What Is The Story About?
Netflix’s latest Indian original film ‘Kho Gaye Hum Kahan’ is centred on three friends who’ve been together since childhood. Imaad Ali (Siddhant Chaturvedi) is a stand-up comic, with a traumatic past and commitment issues. Neil Pereira (Adarsh Gourav) is a gym instructor, with a huge chip on his shoulder. Ahana (Ananya Panday) is a marketer, and the only post-graduate of the three. The movie follows the three as they navigate life in today’s Instagram-influenced world.
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is written and directed by Arjun Varain Singh, co-written by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, and produced by Excel Entertainment and Tiger Baby Films.
Performances?
Siddhant Chaturvedi is superb as Imaad. He delivers a nuanced performance as a troubled young man with relationship issues. Adarsh Gourav is very good as Neil, the gym instructor with a massive chip on the shoulder. Ananya Panday is a revelation as independent young woman, Ahana, who’s just been dumped by her boyfriend of two years. She does well to cock a snook at naysayers by proving her acting skills beyond doubt.
Kalki Koechlin lends heft to the cast, in her inimitable way. She captures our attention—and keeps it—effortlessly. Vijay Maurya as Neil’s middle-class father is a classy touch to the narrative. Suchitra Pillai is the surprise package as Imaad’s therapist. The gravitas-laden role suits her to the T. Anya Singh is good as Instagram influencer, Lala.
Analysis?
On the face of it, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is a movie you might dismiss as one that’ll appeal only to today’s Instagram-addled Gen Z crowd. Scratch the surface, and it is a damning criticism of the unhealthy influence of social media on the mental health of youngsters today.
Dig even deeper and you’ll find a story that is heart-touching and relevant to every generation there is. The feelings of “fear of missing out” and “you only live once” have been part of the life of every youngster in every era — only, they didn’t have fancy terms like FOMO and YOLO then. We have all looked at the lifestyles of our more privileged peers with envy at some point in our lives. Only, we called it keeping up with the Joneses then, rather than Keeping Up With The Kardashians today.
Several instances in the film slam home the insecurities and feelings of inadequacy that grip youngsters in the social media-driven world of today – the scene where Neil’s enjoyment of a family-and-friends dinner turns sour when he looks at the lavish dinner of his boss on Instagram. It’s something we all feel a tinge of, when we look at the flawlessly stunning images flooding Instagram night and day.
Through nuanced storytelling and the shenanigans of its well-written characters, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan also points a finger at other issues that abound amongst youngsters due to the influence of social media – low self-esteem, the need for perfectionism, seeking external validation, body image concerns, superficiality, and more. Admirably enough, it also gives us a ring-side view of the vacuousness of so-called social media influencers – a powerful set of people in current times, but vacuous af.
The characterisations in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan are terrific. Each character is etched out with careful detailing, and the actors do them complete justice. Each is outstanding in his or her part, displaying beguiling candour, ardent earnestness, stark helplessness, and more, on demand.
We instantly get where each comes from – whether it is Neil who goes about his daily chores, dreaming of living the picture-perfect life he sees on Instagram. Or Ahana, whose mojo goes flying out of the window when she realises her boyfriend has dumped her for a PYIT – that’s short for pretty young Instagram thing.
Finally, your heart goes out to Imaad – the 9-year-old one, the 10-year-old traumatised kid, as well as the 25-year-old intimacy-phobic Imaad. Siddhant Chaturvedi portrays the character with aplomb. His stand-up comedy portions come across as natural and organic too, much like his portrayal of a rapper in Gully Boy.
To sum it up, the direction is the star of Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, while the writing is the glittering jewel in its crown. The script and dialogue are written with a tongue firmly in cheek, and are rife with humour and insight that are sharp as a razor’s edge. Watch the film and you won’t be disappointed.
Music And Other Departments?
The musical score of the film, by various composers, is good; as is Sid Shirodkar’s background music. Tanay Satam’s cinematography is strikingly real and unembellished with artifice. Nitin Baid’s editing could have been sharper.
Highlights?
The excellent casting
Great performances
Relevant storyline
Drawbacks?
A tad draggy in portions – a shorter runtime would have worked better
Did I Enjoy it?
Yes
Do I recommend it?
Yes
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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