A flawed disaster romance saved more by its leads than its script.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Kedarnath was mixed to negative, with most reviewers converging on the view that the film's weak, flawed script and uneven execution undermine its ambitious premise. Sara Ali Khan's debut performance was the most consistently praised element across reviews, with multiple critics describing her as a natural screen presence and the most memorable aspect of the film. Sushant Singh Rajput also drew measured praise for his earnest work, though some critics noted his character lacked sufficient depth on the page. Common criticisms included poor writing, tonal inconsistency in blending a fictional romance with the 2013 Uttarakhand disaster, and underwhelming music beyond a single track.
5 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 25 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
Kedarnath is a pointless, entirely forgettable film, but some may remember the girl fondly — which may well be the film's only task. In one scene, Sara rides down the mountain on Sushant's back, and he calls her the heaviest load he's lifted. She smiles and tells him to get used to it. Carry on, Indian cinema, carry on.
Top critic
Film review ·
In trying to please everyone, Kedarnath loses edge, and leads to a tepid cop-out. It's a weepie minus the tears.
Top critic
Film review ·
While Sushant Singh Rajput does much of the heavy lifting with a great deal of flair, the biggest asset is Sara
Film review ·
Kedarnath is a visual spectacle but could have been a better love story. However, Sara couldn't have asked for a better launch pad or a better co-star. Sushant's shy demeanor complements her over-the-top antics perfectly. Watch it for the chilling climax scene to which the whole film leads and also for Sara's spunk that is a clear indication that she is here to stay!
Film review ·
Watch Kedarnath for the spunky and spirited Sara Ali Khan. A star is born.
Film review ·
Sara Ali Khan-Sushant Singh Rajput's aching chemistry anchors a heartbreaking love story...
Film review ·
Kedarnath totally banks on its leads and they deliver. Sushant brings calm and Sara a breezy freshness to it. They give the film what its average VFX fails to—a purpose. Kedarnath is watchable and strikes a chord when needed.
Film review ·
Truth be told, Amrita Singh and Saif Ali Khan's daughter has tons of filmi blood and it is what powers Kedarnath from start to finish
Film review ·
Though Sushant and Sara deliver their chops earnestly, their on-screen chemistry lacks charisma and the fault lies not with them, but the script
Film review ·
For a love story, there are no romantic tracks that really hold your attention. Apart from the song Namo Namo, Amit Trivedi's music doesn't create the required mood for a love saga like Kedarnath. Director Abhishek Kapoor's attempt to make a film set against the backdrop of a natural calamity of this proportion is ambitious and sincere.
Film review ·
But overall the shift of tones while blending a fictional, inter-faith romance with a historical natural disaster, the film suffers to some degree from the maker's romantic and idealistic ideas and thereby leaves you unsatisfied.
Film review ·
'Kedarnath' is perfectly stormy and is good for a one-time watch.
Film review ·
At over two hours of screen time, the drill turns tedious and tiresome, and sinks into a mushy mess in the end, never ever coming together as a wholesome movie.
Film review ·
If one must watch a fictional account of a natural disaster, we can always turn to Hollywood blockbusters which have done it too well and too often. This just seems like watching an '80s Hindi movie for an hour-and-a-half and then an '80s shark movie for another 10 minutes.
Film review ·
KEDARNATH is a poor fare owing to the unexciting and flawed writing and weak execution. What works well is Sara Ali Khan's stupendous performance and the flood sequences. At the box office, its fate will be an average one.
Film review ·
In the conclusion, Kedarnath does have some genuinely likable moments but when the monotony of the drama gets exposed, the film's pace breaks down and the entertainment level drops. The film somewhat manages to regain its speed in the climax. But till then, you find it is already late.
Film review ·
Kedarnath starring Sushant Singh Rajput marks the big Bollywood debut of star kid Sara Ali Khan. The film is directed by Abhishek Kapoor. Actors Sara and Sushant shine in Kedarnath but the film drowns, says our review.
Film review ·
All said and done, Kedarnath is watchable just for Sushant Singh Rajput, Sara Ali Khan and its cinematography. There's nothing you'll take back with you once the lights turn on. This plot required a special treatment to establish the connection & the makers fail at the base level itself. Skip it!
Film review ·
A Hindu-Muslim romance set in the temple town of Kedarnath, at the time of the deadly cloudburst that wiped out thousands of people. The film launches Sara Ali Khan and she has infinite possibilities although the film doesn't.
Film review ·
Be that as it may, is this the sort of romance dream-debuts are made of? Traditionally, yes. Sara Ali Khan's mother, Amrita Singh, for instance, similarly hit the screen with Betaab - rich girl, poor boy, young love - in the early '80s.
Film review ·
This is basically a paranoid movie embracing social relevance to compensate for daring to accessorize a tragedy through the medium of art. Given the current climate, these inclinations aren't surprising. After all, you know a film is on shaky ground when it's a natural disaster that must rescue it from being a man-made disaster.
Film review ·
Khan shines in these later scenes, shedding the earlier self-consciousness to throw it all into the physically challenging finale. Rajput is natural as the compassionate Mansoor, though at times he seems to be searching for the soul of his character, which could have been another casualty of a confused script. Fortunately for Kapoor, the performances manage to keep things afloat, taking the emotions to a crescendo matching nature's wrath.
Film review ·
For a film that ebbs and flows, the leads thankfully keep it afloat and steady. Rajput is wonderful as Mansoor, using his eyes and body language to convincingly convey his character's emotions. But the true revelation is Khan, whose performance makes it hard to believe that this is her first film. She acts like a veteran, is a natural in front of the camera and handles the emotional scenes with ease. She is the most memorable thing about "Kedarnath".
Film review ·
Ali Khan is a vibrant presence, lending her character spirit and charisma. She is the most watchable and memorable character in the pre-interval sequences, and gives a snappily told but somewhat cold film much-needed warmth when the mountains melt and everything goes under water.
Film review ·
Kedarnath for being "insensitive" to the 2013 Uttarakhand tragedy and turning it into a metaphor, is a proof that we are content remaining blind to the bigger picture; that we are not far from disaster but sitting right on top of it.
From our readers
4 ratings · user score 6.3
very familiar movie , which is known to every one, the disaster scenes are very high lighted.. finally one time watchable
Abhishek Kapoor's Kedarnath takes a virulent turn from a blooming, soothing romantic story between two people from different religions to a description of a natural calamity but it still manages to keep one hooked and rooting for these characters that are written with genuine compassion. TN.
'Kedarnath' is a surprising film, all the way. It's climax is naturally haunting and the settings of devastations will, nevertheless, make you stay for the film and curiosity about what happens to the fate of these lovers and their unflinching desire for each other is bount to come. The climax then takes a slightly (spoiler!) 'Titanic' tune to it. But you know this, and still are satisfied with it. The writing is mostly emotional. The content comes with visual coherence. But the strength of the film lies in its boundless performances: while Sushant Singh Rajput as the Muslim 'pitthu' Mansoor is interesting enough, it is Sara Ali Khan's Mandakini who makes the film a mostly enjoyable one. She unleashes passion with sincerity and comedy with conviction. The other cast performs respectably too. But the film really shoots to a palpable high when the religions come into the play. First is about the excellent casting choice: Sushant is Hindu and Sara is Muslim, in the film their orthodoxy has been exhchanged. It also has to make a comment on "Just because he is a man..." and the screenplay by Kanika Dhillon paves way for a funky, solid female character in Sara's Mukku. My problem with the film is that it is awfully stretched. You are incredibly bored by the dazzling song sequences, too-much-stalking and all. Mansoor's economic conditions are low, says the film, but his house is way more beautifully shot to be a poverty-struck one. But you stay watching the film nevertheless because of the emotional depth. There are more than a few moments that are heartbreaking, and many of them, moving as well.
Credits
Sushant Singh RajputMansoor
Sara Ali KhanMukku
Nitish Bharadwaj
Alka Amin
Sonali Sachdev
Pooja GorBrinda
Nishant Dahiya
Abhishek Kapoor
Ronnie Screwvala
Pragya Kapoor
Kanika Dhillon
Amit Trivedi
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