KARMA AUR HOLI is what might have happened with an Indian family living in the United States of America. Where a couple, invite their family and few of their friends for a night to celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colour.
What happens when they meet and the lead up to that is what director Manish Gupta's venture is all about.
Gupta has the right intentions but no path-breaking script to make a dent with the viewer. It's an honest attempt to make a decent film. But sometimes, an honest attempt alone is not enough. He tries hard to make a point, and succeeds to a point.
Gupta dwells on the life and relationship of Randeep Hooda and Sushmita Sen, husband and wife, living a comfortable life, and intersperses it with the lives of Sen's sister and her family, her friends and Hooda's business associates.
There's one line that jumps out when Sen's friend, an upcoming director, trying to find his identity says, ''All my life I have been living in anger and confusing it for power.
And I have gone about blaming everyone for my state, not taking responsibility for my actions.'' Now this here is a very powerful statement. Maybe this is what Gupta is trying to tell us with this film; that we have to take responsibility for our actions and dump anger.
Randeep Hooda and Sushmita Sen have a comfortable screen presence and both make a perfect pair. Rati Agnihotri as the pushy wife and mother does her part, while Suresh Oberoi as her husband epitomizes the frustration of a parent whose son is being smothered by the concern shown by his wife. There are a few moments you can relate to. Overall, it's a bit of a disappointment considering there's also Naomi Campbell.
