Movie Review Fitoor: A dampener all the way

This Victorian Era story is narrated at a leisurely pace, perhaps in keeping with that period. But that does not work for the viewer. The first half is painfully slow and drags, making you restless. The second half gathers momentum with the Begum's back-story and the second act of the main plot, but still does not rivet you to the screen. The Urdu infused Hindi dialogues like, "Main aur meri alishaan mohabbat" which means, me and my magnificent love, are poetry to the ears, but these are few and far between. What mars the listening experience is the heavy anglicised accent, of Katrina Kaif. With wide angled shots or the tight close-ups, be it the white, snow-covered terrain or during the golden hued autumn, cinematographer Anay Goswamy's frames pack the ornate imagery of Kashmir and Delhi to picture perfection. They are a treat for the eyes and definitely one of the few highlights of the film. Hitesh Sonik's background score has some nice delicate pieces that elevate the viewing experience, but the soundtrack by Ankit Trivedi does nothing to propel the narration. Even "Pashmina" sounds lacklustre on screen. Overall, "Fitoor" does not live up to the great expectations you have from the film.