Masand's Verdict: Krrish-crass

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Krrish

Starring: Hrithik Roshan,Priyanka Chopra, Naseeruddin Shah.

Director: Rakesh Roshan

Okay, so we're finally here and naturally the subject du jour is Krrish, director Rakesh Roshan's very eagerly awaited sequel to Koi Mil Gaya.

Taking the story forward from his 2003 blockbuster, Krrish is centred around the unusually gifted Krishna—played by Hrithik Roshan—who has inherited all these remarkable powers from his father Rohit, and also a startling resemblance to his father.

Now Rohit, as we all remember, was the star of the previous film, that slow but lovable guy who turned into a slick stud after he befriended Jadoo the alien. Rohit's dead unfortunately, so Krishna lives in Kasauli with his grandmum Rekha.

He has the IQ of a genius, the strength of a bull and the speed of a cheetah. He leaps across rivers, climbs mountains effortlessly and zips around faster than a speeding jet. He also falls hook, line and sinker for Priyanka Chopra, who's on an adventure holiday in his part of the world, and before long he follows her all the way to Singapore to ask her hand in marriage.

Once there, he has his work cut out for him. Krishna must get to the bottom of a big mystery linked to his father's death, and must also stop megalomaniac scientist Naseeruddin Shah from accomplishing his sinister plan to take over the world. Now this, he does under an assumed identity—Krrish —a masked, caped crusader.

Now the film has been positioned as India's first superhero film, and I suspect that if you go in with those expectations, you're going to be very disappointed. Because, let's face it, apart from about 20 minutes of spectacularly stylish stunt work, there's very little superhero stuff in this picture. And that's a pity, because Hrithik makes a terrific superhero.

In fact, you're only willing to suspend your disbelief and make this journey because it's a fantastic actor like Hrithik Roshan who's holding your hand and taking you through what is really a fractured story. I should confess here that I wasn't mighty impressed with Koi Mil Gaya, the film whose sequel this is. I have a problem with plagarism and to me, Koi Mil Gaya was an ET rip-off no questions asked.

For me that film was watchable for one reason and one reason only: Hrithik Roshan. In Krrish, once again the actor is the only saving grace. Despite the ludicruous plot, Hrithik immerses himself completely in his role and it's only his sincerity that diverts your attention from the film's many flaws.

My biggest complaint against Krrish is directed towards its screenplay: It stinks.