Karwaan movie review: Irrfan Khan is the soul of the film; Dulquer Salmaan impressive

Road movies are a recent trend in India, since the past two decades or so, with a few exceptions in the past. We have come to love Dil Chahta Hai, Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd., Mr. and Mrs. Iyer, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara and even the cruise film Dil Dhadakne Do, among others. There was also Abhay Deol's Road, Movie which was an international film. The latest road trip movie to hit theatres is Karwaan, releasing on Friday, August 3, 2018.

Directed by theatre person Akarsh Khurana, Karwaan marks the Bollywood debut of Malayalam hottie Dulquer Salmaan, the son of veteran actor Mammootty who is still a star. Karwaan also marks the leading role debut of Internet favourite Mithila Palkar in Bollywood, who was earlier seen in Katti Batti and the Marathi film Muramba. She is Internet's sweetheart after her Cup song Hi Chal Turu Turu went viral and then for her leading acts in many YouTube series, including Girl in the City.

But Karwaan is a very important film for veteran Irrfan Khan, who is being treated for cancer in the UK. How has the film turned out? Here is our review of Karwaan.

The first half of Karwaan goes like a breeze. Feel-good and full of laughter - for the viewers and not people laughing on screen - Karwaan establishes a firm foundation for the film in the first half.

Dulquer Salmaan plays Avinash Rajpurohit, a software engineer who is not good at his job despite being a brilliant student. He finds his job dreary and misses photography, a vocation he wanted to take up but didn't because his father (played by Akash Khurana) refused to let him choose his path.

Not surprising then, when Avinash receives a call from a transport company saying that his father has died in a road accident, he doesn't know how to react, as he is still mad at his old man. But he must collect his body and cremate him. Just that, the dead body has been exchanged with that of the mother of Tahira (played by Amala Paul). 

Irrfan Khan plays Shaukat, a mechanic who has befriended Avinash. Shaukat agrees to accompany Avinash on his road trip to get his father's body from Coimbatore. Mithila Palkar is Tanya, the rebellious young daughter of Tahira, who is too drunk to answer her mom's call or remember anything in general. Avinash promises the mom to bring her along, making detours after detours along the way.

That's it. That's the story of the film, with the real story or crux developing or rather unfolding as the trio take their detours. As happens in road trips and vacations, we get away from our mundane work-life and face our fears, face ourselves. That is what Karwaan is all about. So should you watch it? Yes!

Karwaan shows comedy in a serious situation like death, and in this case, two deaths. And there is romance, in spite of Shaukat warning Avinash, "Mayyat pe romance mat kar!" (Don't get romantic at a funeral), Shaukat himself falls for someone along the way and that part is very beautiful in the film. So is the part where he finally gets talking about his father and mother.

Irrfan Khan is ingenious as usual. It is so 'as usual' now that you will not be surprised he has done well. Shaukat's dialogues are the best but Irrfan has similar dialogue delivery like some of his earlier films. And yet, his act is so spontaneous! Some of his lines seem to have added by himself at the spur of the moment. That is the hallmark of a great actor, especially in comedy. And here, it is a dark comedy and yet is not like Irrfan's recent release Blackmail.

Karwaan does not take you to too dark a place; it rather makes you laugh, smile and ponder. Those who remember Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer 'Chennai Express' with a familiar plot may find this film smooth and bereft of any violence or twists in storyline. 

The only lines of Shaukat that don't go down too well are the jokes on the firangs that may be a bit derogatory. But it seems in character, just as his objection to Tanya wearing short dresses. 

Avinash too is on a trip to discover himself and is struggling to come to terms with his father's loss (his mother is not in the picture). While on the move, he bumps into an ex-girlfriend Rumi (played by Kriti Kharbanda), which further gives him a reality check. Dulquer Salmaan was a good choice to play Avinash, and all his fans will agree. Not as brooding as say, Ranbir Kapoor on screen, Dulquer Salmaan in Karwaan plays it really cool. He's a natural on screen, whether he is being depressed, confused or happy.

Like Avinash and Shaukat, Tanya too has daddy issues, but of a different kind - her father passed away when she was very young. She is struggling with her teenage issues and the loss of her Nani (grandmother). Mithila brings a whiff of fresh air on screen but still, for her calibre her character seems like it could've been written better even if it is just a young, cool life being showcased. She's just a college girl. She may be serious but she is not showing. But her characterisation and lines could've been edgier.

Kriti Kharbanda surprises with her performance in her small part, and so does the actor playing her husband. They are very natural. The other actors with their small parts all fit into the film, making it gripping.

The music of Karwaan goes along with the road trip feel. The cinematography does justice to a road movie.

Verdict: Karwaan is a dark comedy that makes you laugh, smile and reflect. This is one helluva delightful road trip. Take it!

Rating: 3/5