“This movie, labeled as comedy, is in fact the tragedy of Art.” When the globally acclaimed author Paulo Coelho tweets this about a Hindi-language movie, you watch it. Not that the movie wasn’t on my list already; just that Paulo’s May 6 tweet about “Kaamyaab” made me pause my science fiction series and watch it immediately. And I’m so glad I did, as I can now recommend it to everyone I know with equal conviction.
Kaamyaab is the story of Sudheer (Sanjay Mishra), a retired Bollywood actor who lives an obscure, lonely life until one day he finds out that he has acted in 499 films. He then gets a sudden urge to round off the figure by acting in his 500th. Battling his past demons, the veteran actor decides to come out of hiding and find work again.
But coming out of retirement is not easy. First, he first has to convince his daughter, as her validation matters much to him. Then there is yet another hurdle: The reason he had quit acting was a ‘shameful incident’ that had ruined his reputation.
Sudheer also has to deal with the vast evolution in the Hindi film industry. He is no longer as well known and even when people recognize him, they do so by the characters he’s played, and not as himself. And it’s the ultimate ignominy for the seasoned actor to have to audition again. Regardless, Sudheer is determined to take to the screen for the 500th time.
Directed by Hardik Mehta and co-written with him by Radhika Anand, Kamyaab uses Sudheer to tell a representational tale of hundreds of actors in Indian cinema who leave memorable trails through their supporting/character roles. From smaller roles like the doctor who announces the death of his patient outside an ER, the policeman who always arrives late, the nagging neighbor in the ‘heroine’s life, to more impactful roles like the village chief who expels the ‘hero’s’ family from the village, to the auntie who conspires to defame her daughter-in-law— we’ve seen supporting actors in every conceivable role, and most of the times, we take their presence for granted.
But would “Sholay” (1975) have the same legacy without Sambha (Mac Mohan) and Kaalia (Viju Khote)? The answer is a resounding ‘No!’ The “side-actors” are like asafetida in mango pickle. They’re not among the main ingredients but their presence adds a distinct flavor to the mix.
And who better to play one of them than the quintessential side-actor man himself. An alumnus of the coveted National School of Drama, Sanjay Mishra’s presence in Bollywood has evolved from doing the smallest of roles to leading feature length productions.
From the hilarious Raghunandandas Govardhandas Vakawale aka RGV in “All the Best” (2009) to the lovable skeptic Babuji in “Ankhon Dekhi” (2014), the actor’s versatility has been boundless in all these years, and he continues building an impeccable legacy for himself through Kaamyaab.
Sanjay encapsulates Sudheer’s layered persona so convincingly that we partly feel the movie is really based on his life. Sanjay plays an actor who has a separate facade for the outside world and when he is alone— without letting the audience have the slightest inkling of how he is in private.
Well, it’s not all that fictional as well, as the film highlights many unseen realities of cinema. It shows how fame and popularity are temporary and the struggle to be seen, heard and remain relevant is always there—even among established artists. As the film progresses with Sudheer at the helm of things, many Bollywood stereotypes are broken and the audience gets a glimpse of behind-the-scenes of filmmaking.
What also makes Kaamyaab enjoyable is its list of yesteryear actors like Avtar Gill, Manmauji, Anil Nagrath, Guddi Maruti, Liliput, Birbal and Viju Khote—all of whom play themselves. Most of them now retired, this is probably the first time these senior artists from different generations find themselves together on the same screen.
Who should watch it?
Anyone who calls themselves a fan of Bollywood will have no right to the title till they watch the film. That’s how compelling Kaamyaab is. It celebrates the successful life and times of supporting actors in Indian cinema and takes you back in time while you thoroughly enjoy the roller-coaster ride.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Drama
Actors: Sanjay Mishra, Avtar Gill, Deepak Dobriyal
Director: Hardik Mehta
Run time: 1hr 49mins
