Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Rating: **
In today's time when our country is facing some really serious issues of Hindu-Muslim conflicts, Kedarnath could have been a great film, which has touched this issue.
Set in the backdrops of Uttrakhand floods, which devastated the holy temple and its surroundings, Kedarnath is a love story of Mansoor (Sushant Singh Rajput) and Mandakini aka Mukku (Sara Ali Khan).
There isn't much in the story as it has been treated very poorly. Mansoor is a Pithoo at Kedarnath temple who helps pilgrims get to the shrine by carrying them on his back and Mukku is the daughter of a priest (Nitish Bharadwaj) at the temple and is also engaged to Kullu (Nishant Dahiya). Mukku fell in love with Mansoor and that's it. The story revolves around these two.
The first half of the film doesn't offer much. In the first half, we can see the love story blooming between the leading pair and a parallel story of Hindu-Muslim angle and also shows the greed of some locals who want to build a hotel, risking the lives of many.
The story took a turn in the second half but failed to pick the pace.
Sushant Singh Rajput doesn't offer anything new, still, he has done justice to his character.
Sara Ali Khan is the new star in making, who shines in this sketchy and weak plot. She has delivered a stellar performance and marks a great debut.
The supporting cast which has Nishant Dahiya as the main antagonist, Nitish Bharadwaj as Sara's father, Pooja Gor as her sister and Alka Amin as Sushant's mother, nothing to offer anything great.
There are moments, only a few in the film which holds your attention but that was later in the climax and it was too late. You feel bored in between when unexpectedly a song pops up.
Though songs are good, but they were forced into the story.
Abhishek Kapoor and Kanika Dhillon, both let us down with the story and screenplay.
Abhishek Kapoor as a director has done a commendable job while capturing the emotions in visually spectacular picturesque locations.
Overall, Kedarnath has failed to impress but Sara Ali Khan has overshadowed everyone.