…is like parched land. There are cracks and dusty patches. And in reality there isn’t any water to sustain life or even drown into.

Unfortunately, the storytelling in Kaun Kitne Paani Mein uniformly starts out with much force but falls short of realising its potential.

A subject of this kind could have easily fallen into the danger of appearing dry and boring, but thanks to a good sprinkling of humour, a screenplay full of life (by Deepak Venkateshan) and some decent performances, this one is definitely watchable. Shukla deserves a special mention for his crackling and memorable performance as a decadent but desperate ‘Kshatriya’ who has fallen on bad times.

…this film will bore you till you go to sleep and will still be playing when you wake up the next day.

…it is a film that needs to be discussed and debated.

The film’s forceful dialogues not only move the story forward but also play a key role in establishing characters and their relationships. Besides disclosing conflicts and causing reactions, it also talk about the practices of casteims and just how complicated and problematic they are. Dialogues such as ‘Unchey log kisi ke nahi hotey’, ‘Asli raja who jiske paas pani hai’, ‘Humare gaon nazdeek hai aur hum alag hain’ shows how caste-system isn’t obsolete and useless even in the modern context.

…the film has the look, feel and charm of a bygone era.

…the film works largely because the director injects tenability into his four main characters . Kaun Kitne PaaniMein is a heartwarming satire on the water scarcity executed with care and compassion. The film is shot in rural areas of Odisha where we can actually sense the parched mood of the famished humanity.

This a small film with a big heart. Not devoid of flaws but none of them fatal.

The director’s commitment to social values is clearly visible in the film and he deserves praise for his efforts. It’s his conviction that makes the audience overlook the Bollywood-ised version of Rangabati.

…comes across as a half-baked attempt. While the satire is good, the film fails to rise above it.Considering that it is a little slow, if you have patience, this could be a suitable watch.

…despite its pitfalls, Kaun Kitney Paani Mein has moments of fun and a subject that is relevant. Watch it for Saurabh Shukla.

Kaun Kitney Paani Mein goes where Hindi cinema rarely ever does. For that alone it deserves to be seen.

In an industry, where we are served with minding numbing comedies every week, Kaun Kitney Paani Mein is refreshing and will be liked by those who have an appetite for satire. Having said that, the film suffers from half baked screenplay and takes its own sweet time to establish the plot. Watch it if you have patience and free time. Others can just give it a miss!

Good idea, faulty execution. Using water as a trade commodity is a powerful concept, especially given that there is so much drought and so little accessible clean drinking water in so many parts of India.