Kill Dil
Year: 2014
Director: Shaad Ali
Cast: Govinda, Ranveer Singh, Ali Zafar, Parineeti Chopra
 

YRF banner seems to have a strange fascination for romanticizing criminals through their films. So after bank robbers (Dhoom 3), human traffickers (Mardaani), coal black marketeers (Gunday) and conmen (Daawat E Ishq), it is the turn of contract killers in Kill Dil. The promos looked interesting and so did the title. How is the whole deal?

What’s the plot?

A gang-lord (Govinda) finds two orphan infants, abandoned in a pile of garbage. He gives them shelter, raises them like own sons and trains them to be his sharpshooters for contract killings. The elder shooter (Ali Zafar) is the strong, silent types whereas the happy-go-lucky young gun (Ranveer Singh) thrives on silly impulsive acts. Together they are happily carrying out their mentor’s orders and shooting their ‘targets’ without any remorse. But a chance encounter with a spunky city-girl (Parineeti Chopra) makes the younger henchman go all wobbly in head. As he falls head over heels in love, he starts looking at life differently, thinking of leaving his killing trade forever. Obviously his boss is not going to take his decision too kindly and his partner will have to find ways to keep him safe! But will his girl-friend accept him if she discovers his bloody past?

What’s hot?

·        The first 30 minutes or so are entertaining.

·        As usual, the Yashraj production values are excellent.

·        Govinda impresses in his first major negative role. Even though his character is not well etched, he still manages to give it a soul.

·        Ranveer Singh and Ali Zafar’s buddy chemistry works well.

·        A few comic scenes really make you laugh.

·        Some catchy song and dance sequence like Kill Dil, Happy Birthday and Bol Beliya.

What’s not?

·        The wafer-thin plot does not have much to tell and has no surprises in store.

·        An unbearable overload of songs, which serve no purpose except add to the movie-length!

·        As a director Shaad Ali keeps everything superficial and hardly gives any depth to the story or the characters.  So you see no raw evilness in crimes; no passion in romance and no conviction in hero’s attempted salvation.

·        Perineeti Chopra fails to bring anything new to the table. Her bindaas modern girl act has run its course and her ballooning figure is crying out loud for switching to looser, less revealing outfits and adopting a strict diet and exercise regimen!

·        Ranveer Singh is good in funny and rough-and-tough sequences but his cute good guy act does not convince.

Verdict

Kill Dil begins well but soon there is hardly anything happening in the story except a never-ending series of songs and dances. The situation never really improves; the story and the characters never become gripping and finally the film ends leaving you totally nonplussed.  As a crime saga and a love story, it fails miserably but its capable cast, good buddy chemistry and some funny sequences save it from being a total washout.

Rating

2 stars