‘Kai Po Che’ is told from the prospective of three childhood friends of different backgrounds and temperaments. The early 2000’s were tumultuous in Ahmedabad, the largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. In January of 2001, Ahmedabad was hit by a 7.7 earthquake. In 2002, a train carrying many Hindus returning from a pilgrimage was attacked and 58 Hindus lost their lives. Community violence broke out in the Muslim quarter of the city, leaving many more dead. These events personally affected the lives of Govind, Ishaan and Omi and their dream to leave the city for a brighter future.
Govind (Rajkummar Rao) is a businessman with a step-by-step plan to open a sports training academy and shop; first in the temple complex, and then expanding into the newest mall in town. Ishaan (Sushant Singh Rajput) lives and breathes cricket. He was much respected as the best player in the region, but it was not good enough to get him into the big leagues. He is passionate about cricket, but can’t seem to find the motivation to do anything else. He is perfect as the one in charge of finding new talent and training them. Omi’s father is a priest who would like nothing better than to have Omi follow in his footsteps. Omi (Amit Sadh) is very influenced by those around him, but does not seem to have a direction of his own. Omi (Amit) is Ishaan’s biggest fan. Both Omi and Ishaan share impulsiveness and violent tempers.
To rent space for the cricket academy, they seek a loan from Omi’s Uncle Bittu, a local Hindu politician. Bittu is more than happy for a chance of have Omi indebted to him. The training academy prospers and soon Govind wants to expand to a newly built mall. This requires a much larger loan from Bittu, and more pressure on Omi to join his uncle’s political party. Meanwhile, serious and shy Govind is tutoring Ishaan’s sister, in math; but Vidya is more interested in Govind then in studying for her exams. Ishaan has found a potentially great cricket player in the form of Ali, a local Muslim boy. Ali (Digvijay Deshmukh) is reluctant to put his energies into cricket but with Ishaan’s coaching and attention, he is becoming a star.
Each of the movie’s main characters are fully drawn and watchable. Sushant Singh Rajput especially draws you to his character, sensitive and compassionate to Ali and his family, but at other times volatile and insensitive towards those closest to him. Rajkummar Rao finds just the right notes to play Govind with restraint as he slowly finds himself falling under Vidya’s spell. Amrita Puri is bright, lively and mature beyond her years as Vidya, relating to the men around her with encouragement, common sense and ability to forgive. Amit Sadh as Omi plays a character that goes through the most change in the film. Without words, his eyes powerfully convey the pain and confusion he feels inside.
‘Kai Po Che’ is a poignant story of friendships tested by religion, politics, sports, love and natural and man-made crisis. ‘Kai Po Che’ is directed by Abhishek Kapoor and adapted from a novel by Chetan Bhaget, “The 3 Mistakes of My Life”. Some movies have the ability to educate while they entertain. ‘Kai Po Che’
