AK vs AK is an interesting meta film. It centers around an ego clash between a successful but conceited new age Bollywood director, Anurag Kashyap and a narcissistic and yesteryears superstar, Anil Kapoor. A disgruntled Kashyap kidnaps Sonam Kapoor (Anil Kapoor’s famous actress daughter) to avenge himself and gives Anil Kapoor till sunrise to save her - all the while shooting Kapoor’s nightly chase through Mumbai to find Sonam via a live camera. Kashyap claims that this will be his life’s ‘masterpiece’. I say well tried but not path breaking. 

There is no denying the freshness of the meta movie, celebrating the coming of age of the Indian audience, who is seeking offbeat, mature content that defies mainstream sensibilities. The concept, the treatment and the acting have delivered. However, the film feels contrived, just like the staged twitter spat between senior AK and junior AK to promote the film. It is hard to accept the polite Anil Kapoor as the self absorbed, swearing megastar. Even Kashyap comes across as too cocky in the film, perhaps playing an exaggerated version of himself for the script. The ending has left me a little smothered. Kashyap has been outsmarted by Kapoor the whole time, who frames Kashyap and has him admitted to a mental asylum in the end. My expectation of an unexpected climax from the Kashyap camp is unmet. The twist is weak and shows the inability to carry the momentum through the movie. But more importantly, it ironically (and may be unintentionally) signals that the unabashed new-ism taking on Bollywood (for its vices) is off the line and easily vincible. 

The talented, somewhat unslotted director Vikramaditya Motwane beautifully executes the genre. The way the camera follows the story, the pace and the setting are fantastic. Even Kashyap’s unadulterated presence and Kapoor’s display of a father’s desperation does not disappoint.The banter between them comes easy. The rest of the cast – Yogita Bihani, Boney Kapoor, Harsh Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor play their roles well. Still, with Udaan, Lootera and Sacred Games among others to his credit, Motwane delivers a notch below with AK vs AK. Perhaps it is the balance - in order to be too real, it is just a little less so.

The movie posits a critical question - are the yesteryear’s methods and actors relevant today? While Kashyap represents the unconventional cinematic spawn, Anil Kapoor is the cornerstone of the original Bollywood charm. The answer is clear and in your face - those who can evolve will stay at the helm. 

Rating - 2.5/5