Akarsh Khurana’s film, ‘Karwaan,’ tackles the difficult task of finding humor in mortality. It has some pacing issues, but the film is generally inoffensive. The story uses detours, such as the one involving Dulquer’s character, Avinash, a dissatisfied office worker who wants to leave his job and pursue photography. The film bears resemblance to the Netflix movie ‘Kodachrome,’ which centers on a road trip featuring a father and son. The father in ‘Karwaan’ is already dead when the movie begins, and he didn’t support his son’s interest in photography. The film echoes the discussions on digital versus actual photography from ‘Kodachrome.’ Khurana brings a new angle to themes of estrangement and reconciliation. Irrfan plays Shaukat, a Muslim car dealer, and his performance is memorable because of his unfiltered personality. Irrfan has notable scenes, including those at a wedding and making Hindi jokes. His scene with a woman in a burqa is a highlight of his performance. The music is out of place, and the pace wanes after the midpoint. The movie is overall appealing because of its empathy for its characters. The film has poignant scenes, like the woman’s observation about the coffin. Akarsh Khurana, the director, shares his thoughts on the impact of the movie, reflecting on his collaboration with Irrfan and recognizing Dulquer’s impact on the film.
