Kasoombo Review: Films like ‘12th Fail’ and ‘Laapata Ladies’ have proven that content is king. Big star casts, expensive sets, and multi-million marketing budgets don't guarantee success, if a film has substance, it will succeed. This is exactly what ‘Kasoombo’ proves. This Gujarati film, now released in Hindi, was released with minimal marketing and promotion. Watching this film made me ponder why such films are treated unfairly, and why audiences aren't informed about such brilliant films so they can go watch them. Read this review, and if you're a fan of good and sincere cinema, watch this fantastic page from our glorious history unfold.
Story
‘Kasoombo’ is a true story based on Vimal Kumar Dhami's novel ‘Amar Balidan,’ set in the 14th century when Alauddin Khilji was expanding his empire. He wanted to seize the sacred temples on Gujarat's Shatrunjaya Hills, and against this ruthless enemy, stood 51 brave warriors who did everything to defend their homeland. The saga of their bravery is something you must see in theaters.
How is the film
Sanjay Leela Bhansali portrayed Alauddin Khilji in his film ‘Padmaavat,’ though this Khilji is not as glamorous, he is more impactful. The film is made simply, without grand sets or special effects, yet it touches the heart. The film exudes honesty. There's a dialogue in the film, "Wars are won not with mighty armies but with intellect," and it makes you realise that good films are made not with big budgets but with good content.
Acting
Most of the actors in this film may not be familiar to Hindi audiences, but they've all done remarkable work. Dharmendra Gohil shines as Dadoo Barot. He speaks volumes with his eyes and shows that shouting is not necessary to make an impact. Raunaq Kamdar portrays Amar Barot excellently. His acting shows maturity. Darshan Pandya plays Khilji, and while he may not be as glamorous as Ranveer Singh's portrayal, his performance leaves a greater impact, credit to the writing. All the other actors have done a fantastic job too.
Direction
Vijaygiri Bava has directed the film, co-written with Ram Moori. Together, they've shown that a good screenplay and honest direction can make a splendid film without needing a big budget or stars. The research is good, and many may not know about this page of history, which they should.
Films like these should be watched and talked about. Discussions about good cinema should happen for good cinema to flourish.