Kunal Kemmu as Zafar's friend Abdul, brings in tension and thrills in his grey-shaded role. Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Sanjay Dutt and Sonakshi Sinha chip in with moments of pitch-perfect drama, too. Another stand-out performance comes from Aditya Roy Kapur, who excels in the stoic silences and reserved nature of his character. Varun Dhawan, flaunting his superbly toned, greased body looks great for the part and he shows immense intensity that his conflicted character demands. Alia Bhatt leads the way in a role that showcases vulnerability and strength in equal measure. The biggest highlight of the film is the star-studded cast and thankfully, the performances measure up to the epic ensemble. What we wish is that the narrative lingered more with such intimate moments that would make us feel more for the characters. The other high points of the film are the problematic equation between father and son, Dev and Balraj as well as the fragile teacher-student dynamic between Bahaar Begum and Roop. And yet, there are sublime moments like the uneasy relationship between newly-weds Roop and Dev, the tender exchanges between Satya and Dev and the romantic scenes (topped with intense dialogues) between Roop and Zaffar. While it does make a strong case for the universal nature of love, the film's screenplay at times, becomes a little too indulgent and keeps oscillating between the deft nuances as well as theatrical drama. This period drama is mounted on a lavish scale and whether it's the sets or the costumes, everything about the film brings the grandeur alive. WhatвЂ™s fresh about 'Kalank' is the treatment.

The story seems like it offers something new, but the complex relationships and ill-fated romances are often predictable. Without revealing too much, during a visit to Bahaar Begum's chamber (where Roop is honing her music skills) Roop meets Zafar, the local blacksmith and after several meetings they develop strong feelings for each other. But the complexities in the story are just about to begin. DevвЂ™s life takes a sudden turn when under strange circumstances he gets married to Roop. Husnabad's most affluent family is the Chaudhrys - Dev and his father Balraj (Sanjay Dutt), who also run a liberal newspaper called The Daily News. It's a town populated by blacksmiths and a majority of them are Muslims. The story is based in a town called Husnabad, near Lahore, a few years before the Partition of India and Pakistan. In that aspect, writer and director Abhishek Varman's film makes a strong point. At a dramatic moment in the film, Aditya Roy Kapur's Dev remarks that if someoneвЂ™s wife is in love with another man, then what is the point of the marriage at all. At the heart of the story, the film focuses on how eternal love goes beyond the norms and rules of society, the trappings of religion, and all other physical and man-made boundaries.

REVIEW: As the name suggests, 'Kalank' is a story that questions the high morals of society, especially when it comes to love and family ties. While their back stories and heart-breaking love saga unfolds, the history of India takes an epic turn, from where there is no coming back STORY: A complex love story set during IndiaвЂ™s Partition era, where the young Roop (Alia Bhatt) is torn between respect for husband Dev (Aditya Roy Kapur) and her newfound love for Zafar (Varun Dhawan).

A VISUALLY STUNNING FILM TOPPED WITH GREAT PERFORMANCES

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