Bhanushali Studios and Kathputli Creations’ Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam (UA) is set in Haryana. Meera (Dhvani Bhanushali) belongs to a very conservative family in which women hardly have a say or even an identity. Although her father (Rajesh Sharma), who is like a Godfather to all the criminals of Haryana, had sent her abroad to study, his male ego prevents him from asking for her consent before he fixes her marriage with a boy of his choice. That is why Meera runs away from her own marriage. She is joined by Krish (Aashim Gulati) who can best be described as a wedding crasher. Meera and Krish develop a close bond but Meera’s brothers, Gautam (Vikram Kochhar) and Gambhir (Himanshu Kohli), are, obviously, thirsting for Krish’s blood as they feel, she has eloped with him. Whom does Meera finally marry?
Laxman Utekar and Rishi Virmani have written a story and screenplay, which are extremely dull. The drama, meant to be a comedy first and an intense social message-oriented one thereafter, fails to evoke the required emotions. The fun quotient hardly makes the audience laugh, so meek is the comedy. A few jokes on lockdown etc. are funny but that just isn’t enough. Frankly, the drama hardly progresses till interval point. The romance between Meera and Krish is almost conspicuous by its absence. A drama like this ought to have had at least a couple of emotional highs in it but the sentiments completely and absolutely fail to touch the heart. The misunderstanding sought to be created between Krish and his father looks too forced to be true. Even the climax looks half-baked and hurried. Rishi Virmani’s dialogues are good at places and they do evoke laughter, but the consistency is missing.
Dhvani Bhanushali makes an average debut. She is so-so as Meera. Frankly, she hardly gets any worthwhile scenes to perform. Aashim Gulati is ordinary as Krish. Vikas Verma does a fair job as Baby. Supriya Pilgaonkar lends decent support as Krish’s mother. Rakesh Bedi makes his mark as Krish’s father. As Meera’s father, Rajesh Sharma hardly looks like the terrifying man he is projected to be. His performance is so-so. Sonali Sachdev is okay as Meera’s mother. Akhilendra Mishra has his moments as Meera’s tauji. Chittranjan Tripathy hardly gets any scope in the role of Meera’s chachaji. Vikram Kochhar shines as Gautam. Himanshu Kohli is alright as Gambhir. Shubham Choudhary and Gaurav Manwani provide some entertaining moments as the roommates of Krish. Varun Choudhary gets limited scope as Meera’s to-be groom. Prem Kumar Sawlani leaves a mark as the groom’s father. Neela Mulekar has her moments as Krish’s grandmother. Vividha Kirti (as the daughter-in-law), Sonam Lamba (as the daughter-in-law), Priti Mehra (as the groom’s mother), Ravi Chauhan (as Murli), Aarti Sharma (as Krish’s maternal aunt), Lipika Chakravarty (as Krish’s paternal aunt), Yogesh Tiwari (as the DCP), Bhavika (as the chachi), Numita (as the tai), Naina Purswani, Ambika Kohli, Deepali Jain and Arti Mishra (all four as the dancers in the cages) and the rest provide dull support.
Saurabh Dasgupta’s direction is poor. Music (Sunny M.R., Akshay & IP, Sandeep Shirodkar and White Noise Collectives) is hardly anything to dance about. Lyrics (Kausar Munir, Kumaar, I.P. Singh and Ashish Pandit) are average. Song picturisations (by Vijay Ganguly, Piyush-Shazia, Jayesh Pradhan and Ronie Chouhan) are routine. Sandeep Shirodkar’s background music is functional. Sanket Shah’s cinematography is alright. Afzal Usman Khan’s action and stunt scenes lack thrill. Anindita Somitra Chaturvedi’s production designing is okay. Manish Pradhan’s editing could’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Kahan Shuru Kahan Khatam is a flop show.
Released on 20-9-’24 at Inox (daily 3 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay thru PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment. Publicity: dull. Opening: poor (in spite of National Cinema Day when ticket prices are very low). …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.