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Kaagaz Ke Fools backdrop

Kaagaz Ke Fools

24 April 2015Hindi1h 50m
Comedy
out of 10
Unfavorablemost critics didn't like it
Monk Score · 9 scored reviews · 1 not rated

Weighted from a 2.3 average · Why?

Amateurish direction and a hollow script waste Pathak and Shukla's sincerity.

Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Pathak and Shukla's earnest performances
  • Criticised: amateurish direction and weak narrative

Audience

User score 3.0 out of 10 from 1 rating, not enough ratings for a verdict yet
Read 1 audience review ↓

Not streaming in India

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Critic consensus

What 10 critics are saying

Critical consensus on Kaagaz Ke Fools is overwhelmingly negative, with reviewers finding the film lacking in substance, coherent narrative purpose, and directorial competence. The most consistent criticism targets debut director Anil Kumar Chaudhary, whose amateurish execution, poor location choices, weak production values, and dated treatment drew near-universal disapproval. The only element critics acknowledged with any warmth was the earnest effort from leads Vinay Pathak and Saurabh Shukla, though even they were seen as let down by an underwritten script. A few reviewers noted isolated moments of genuine feeling, but the consensus is that the film squanders its cast and fails to justify its own story.

How the 9 scores spread

1 not-rated review isn't plotted

The Monk Score is weighted from a plain average of 2.3 · how scores work

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 10 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (10)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  2. Sify

    Film review ·

    Debut director Anil Kumar Chaudhary whips up a film that makes a few quick points with a one-dimensional and simplistic narrative. The film does have a few moments like the mother's unconventional ways of cheering up her upset daughter and the uneasy equations between successful and struggling friends. However one wishes the rest of the film was as heartfelt as them. In the end, you are left with the thought that the film could have been so much more.

  3. The Free Press Journal

    Film review ·

    Well there was a moral to it I guess but the treatment and narration was so artless and boring that it could put you to sleep. Vinay Pathak tries to keep things real and empathy worthy but the character he plays just doesn't seem to be from the real world.

  4. Mumbai Mirror

    Film review ·

    I'm usually a sucker for stories about frustrated artists. But this one is presented in a dated and garish manner that makes you wonder if the filmmakers think this is actually a groundbreaking concept.

  5. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    When you have a talented bunch of actors like Pathak and Saurabh Shukla, you expect the film to have some meaning. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen here. Amidst all the chaos and disagreements, you keep looking for a reason behind the story but fail to find one.

  6. Bollywood Hungama

    Film review ·

    Right from the word go, the film lacks any substance which could be reason enough to hold the attention and the interest of the viewers. As the film progresses, the audiences' interest starts deteriorating. And the only person who is to be blamed for this is none other than the film's director Anil Kumar Chaudhary, who lacks directorial skills. His amateurish direction is visible from the fact that, almost in every scene, there are onlookers who are happily watching the film's shoot!

  7. Deccan Chronicle

    Film review ·

    The film also employs jokes that have been handed down from generations. Since the scenes fail to create an impact, director Anil Kumar Chaudhary takes the aid of abrupt low-key musical insertions that are expected to, at once, make the screen tragic. It does get tragic, but for the audiences, rather than the characters. Despite the poor script, poorer dialogues and co-stars, Saurabh Shukla and Vinay Pathak (Raima to a certain extent) manage to deliver an earnest performance.

  8. Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    Ironically, and perhaps reflecting the sad state of Bollywood's growth, in 2015 we get a film titled 'Kaagaz ke Fools', which is so regressive and dated that it just might have made some sense back in the 50s. Well, if nothing, the film makes us painfully aware of the difference between a phool and a fool.

  10. Filmfare

    Film review ·

    Questionable casting aside, the production values on this movie are near abysmal. Most of the film is shot in Delhi. But the choice of locations is poor. The camerawork is no better than rookie documentaries. And the songs are neither pleasant on the ear nor needed in the film. Yet, they're thrust into the most absurd situations. It's a very lackluster attempt at making a commercial film.

From our readers

Audience reviews (1)

1 rating · user score 3.0

  1. Tejas NairJan 2016
    3/10

    There is a good message lying somewhere underneath this comedy drama that went without noticed in the cinemas.<br /> <br /> An aspiring writer (Pathak) moves out of his house due to frustration from his constantly nagging and gloriously miscast wife (Godse) and ends up in the arms of a hot call girl (Sen). The message that the film tries to convey is about the publishing industry, which is heavily characterized by pulp and porn fiction rather than pure literature. And our protagonist is out here to change that. The terrible cast performance, even from cinema thespians like Saurabh Shukla and Pathak, wreaks havoc with the whole film. Godse, however, wins the competition of being the worst actor.<br /> <br /> There are jokes here and there if you notice, but most of the narration, which is told in a non-linear fashion, is plain monotonous with random songs. I am often enthralled by the sheer craftiness of low- budget films, but in here the inferior production setup comes out like a sore thumb and manages to sabotage the whole broth, which is under-cooked in the first place.<br /> <br /> BOTTOM LINE: Other than Pathak's interesting character, Chaudhary's Kaagaz Ke Fools is a below average show. Can skip.<br /> <br /> GRADE: D-<br /> <br /> Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

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