Kabzaa Movie Review: Kabzaa is a Kannada action-thriller movie set in the past. R. Chandru directed it, and Upendra, Shriya Saran, Kiccha Sudeep, and Shiv Rajkumar are the stars. The film was released on March 17, 2023, in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Marathi. The film is set in the pre-independence era and follows the life of Arakeshwara (Upendra), an Air Force soldier who gets dragged into the underworld and becomes a notorious gangster.
The film has been hyped as one of the biggest films to come out of Kannada cinema after KGF and KGF 2. The makers have claimed that Kabzaa is based on real-life incidents and has a pan-Indian appeal. The film has also been compared to KGF for its grand visuals, action sequences, and period setting.
But does Kabzaa live up to its expectations? Or is it just a pale imitation of KGF? Let’s find out what some critics and viewers have said about the film.
The Good
Upendra’s performance: Upendra is undoubtedly the highlight of Kabzaa. He delivers a powerful performance as Arakeshwara, who transforms from a loyal soldier to a ruthless don. He carries the film on his shoulders with his charisma and intensity. He also showcases his versatility by playing different shades of his character across different time periods.
Cinematography: Kabzaa boasts of some stunning cinematography by Ajay Vincent. The film captures the essence of different eras with rich colours and lighting. The camera angles and movements add to the dynamism and grandeur of the scenes. The film also has some impressive sets and locations that create an authentic atmosphere for the story.
Action scenes: Kabzaa has plenty of action scenes that are designed to cater to a mass audience. The film has some well-choreographed stunts and fights that showcase Upendra’s agility and strength. The film also uses slow-motion shots, bullet-time effects, explosions, and bloodshed to create an impact on the viewers.
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The bad
Routine story: Kabzaa suffers from a lack of originality in its story. The film follows the predictable formula of an underdog rising to become a powerful don in the underworld. The film also borrows heavily from KGF in terms of its plot points, characters, dialogues, and scenes. The film fails to offer anything new or fresh to the genre.
The story in Kabzaa is not interesting, and it fails to engage or entertain the audience. The film has a non-linear structure that jumps back and forth between different time periods without any coherence or logic. The movie also has too many side stories and characters that don’t fit with the main story or aren’t important to it. The film lacks clarity and focus on its storytelling.
Kabzaa’s characters and relationships don’t have any feelings or depth, and neither do the people in them. The film does not explore the motivations or conflicts of Arakeshwara or his rivals. The film also does not establish any chemistry or romance between Arakeshwara and his love interest, played by Shriya Saran. The film relies on superficial dialogues and cliched scenes to convey emotions.
Verdict
Overall, Kabzaa falls short of expectations and is a loud and boring period action drama. Even though Upendra does a great job as an actor and the cinematography is good, the story is boring, and the movie doesn’t make you feel anything.
Kabzaa might appeal to hardcore fans of Upendra or mass masala cinema, but for others, it might be better to skip this one and watch KGF instead.
