Film Review: Kaya Palat

Raj Kushwaha Film Studios’ Kaya Palat, which released last week in East Punjab, sets out to tell the story of two men and a woman caught in the shadow of the woman’s troubled past. On paper, this premise offers the possibility of a tense human drama. Unfortunately, the execution remains lackluster, leaving the film stranded between intention and impact.

Rahat Shah Kazmi and Shoib Nikash Shah, who have jointly written the story and screenplay, fail to inject freshness into the narrative. The film treads familiar territory without offering anything new to the audience. The dialogues, too, lack depth or memorability, which only adds to the monotony of the proceedings.

The performances mirror the writing. Tariq Khan, Rahat Shah Kazmi, Helly Shah, and Mir Sarwar deliver routine work but never rise above mediocrity. None of them succeed in drawing the audience into the emotional conflicts of their characters, which further dilutes the drama.

Shoib Nikash Shah’s direction does little to elevate the weak material. The storytelling feels uninspired and struggles to hold attention. Tuhin K. Biswas’ music is forgettable and lacks the appeal of popular melodies.

Laxmi Chand’s camerawork fails to give the film a distinctive visual identity, and Rakesh Dogra’s art direction is unremarkable. Editing, handled by Shoib Nikash Shah and Shubham Dixit, is loose, which makes the film feel longer than it actually is.

Verdict: Kaya Palat is an underwhelming drama weighed down by a predictable script, dull direction, and forgettable performances. With little to hold on to either emotionally or cinematically, it ends up being a film that’s easy to skip.

⭐ Rating: 1.5/5