Ki & Ka
SONY DADC, Rs 299
Cast: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Arjun Khan, Ranjit Kapoor, Swaroop Sampat, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan
Director: R. Balki
R. Balki’s previous films (Cheeni Kum, Shamitabh), fared average at the box office, except Paa that was top-notch. His latest flick Ki & Ka was a success, more due to the fact that it had Kareena Kapoor to bring in the big bucks. While viewers always welcome bonus features or a Bonus DVD that shows the making of this film, or even deleted scenes, none are present on this DVD.
This romance-comedy takes off with Kia (Kareena Kapoor), a successful marketing manager at an FMCG company, whose whole life is focused on her career and nothing else. Arjun Kapoor is Kabir, an MBA graduate and the son of a rich builder, who has no interest in following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a corporate bigwig. Ki and Ka meet on a flight and after a few dates, decide to get married.
With no job in hand, Kabir looks after the day-to-day affairs at their rented home, a house they share with Kia’s mother (Swaroop Sampat). He is a master at cooking, cleaning and looking after the house. His love for trains goes overboard as he decorates the flat to resemble a railway museum, complete with a miniature train that ferries breakfast from the kitchen to the living room table. The kids would surely love this part of the film. But soon the landlord of their house decides to sell the house. Kabir, not wanting to move out due to his love for his trains, decides to buy it. To make up the money required, he passes his time teaching young married women to keep fit. Soon, the house is theirs.
Meanwhile, Kia’s work gets her accolades and she is promoted. During an interview, she mentions her husband’s role in looking after the house. The interviewer is impressed, more so when Kia takes an interview of Kabir also in which he explains that it does not matter if ki (girl) takes up the role of ka (boy) and ka takes up the role of ki.
The tables are turned and Kabir is hounded for interviews and speeches on gender equality. Jealousy creeps into the relationship; the once-confident, go-getter Kia becomes insecure while Kabir is as cool as a cat. Will Ki and Ka sort out their differences?
The new generation can learn about gender equality, and most importantly that your gender does not limit you to specific works or bind you to be a breadwinner.
Verus Ferreira is a music journalist for over three decades. He is the author of The Great Music Quiz Book and The Great Rock Music Quiz Book and the founder of Musicunplugged.in