Kennedy: The Curious Case of Anurag Kashyap’s Absence

Mumbai, Jan 15 : Rating: 2.5/5

Anurag Kashyap’s Kennedy, a film that remains largely shelved, is curiously available on YouTube. It is a strange yet not uninteresting exploration of a ruthless hitman, Uday, who once served as a rogue cop, brought vividly to life by Rahul Bhat.

Uday’s sleeplessness is hardly surprising, given his violent profession. Under the orders of a corrupt police official, Rashid Khan (Mohit Takalkar), and sometimes even without orders, Uday kills indiscriminately. His “democratic amorality” is both unsettling and fascinating, akin to watching a butcher at work for those with a morbid curiosity.

One of the film’s most elaborate sequences a film within a film features Uday storming the home of an honest politician to eliminate the entire family, aided unexpectedly by the politician’s wayward son. A frying pan plays a darkly comic role in this carnage, emphasizing Kashyap’s penchant for chaotic storytelling.

Rahul Bhat delivers a controlled, compelling performance, portraying Uday’s anarchic actions without judgment. Yet, the character’s psychological depth remains ambiguous is he demented by grief and isolation, or simply remorseless? Sylvester Fonseca’s cinematography mirrors this uncertainty, gliding restlessly through the violence in search of meaning that remains elusive.

The film’s nihilism is occasionally punctuated by dark humour. Sunny Leone’s Charlie, meant to serve as comic relief, struggles with her role, making her performance unintentionally amusing. Abhilash Thapliyal’s Chandan, the ghost of one of Uday’s victims, appears more as a prop than a haunting manifestation of guilt, diluting the potential for emotional resonance.

Anurag Kashyap’s usual style exposing the inner world of his characters in raw, unflinching detail is evident, but here it fails to coalesce into a fully engaging narrative. Kennedy could have been a haunting study of guilt and violence, but it ultimately settles for chaos over clarity.