Like several Indian movies I could name, it stars a trio of young male friends. Unlike the others, it's not comedic at all. It starts with the potential for such, as they've been semi-delinquent slackers but move forward with plans for a sporting equipment and education shop despite obstacles. Ishaan focuses on advancing a juvenile cricket prodigy, Ali, who initially prefers marble games. Meanwhile, group nerd Govind tries to tutor Ish's sister, Vidya, but she'd rather study Govi himself, if you get my drift. Omkar serves mainly to acquire funding from his uncle in exchange for help with political campaigning, which he doesn't enjoy. Nothing too serious so far, but then comes the 2001 Gujarat quake, followed by social upheaval....
Nobody in the film specifically says so, but I could tell that the us-versus-them mentality that comes to a head in the second half pertains to Hindus and Muslims. If the movie had a rating in the U.S., it would probably be R for violence. The central three generally don't let their own religious differences come between them, but avoiding provocation at its peak is a challenge. The most obvious divider for them is Ali, whom Ish prioritizes over his "own people" in need. It doesn't help that Ish has always had anger issues, not least when he learns about Govi and Vidya.
I almost didn't add the "sports" tag to this review. Only on occasion are we made to care about how Ali is faring on the cricket field, if only because it could make a big difference for the success of the store if not the community. Perhaps that scarcity is just as well, since cricket is notoriously boring to some parts of the world.
Nevertheless, it points to the reasons for mixed reactions. The story means a lot more to those who remember the major real-life events and/or read the book on which it's based. For others, it's strangely schizophrenic, like two or three shorts of different genres mashed together.
There is highlighted singing, unsurprisingly, but not by characters. Sometimes vocals merely overlay montages. Not exactly the stuff of music videos, and it's no more of a musical than Guardians of the Galaxy.
In case you're wondering, the title literally translates as "I've cut!" It gets stated during kite fighting, which I had previously known only from The Kite Runner; further research confirms it's played mostly in southern Asia. Since there is only one such scene herein and it has no bearing on the plot, I guess we're supposed to take it metaphorically. The title of the book is clearer: The 3 Mistakes of My Life. The change may have been partly to shift the focus slightly away from Govi and partly because the third mistake doesn't carry over in the adaptation.
If nothing else, I can appreciate KPC for its intensity. Even in less important moments, the actors deliver on drama. There's also something to be said for deviation from formula -- not that I've seen quite enough of Bollywood to pick up on one in earnest.
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