AK Vs AK – A Novel Idea, A Brave Attempt

AK Vs AK, directed by Vikramaditya Motwane is now streaming on Netflix. This Netflix original, with its unique promotions with both AKs (Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap) hurling insults at each other on twitter grabbed a lot of eyeballs recently. 

Plot

AK Vs AK is as close as a fiction movie can get to reality. A yesteryear’s superstar insults a talented yet not so commercially successful director, and the director comes up with an idea of a film which will get him his revenge.

Both the AKs, Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap play themselves in this very original, one of its kind thriller.

Film starts with Anil Kapoor and Anurag Kashyap attending an event, where they have to address an audience. Anurag is a bit rude to Anil, and Anil responds the same way. 

Anurag mentions that no one can make it big in bollywood easily unless his last name is Kapoor, also mentions that Anil is living on past glory and is irrelevant now.

Anil also keeps on taking digs on Anurag’s flop movies. After a while the arguments get heated up and Anurag ends up throwing a glass of water on Anil’s face and walks off.

The industry responds in Anil’s favour and Anurag’s films are shelved. Few of his actors refuse to work with him, and he is in a way boycotted from the industry.

Anurag comes up with an idea and kidnaps Sonam Kapoor. He then asks Anil Kapoor to find his daughter in the next 10 hours else she will be killed. As per his plan, the whole search would be captured live on camera, which will be his next film as well.

Anil cannot contact police or take anyone’s help else Anurag will harm Sonam. How Anil goes ahead with the search, with no clues and help, did he manage to find Sonam or does Anurag gets Sonam killed is what this thriller deals with.

The Hits

First and foremost, the idea of the film is its highlight. AK Vs AK, takes the very image of both the AKs and builds the narrative around it. 

The film never gets shy of putting lines which are not diplomatic, be it Anurag accusing Anil of nepotism, or Anil taking potshots on how Anurag’s film either don’t get release or tank on the BO.

Anurag Kashyap nails the role and plays to his image of a person with dark shades, just like the films he makes. Anil on the other hand is the superstar that he is, and he flaunts it shamelessly.

The dialogues are very good, make harsh comments on the films and work of each other. The scenes during the search are good, with the ones when Anil is asking people for help and the fans just pulling out their phones for selfies. Too Real.

Vikramaditya Motwane’s direction is good and so is the camerawork. The film is shot at real locations and even at the houses of the actors, which is refreshing when most of the films are now shot with loads of VFX.

The Misses

The idea of AK Vs AK, though is novel and engaging, the screenplay has nothing much to play with. In the quest of keeping the movie too close to reality, the movie didn’t have enough masala to keep the viewers hooked for the entire duration and gets repetitive.

Anil has just one clue (the taxi driver) and the major portion of the movie is his search for the same. Rest of the cast has nothing much to do.

The movie has a lot of cuss words, which could have easily been avoided.

Performances

AK Vs AK relies hugely on the performances of both the AKs and none of them has disappointed. 

Anil Kapoor has proved time and again his range as an actor and AK senior is in red hot form in this as well. Anurag Kashyap’s performance raises a question as to why he does not act quite often. He plays his role to perfection.

The film usually revolves around these 2 but a few minutes scene involving Harshwardhan Kapoor stands out because of his very irritating performance.

FFC Take

AK Vs AK is not an extraordinary or a very great movie, but it is a very good watch. Just because of the novel idea and experimenting with something new, Vikramaditya and Anurag deserve a pat on the back.

The movie deserves a watch given a very good performance of both the AKs, and the real raw feel. AK Vs AK is one of the better Netflix India originals that have come out recently.