Kahaani - A mother of a story (U/A)

  • Starring :
    Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Nawazuddin Siddiqui
  • Language : Hindi Genre : Thriller
  • Synopsis :

    A heavily pregnant Vidya Bagchi lands from London amidst a festive Kolkata; searching for her mysteriously missing husband in the bylanes and crowded underbelly of the City of Joy. more...

  • Director :
    Sujoy Ghosh
  • Music Director : Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani
  • Duration: 1 hrs & 55 mins
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  • Reviews (541)

Synopsis

A heavily pregnant Vidya Bagchi lands from London amidst a festive Kolkata; searching for her mysteriously missing husband in the bylanes and crowded underbelly of the City of Joy. Only to be told he doesn’t exist.

Critic's Review

Story: A heavily pregnant Vidya Bagchi lands from London amidst a festive Kolkata; searching for her mysteriously missing husband in the bylanes and crowded underbelly of the City of Joy. Only to be told he doesn't exist.

Movie Review: While the truth is that most women would love to see their husbands 'missing', such is not the case with the dusky Vidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan), whose search for her husband, Arnab Bagchi lands her bang amidst mysterious men and baffling clues in an unknown, sometimes unfriendly city.

If, after 'The Dirty Picture' you still needed convincing that you will miss a leading 'hero' in this one, get ready for another punch in the jaw. Once again, a 'pregnant' Vidya, ironically displays more 'male ornaments' (excuse the watering down) than most heroes. She takes on her role with power and pride. Living out of a suitcase, amongst strangers, she takes on the soul of the city. Her performance leaves you in awe of an actress, who walks through her role as easily as a stroll down Chowranghee Lane. And even that is perfected as a pregnant waddle, add to it her disheveled look and eyes dark with anguish.

Rana (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) is the freshman cop who lets Vidya take the lead, while subtly and impressively leaving a mark of his own. Intelligence Officer A. Khan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) shows fine talent as a ruthless, unemotional agent.

However, if anyone matches Balan as a 'hero', it is the city of Kolkata itself. The rawness, beauty and grime of the city are stunningly captured by Setu (Cinematographer), from haath rickshaws, trams to Kalighat and Camac Street. With all its celebration and splash of red and white (symbolic for married Bengali women) spilling over the city.

Sujoy Ghosh's script and direction show no 'pregnant' pauses. It slams home a shock value that a thriller rightly demands. The story totally grips you and leaves you at a dramatic high.

The background score (Clinton Cerejo) is arresting; the music is used beautifully to amplify emotions and dramatize moments. Amitabh Bachchan's rendition of Tagore's 'Ekla Chalo Re' is powerful.

Plot Spoilers for 'Kahaani'

Take One: Every time Vidya talks to Rana about her husband (who is the supposed Arnab Bagchi to the other characters in the film and the viewer) the flashback shows a picture of the real terrorist, her husband's lookalike. On the other hand, while she's reminiscing her past, the fleeting image is that of her real husband. Misleading, huh?

Take Two: Rana (cop) tells the very preggy Vidya that she will make a good mother. In that instant, her eyes well-up with tears. Why? Wouldn't a mother-to-be swell with pride instead?

This one is Vidya's 'baby'. Ami shotti bolchi!

541 User Ratings & Reviews for Kahaani - A mother of a story

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  • Rating 55

Review posted this month

A great movie ...... A o'henry twist as they say in the end ............... Had no clue where it came from ..... Great movie ones again.

  • Rating 45

Review posted this month

best film i seen

  • Rating 3.55

Review posted within last 6 month

good but what is there to give 4 n 1/2 stars???

  • Rating 55

Review posted within last 6 month

Amazing !! Superb movie ..

  • Rating 0.05

Review posted within last 6 month

quite good.

  • Rating 55

Review posted within last 6 month

A pregnant woman from London arrives in Kolkata to search for her missing husband. As she proceeds with her mission of finding him, she gets into a web of lies, deceit and intrigue and all comes chillingly clear in one of the most exciting climaxes in recent times in this taut suspense thriller. A must watch for fans of last scene twists.

  • Rating 3.55

Review posted within last 6 month

Good story...

  • Rating 45

Review posted within last 6 month

Really good, nice acting by Vidya, she is growing to become one of the best female actors in mainstream bollywood movies(there are better actors buy they dont feature much in mainstream bollywood). End was really great. Nice movie

  • Rating 0.05

Review posted within last 6 month

quite good

  • Rating 45

Review posted within last 6 month

Very good movie.. full of twist and turn.. you'll get totally shocked after watching the ending of the story.. just enjoy a full thriller story...

  • Rating 3.55

Review posted within last 6 month

good action

  • Rating 15

Review posted within last 6 month

This rip of an hollywood movie deserves 0 stars.

  • Rating 45

Review posted more than 6 month ago

Great movie. a fresh wind in romantic and nonsense comedies of bollywood. do watch.

  • Rating 2.55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

A decent copy of Rendition Watch Rendition the hollywood movie .....Reese Witherspoon is super !!! Kahaani is also good

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

The most important ingredients which made this movie outstanding is awesome dierection , fabulous acting and the last but the most important outstanding storyline. I guess this is the best thriller movie made in bollywood in recent times. I strongly recommend this movie and its must watch bollywood movie !!!

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

awsome

  • Rating 4.55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

One of the best suspense story by Bollywood... A Hollywood type movie by Bollywood...

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

An outstanding movie with great performances all around.

  • Rating 4.55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

BRILLIANT.... MUST Watch... Balan once again proves she a force to reckon with..

  • Rating 4.55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

excellent movie.. what a performance........... liked it ..........

  • Rating 3.55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

Reverting story, Gr8 acting.. something different.. Enjoyed it...!!

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than 6 month ago

fantastic the best movie of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Rating 45

Review posted more than a year ago

a great suspense thriller movie good acting done by bidya bagchi sorry vidya bagchi ............great movie

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

thrill of the movie is reall thrilling.... awesome acting, story

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

I think in dis movie mam vidya balan had done a grrr8 job. It was inspirational movie for women. It was so so so.................................... Intresting,awesome,outstanding,incrdible nd i have no more wrds 2 say. My wishes r wid u vidya Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmuah ;*

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

i hv neva seen a muvi lyf dis since a decade. . .wt a sexy climax amazin vidhya i neva eva tout vidhya cud chose a muvi lyk dis hats off 2 d director. . .umahhh :-*. . . <3. . .

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

Paan Singh Tomar, Kahaani and now Vicky Donor. Is this still Hindi Cinema? Unbelievable stuff and hats off to all the cast members of these movies.. I can't compare the 3 movies but can still say that all 3 leave their impression for a long time. While Paan Singh touches you to your core, Kahaani gives you thrill and then Vicky Donor sends a strong message that there are people out there who you can feel for. 5 out of 5 for all of these movies.

  • Rating 35

Review posted more than a year ago

english movie copy overacting by vidya

  • Rating 2.55

Review posted more than a year ago

greetings its a serious crime by bollywood to copy hollywood movies this one being copied from the 2007 movie rendition starring reese withspoon and jake gyllenhal i 'd rather watch the original then vidya balan's bumpy bump. 2 stars out of 5

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

No words , Must watch,

  • Rating 4.55

Review posted more than a year ago

Good movie. Enjoyable suspense thriller. Vidya deserves all the tributes showered on her. I wish her an award for this portrayal.

  • Rating 4.55

Review posted more than a year ago

superb suspense movie luv it.

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

fantastic one

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

Superb movie!!!!!

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

awesome must watch for asll movie buffs....

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

Kahaani and Vidya Balan are the two reasons i started to watch bollywood again, otherwise i'd stop watching any hindi films. Watertight screenplay, gripping atmosphere, terrific cinematography and the only hindi film without a trashy score. And the way Kolkata has been portrayed, its colours, its joy, its life is the essence of the film. The overall casting and performances of everyone right from the cops to the baddies are beyond amazing. And vidya....oops, bidya madam just blewwwwwww my mind to sky level. All the other useless so called 'actresses'(krazeena, prikhan, fatrina) should learn from her. Overall such a beautiful, mindblowing film, definitely the best hindi film in 10 years. Bidya madam and team should not just get filmfare or national award but a glittering oscar. Please watch this movie, you'll get u'r value for money and not LIC Agent Vinod which I left after 2mins. Yeahhhh, it's all about Agent Vidya!!!!!!!

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

excellent movie

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

Fantastic movie fully consumed Every scene lovely take scene by scene. The movie is full of Milind Damji and the story starts from the HR head leading vb to him as stating resemblance and a chance of record being in old office. I thought in the end if vajpayee could mention to vb that the risk they took paid off that is their first approach to hr head lead to Milind Damji otherwise the question is till remaining what if that had not happened isn't it or am I missing anything? Whatever it is I enjoyed it thoroughly kudos to all:-)

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

Outstanding

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

It is proov again Biddya is rock, she will get another National Award for this, Thanks to Sujoy also, make this superb outstanding movie. please be continue. We want more like this.

  • Rating 4.55

Review posted more than a year ago

An excellent performance put in by Vidaya Balan. She way above the other actresses of today's Bollywood. A well -made and an interesting movie.

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

Everyone is so perfect (two very minor errors compared to tens of errors normally noticed in bollywood films) starting from the story, the script, the acting of each and everyone, the direction, the selection of shooting places and the cinematography. It's no doubt an Oscar material.

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

perfect:-)

  • Rating 45

Review posted more than a year ago

Very good performance by Vidya, she deserves another filmfare and national award for best actor for this movie... stands out in crowd of all male dominated movies...

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

amazing talent....... no other bolly actress can threaten vidya balan's position in the industry today...this is what ekta kapoor has to say after kahaanis super duper success... i agree with her ..... kahaani is truly one of the best movies i have seen in recent times.... people go for it...if you still havent seen kahaani..you are missing " The mother OF ALL MOVIES......:)

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

Very very good movie. Twist and turns keeps you interested till end.

  • Rating 25

Review posted more than a year ago

good movie

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

awesome

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

SHE TRULY DOES AND WILL GET FOR SURE ... KAREENAS AND KATRINAS CAN NEVER EVER MATCH UP TO HER IMMENSE TALENT...EVEN IN THEIR DREAMS...

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

awesome

  • Rating 55

Review posted more than a year ago

fantastic....


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