Hrithik Roshan's much-hyped film "Kites", which released worldwide on Friday , garnered a mixed response from critics and fans.
The love story, which marks Hrithik's return to the big screen after a gap of two years, is high on style but falters in the writing department, feel critics.
They also lamented that Kangana Ranaut has been wasted with a "half-baked" role. Critic Anupama Chopra said Hrithik was spectacular but the film "does not become more than the sum of its parts because the second half is flat and in places, outright foolish".
The film is produced by Rakesh Roshan and directed by Anurag Basu of "Gangster" fame. According to critic Taran Adarsh, "Kites" is stylish and slick, filmed like any international film.
"The intention is to go beyond the diaspora and cut across to an audience that still thinks that Bollywood is the usual song-n-dance routine merely," he said.
According to him, "Kites" has style, visuals and Hrithik as its trump cards, but its content leaves a lot to be desired. The film has evoked tremendous curiosity, which will translate into great numbers in its initial week, he said.
The wide release of the film ensures a lack opposition at multiplexes which may help it set new records initially, but the huge costs may play a spoilsport.
Trade analyst and editor of 'Complete Cinema', Kumar Mohan said everybody has huge expectations from a big banner movie but in that sense "Kites" is disappointing.
"Except Hritik and the locations, rest is all routine stuff. The story is not engrossing enough, screenplay and direction too are not up to the mark," he said, expecting it to be an average fare at the Box Office.
"However, the opening collections were impressive," he said.
Meanwhile, the actor himself was busy going through the reviews from all over the world. "Feels like the first day of 'KNPH' (Kaho Na Pyaar Hai) all over again!! Disoriented, happy, anxious, excited, humbled by all the great reactions!!! Absorbing!!!" Hrithik tweeted.
"Overwhelmed! Thank you guys! Big big hug to all of you! What a beautiful day ! Love u all!" he wrote.
Given the film's massive hype, even 'master blaster' Sachin Tendulkar and actor Salman Khan appeared curious to know about it. They asked their fans on the micro blogging site if they had seen the movie and liked it. Salman also posted the response he had got.
"V few tweets say theek hai 1 or 2 nt good 1000's say v gd n Dugs is outstanding n body v gd,n lots of em say better than veer n wantd, happy (sic)," he wrote asking his fans not to believe reviews. Shah Rukh Khan also wished the film and Hrithik well.
A spokesperson of Cinemax multiplexes said the audience response to paid previews last night was overwhelming. However, hardcore movie buffs like college student Aman Shrivastav who thronged the threatres last night for paid reviews were in for a huge disappointment.
"Only looks do not make a movie. The most vital ingredient, story, was conspicuously missing," he said. "It was all style and no substance," remarked Makrand Joshi, a bank employee. PTI
