Qaidi Band 'Koimoi review'-must watch film

222149 thumbnail
Posted: 7 years ago
#1

Qaidi Band Movie Review: Earnest Performances & Fantastic Direction Makes This Film A Must Watch

The onscreen chemistry between Anya Singh and Aadar Jain makes for a very endearing watch.

August 24, 2017

Rating: 3/5 Stars (Three stars)

Star Cast: Aadar Jain, Anya Singh, Sachin Pilagaonkar

Director: Habib Faisal

Qaidi Band Movie Review

What's Good: The script and the proficient performances by both the debuting lead stars

What's Bad: The second half, which could have been trimmed a little

Loo Break: Just a couple of them!

Watch or Not?: This film demands a must watch. Purely for the earnest performances by the actors in addition to the film's unique script.

The film, which has been inspired by real events, starts off with the introduction of a certain under trial named Machung Lalung', who gets justice after a long delay of many years. The film, then, introduces us to its lead characters Sanju (Aadar Jain) and Bindu (Anya Singh), the two undertrials who got victimised' due of their respective circumstances. Due to their financial inabilities to fight their cases through a rich lawyer, their stay in the jail keeps on getting longer by the day. One day, on the account of the jail's anniversary, its superintendent (Sachin Pilgaonkar) announces the formation of a unisex musical band, comprising of talented undertrials. This, then, gives rise to the formation of Senaani Band', which comprises of Sanju, Bindu and three other members, who are also undertrials. No sooner the band performs in front of a minister and the media, they win their hearts and attention and become an instant internet sensation.

Around the same time, the Senaani Band' also get a chance to perform with a leading rock band, who, in turn, tells them about a musical competition with a prize money of a whopping Rs. 50 lakhs. At the behest of buying new musical instruments from a musical shop in a mall, the Senaani Band' members plan to escape from the jail authorities so that they win the competition and hire a lawyer who can prove their innocence. Do the Senaani Band' members succeed in their plan to prove their innocence, does the Senaani Band' manage to participate in the musical competition and win it, do the undertrials ever get the freedom that they are entitled to, is what forms the rest of the film.

Qaidi Band Movie Review

Qaidi Band Review: Script Analysis

The film has a unique script which one has come across in the recent times. The script gets utmost support from the director's vision to make the film. The film builds its momentum in the extremely engaging first half. The second half, despite having a couple of dull moments, manages to keep the momentum intact with its taut screenplay.

Qaidi Band Review: Star Performance

Both the lead stars viz., Aadar Jain, Anya Singh make their Bollywood debut with Qaidi Band. The confidence and the conviction which they show in their respective performances is truly remarkable. Despite the fact that Aadar Jain has a sincere screen presence, the fact remains that he still has to work a bit while handling emotional scenes. On the other hand, Anya Singh's has an endearing and arresting screen presence. Additionally, her captivating acting prowess makes her a name to watch out for. The onscreen chemistry between Anya Singh and Aadar Jain makes for a very endearing watch. The veteran actor Sachin Pilgaonkar makes a comeback in Hindi cinema with Qaidi Band. He does a decent job in the role of the police inspector. Rest of the actors do their bit to take the film forward.

Qaidi Band Review: Direction, Music

After having made a mark in Bollywood with films like Do Dooni Chaar, Ishaqzaade, and Daawat-e-Ishq, director Habib Faisal does an extremely remarkable job with Qaidi Band. Thanks to his directorial ability, he flawlessly converts the script into a compelling visual delight onscreen. With his directorial skills in Qaidi Band, he has catapulted into the league of exemplary film makers. The film's music (Amit Trivedi) is captivating and complements the script to a t'. Ditto for the film's background music (Hitesh Modak).

Qaidi Band Review: The Last Word

For all those who appreciate raw, genuine talent and unadulterated entertainment, you will surely love this film. The film has the potential and the tendency to grow big, majorly due to word of mouth publicity.

Three stars!

Qaidi Band Trailer

Qaidi Band releases on 25th August 2017.

Edited by MinzPie - 7 years ago

Created

Last reply

Replies

8

Views

878

Users

8

Likes

10

Frequent Posters

cool-boy_018 thumbnail
Anniversary 18 Thumbnail Group Promotion 3 Thumbnail
Posted: 7 years ago
#2
How is a "must watch" worth only 3 stars out of 5?
serendipity_10 thumbnail
Anniversary 10 Thumbnail Group Promotion 3 Thumbnail Engager 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 7 years ago
#3
Even if the movie is great, the unfortunate fact is literally no one cares.
There's like sub-zero buzz for this one.😕
1101831 thumbnail
Posted: 7 years ago
#4
How much money did yrf wasted on this movie and promotion? will it recover even its poster's money
DobbyDeol thumbnail
Anniversary 13 Thumbnail Visit Streak 365 0 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 7 years ago
#5
Is movie ke toh chavanni kamaane ke bhi chances nahi lag rahe..😆
SoyMilk thumbnail
Anniversary 15 Thumbnail Group Promotion 2 Thumbnail
Posted: 7 years ago
#6

Originally posted by: 09tanki

How much money did yrf wasted on this movie and promotion? will it recover even its poster's money


Rumors of the leads' families upfronting the film's budget have been posted 😆

Offtopic but how short are the leads? I'd be surprised if either crossed 5'5!
Edited by Avocado.Girl - 7 years ago
Ooolalala thumbnail
Anniversary 13 Thumbnail Group Promotion 7 Thumbnail + 4
Posted: 7 years ago
#7
Anya was good in trailer too. She impressed me. If she continues to give good performances, then she will do well.
222149 thumbnail
Posted: 7 years ago
#8
kisi ne movie dekhi kya?😆

Movie Review: Qaidi Band

Qaidi Band

Qaidi Band Rachit Gupta, August 25, 2017, 3:30 PM IST

Critics's Rating3.0/5
CASTAadar Jain, Anya Singh, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Parvinder Singh, Peter Muxka Manuel, Mikhail Yawalkar
DIRECTIONHabib Faisal

Qaidi Band Review

Cast: Aadar Jain, Anya Singh, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Parvinder Singh, Peter Muxka Manuel, Mikhail Yawalkar

Director: Habib Faisal

Quick take: Spunky musical with a message

Rating: 3/5



Social messages advocating change and asking the youth of the country to be the change they wish to see in society, usually look good on memes. Once you try to pull them into the cinematic medium, you've got to have the deft nuance of a Rajkumar Hirani, so that you achieve the fine balance between being relevant and not being preachy. Habib Faisal achieved that balance in his first film, Do Dooni Chaar. His latest feature Qaidi Band is a clarion call to the youth of India, do not take your freedom for granted, it says. While the message is clear, at times it's also a little loud. Qaidi Band is a relevant film, with some spunky rock music and highschool musical treatment to boot. Its good intentions and contemporary appeal work its favour, but this all-heart film could've been a lot better had it been a little less obvious.



The story has been written to bring one fact to light. There are possibly millions of people in Indian jails right now, who are under trials and are in custody only because they don't have the means or the money to procure bail. Most of these civilians aren't even guilty, they're just unfortunate victims of circumstance. Many of these under trials have already served a term in jail far longer than the maximum punishment allowed for their alleged crimes. But the lethargic judicial system keeps them locked up. So the story is based in a jail where young Sanjay (Aadar Jain) is a feeble attempt at the Indian version of Paul Newman from Cool Hand Luke (1967). He's a go getter who's fit into the prison system of under trails like a snuggly glove. He catches mice, sells his place in the toilet/urinal line for money etc to survive the grind of prison. Things take a turn for the better when the Jailer (Sachin Pilgaonkar) initiates a plan for a few under trials to perform as a band. The prison has it's 100th anniversary on Independence Day and Sanjay gets a chance to collaborate with other inmates to form a rock band. That brings to picture the other main characters, Bindu (Anya Singh), Rufi (Mikhail Yawalkar), Maskeen (Parvinder Singh) and Ogu (Peter Muxka Manuel). They form a band and that turns them into YouTube sensations. The rest of the story then deals with the band being promoted for political reasons but the participating inmates' rights being squashed by the iron-handed Jailor and his political motivations.


For the sake of definition, Qaidi Band is like Jack Black's School Of Rock (2003) trying to be The Shawshank Redemption (1994). While it's not on par with either film's entertainment value, it is however a good one-time watch. The problem with Qaidi Band is that its screenplay is a little too simplistic. The second half especially, is a little convenient, what with prison break trappings unfolding in full glory. But even then, there are flashes of intelligent writing, as a few of the escaped band members meet a logical end to their great escape. But then again, it resorts to an outlandish end where overnight public revolution and the good side of humanity come to the rescue a little too easily.


Qaidi Band's punk rock influences and college lingo references are tuned to work with younger audiences. It's like a social message that says, don't take all your liberties and freedom for granted. The young and fresh cast also makes the film appealing to it's intended audience. Aadar Jain looks and sounds like a Ranbir Kapoor clone and that doesn't work in his favour. The debutant from the Kapoor clan though does do a good job with his role. Anya Singh is the find of the film. She puts her heart and soul into the performance. The supporting cast does a decent job too.


Good music, solid performances, relevant story, Qaidi Band has everything a film for young India would need. With a little more skillfully crafted narrative, this movie could've done wonders. But even with its set of limitations, this is one adept entertainer.
Anachronist thumbnail
Anniversary 12 Thumbnail Group Promotion 7 Thumbnail Engager 1 Thumbnail
Posted: 7 years ago
#9
nahta ke ghar maal time pe pahuch gaya lagta hai 😆
krk bhi shaant hai , usko bhi haddi de di gayi hai 😆
Top