Journalist Dinesh Kamath's review on Kites

Review of Kites
Kites is a film directed by Anurag Basu, and produced by Rakesh Roshan. The film has Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut, Kabir Bedi and Luce Rains playing important roles.
The film depicts the harsh terrain of the Mexican desert where a mortally wounded man is left to die in the heat of the desert sun. He is Jai who was once a street smart, carefree young guy. Now he is a wanted man. His death appears to be approaching nearer and nearer but what keeps him alive is the quest to find the love of his life, Natasha. She is a woman who is engaged to another man. Jai and Natasha fall in love despite language and cultural barriers, and embark on an action-packed adventure of love, dance and danger across Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Mexico – an adventure that could kill them both, or bring them together forever.
The film has Hrithik Roshan playing Jai, who is orphaned in childhood. He has learned to live by his wits and his charming good looks. He loves life and wouldn't hesitate to make a shady deal to make a few dollars. He is a Salsa teacher who makes just one wrong move – he falls in love. Barbara Mori plays Natasha, a beautiful but illegal immigrant from Mexico who is in constant fear of discovery and deportation. She is desperate to make her fortune in the USA any way possible, including getting married to a rich man. When she meets Jai, she throws all these cautions to the wind. Kangana Ranaut plays Gina, a spoiled, rich girl who is used to always getting what she wants. At present she wants Jai, her salsa teacher – as her husband. Kabir Bedi plays Bob, a powerful and wealthy casino owner. Nick Brown plays Tony who is Gina's brother.
Kites is the first big budget film for Anurag Basu. The film was a gamble for producer Rakesh Roshan. Having an unknown heroine for the film and choosing of foreign setting were gambles. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks in the trademarked Anurag Basu style. The character Jai is first shown in the film as in rough shape, alone, bloodied and bruised. Then we are shown the flashbacks where we find Jai roaming in the streets of Las Vegas where he follows his quest for financial stability. He falls in with the daughter of a gangster (Kangana Ranaut) and seems set for life until he meets her future sister-in-law Natasha (Barbara Mori) and sparks fly. Both Jai and Natasha fall passionately in love with one another and they end up on the run together. They love each other to such an extent that they are willing to risk their lives for one another.
Hrithik Roshan is every inch the star of the film. Matching him in everything, except dancing, is Barbara Mori, who is quite a revelation. She has a natural charisma and charm and communicates in broken English. The supporting cast consisting of Kangana, the spoiled daughter, Nicholas Brown, the sultry gangster and Kabir Bedi, the gruff casino owner are also excellent. There is one fantastic dance number early on in the film (Fire) featuring Kangana and Hrithik. The song Kites in the Sky is sung by Hrithik himself and it is a touching and emotional song.
The film is made in such a way that it is bound to appeal to an international audience. The film has thrill, romance and action. The film is a Romeo Juliet kind of tragic love story between an Indian-American lad and a Mexican damsel. For the sake of Hollywood audiences, the movie has been cut down from 130 minutes to 90 minutes to remove some melodramatic scenes. All the songs, except for 'Fire', will be deleted in the Hollywood version. The number 'Fire' will have an alternative English version. The Hollywood version of the film is racier, edgier and spunkier than the Hindi edit.
Anurag Basu did cast Barbara in the film because she was attractive. But it wasn't just her sex appeal that made him sign her. He considered the fact that Barbara has done so much good work in films as well as on TV. Also Barbara Mori is one of the most searched stars on internet. When you watch the chemistry between Barbara and Hrithik on the screen, you will be blown over. They look so real and good together.
The trouble for the character Jai, who is a salsa-dance coach, starts when Gina (Kangana Ranaut) enters into his life as his student. It is then that the movie becomes more of a thriller than romantic. Jai, for your information, is not only a dance teacher but he also has a side business marrying illegal immigrants so that they get green cards. When spoiled casino heiress Gina decides she wants him, Jai sees another kind of green and goes along. But when Gina brings him home to meet the family Jai realizes how dangerous her family is. They can torture and kill while police and judges will just look the other way. Barbara Mori calls herself Natasha although she is supposed to be Linda and she turns out to be girl of Gina's brother (Nick Brown). But Jai falls desperately in love with Natasha who reciprocates his love with equal intensity. Thus we have a love quadrangle here. The doomed lovers' fateful romance consists of a series of narrow escapades, punctuated by a cascade of car crashes.
Rajesh Roshan is in charge of the music. The film has songs like Zindagi Do Pal Ki sung by KK, Dil Kyun Yeh Mera by KK again, Tum Bhi Ho Wahi by Vishal Dadlani and Suraj Jogan, Kites in the Sky by Hrithik Roshan, Javed Dayma and Suzanne D'Mello, Fire by Rajesh Roshan, Vishal Dadlani, Anirudh and Anushka Manchanda, Zindagi Do Pal Ki (Remix) by Dj A-Myth, Dil Kyun Yeh Mera (Remix) by Dj A-Myth, Tum Bhi Ho Wahi (Remix) by Dj A-Myth and Fire (English version) by Rajesh Roshan, Vishal Dadlani and Anushka.
On the whole, the film Kites is a pure Bollywood entertainer from start to finish and it aims at a younger, action oriented audience. The movie is definitely worth watching. So don't give it a miss!