match the original. The execution feels outdated, and some scenes are too dramatic to be taken seriously.
The cinematography is decent, with some beautiful locations, but nothing extraordinary. Editing could have been much sharper, as the movie feels stretched.
The dialogues lack impact, and some lines unintentionally turn into meme material rather than serious moments.
Music and Background Score
The music, composed by Himesh Reshammiya, is the only saving grace of the film. Songs like “Lut Jaaun” and “Tandoori Nights” became popular at the time. However, compared to the original songs by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, these versions feel less impactful.
The background score tries to build suspense but feels overdone in many places, making scenes unintentionally funny.
Positives and Negatives
Positives:
- Good music with some hit songs
- Urmila Matondkar’s effort in playing Kamini
- Decent cinematography
Negatives:
- Weak acting by Himesh Reshammiya
- Unintentionally funny moments
- Fails to recreate the magic of the original
- Overdramatic scenes and outdated execution
- Predictable and stretched screenplay
Box Office and Public Response
Despite the popularity of its music, Karzzzz was a box office failure. Audiences found the film boring and unconvincing, especially in comparison to the original.
Critics gave mostly negative reviews, pointing out the weak screenplay, poor acting, and lack of emotional depth. Fans of the original film were particularly disappointed.
Final Verdict
Karzzzz is a disappointing remake of a beloved classic. While the music is enjoyable, the weak performances, outdated direction, and stretched screenplay make it a tough film to sit through. If you are a fan of musical thrillers, you might enjoy the songs, but as a complete film, it fails to impress.
Rating: 2/5
