The Premise:
The story of Ikk Kudi, written and directed by Amarjit Singh Saron, is a romantic comedy drama that revolves around Simmi (Shehnaaz Gill), a young woman who is part of a family that has been suffering from failed relationships and is now hesitant to have one of her own. The art of disguised marriage is upon her, so she decides to go learn about herself, question tradition, love, and her voice. A vintage flashback to the 1950s, when Simmi’s grandmother Tejo, also portrayed by the same lead actress, goes through her own romantic past, accompanies the film.
Where It Works:
Without a doubt, Shehnaaz Gill is the film’s main draw. She is always mentioned in reviews as giving a performance that is charming, mature, and oh-so-really textured, especially considering her double act and debut co-produced. Nirmal Rishi, who plays the grandmother, is also mentioned as receiving much praise for bringing emotional depth and authenticity to the quieter parts, often lifting scenes that are otherwise boring. Ikk Kudi gets its cheerful moments from Gill and Rishi, even if the entire film does not completely get that way.
The movie receives a compliment for its aesthetics and theme for managing to roll back and forth in time – scenes from the 1950s explode with nostalgic heat while the current-day story creates dilemmas that are easy to relate to. Once the story has found its pace halfway through, the warmth and emotional victories begin to appear.
Where It Falters:
Even though the actors did a great job, Ikk Kudi did not quite overcome the drawbacks of slow pacing and of being a clichéd story. The film begins with a bang but loses steam as it continues, indicating the poor writing and the fluctuating nature of the comedy, drama, and message that oscillate between the three genres.
In particular, the second half seems to be dragged out. The first half is fun, but the latter parts are slow and reminiscent of older film tropes. The writing doesn’t have the power to be noticed, and quite a bit of the story is like a recycled template from former romantic dramas, thus making the emotional stakes feel less urgent.
Final Verdict: A Formidable Punjabi Venture
Ikk Kudi is a movie with sincere aspirations and stellar lead acting that, regrettably, has always been kept down by its banal roots. Shehnaaz Gill’s fans will certainly appreciate her versatility and presence on the screen, besides the film encompassing real life- especially family, heritage, and individual choice. Nevertheless, for those who are looking for something daring or newly insightful, the plot’s slow pace and lack of surprise may turn them off. It’s a comforting watch rather than a challenging one, a promising journey that loses momentum just as it begins to rise.
Buzztag Rating: 2.5/5
