Kaminey - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

On opening, critics gave Kaminey a unanimously positive reception and praised every aspect of the film. Raja Sen of Rediff.com rated the film 4.5 out of 5—the highest ever from that publication—and wrote, "Kaminey is startlingly clever, an innovative film with genuine surprises. A kind of film whose success we ought all pray for, because it'll prove smart cinema works." The Indian Express gave a rating of 4 out of 5, calling it "Bollywood's first all-the-way-out-to-there pulp fiction". Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave the film 4 stars out of 5, called it a "Must Watch" and wrote, "t's an unpredictable crime drama that combines violence and dark humor in a manner that's reminiscent of the films of Quentin Tarantino, Guy Ritchie and the Coen Brothers. And yet Kaminey is so original and inventive in the manner in which it takes Bollywood's favorite formula—twin brothers—and turns it on its head." He praised the writing—which he said was the film's real strength, the non-linear screenplay and the dialogue, and wrote that the film has "the best performance you will see by an ensemble cast in a long time". Nikhat Kazmi from The Times of India rated the film 4 out of 5, and said it is "Bollywood's first film which is full of brains, brawn and belligerence besides being a bravura attempt to rewrite the tried and tested idiom of desi movielore. Kaminey is a smart and balsy film that brings Hollywood to Bollywood which catapult the viewer into the dark, violent world of crime and criminals, leaving you no time to blink or breathe easy ... Tarantino, take a bow. Brave new Bollywood is here."

Anupama Chopra gave a rating of 4 out of 5 and wrote "Kaminey is the best Bollywood film I’ve seen this year. It’s an audacious, original rollercoaster ride. Written and directed by Vishal Bharadwaj, Kaminey requires patience and attention but the pay off is more than worth it." Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama rated the film 4 out of 5 and wrote "Kaminey is bold, stark, funny and unpredictable and is a film with an attitude. Like it or leave it, but you'd never be able to ignore it. Word from the wise: Go for this hatke (different) experience!" Zee News also rated the film 4 out of 5 and said, "Bhardwaj has once again delivered a powerful film that completely bowls you over with its splendid script, riveting narrative and stellar performances by lead pair—Shahid and Priyanka have a cracking on-screen chemistry that certainly reminds you of yesteryears on-screen couples." The review also said, "Kaminey is an engrossing flick that does not let you move from your seat!" Kaveree Bamzai of India Today rated the film 4 out of 5 and said it "is dark, melodramatic, poetic and ultimately operatic". He also said, "Its lyrics are the blow-up-your-brains-out kind ... and its music, composed by the multi-talented Bharadwaj is perfectly in sync with a narrative that doesn't pause for breath." Namrata Joshi from Outlook gave a rating of 4 out 5 and called Kaminey "a strikingly anarchic, unusually energetic, quirky and frenetic film". The Hindu praised the film, labelled it a "masterpiece" and wrote, "Kaminey takes the post-postmodern noir genre to a whole new level, to a sophistication the Indian audience isn’t used to."