The story of Kill Dil is as old as the hills.
Two orphans (Ranveer Singh and Ali Zafar) are abandoned at birth in a dustbin and a ruthless criminal (Govinda) stumbles upon them and takes them under his wing.
Under Govinda’s warped idea of parenting, they take to guns and kill people ruthlessly on his bidding. The twist in this proverbial worn-out tale comes in the form of the luminous beauty Disha, played by Parineeti Chopra, who strikes Dev’s fancy. In a flash, Dev wants to exit his filthy, morbid world.
It’s a premise that has been regurgitated by several Bollywood filmmakers with mediocre success. But what sets Kill Dil apart is the endearing performance by Singh. He’s as adorable as a wounded puppy and you may find yourself smiling at some of his antics in his quest to be a reformed rake.
Chopra, as the alluring woman with pots of money and a swanky red convertible, looks glamorous. But if you are looking for some soul there, you might be distracted by her red lips and her impossibly-perfect tresses.
The couple do have chemistry, but the innumerable songs at regular intervals nips that potential right at the bud. When you have more than four songs in the first half, it becomes clear that Kill Dil is suffering from an identity crisis of sorts. Should it be a musical that celebrates love or should it be an ode to The Godfather-inspired crime dramas must have been one of the questions that plagued director Shaad Ali.
In the end, it’s a messy mish-mash of both. But to Ali’s credit, he doesn’t overdramatise situations by making it unnecessarily melodramatic. The confrontations, conflicts and its resolutions are swift. If director Ali had done away with the songs, he would have done his film a huge favour.
Singh may have had the best lines, but actor Ali Zafar as Tutu complements him well as his partner in crime. Kill Dil doesn’t offer any riveting twists, but you don’t feel like putting a bullet to your head at the end of it either. Watch it if you love Singh and his nervous energy.
