Karthik Calling Karthik

The most talented director in the industry, first turned actor with the acclaimed Rock On and then went on to do another critically acclaimed film Luck By Chance, which didn't do well commercially. With Karthik Calling Karthik, Farhan Akhtar's returns for what promises to be his most interesting film to date. The promos have a certain mystery and the makers weren't too keen on revealing if Farhan has a double role. With high expectations of yet another classic, Vijay Lalwani directs this suspense thriller.
Wouldn't like to reveal much of the story, so here is the official short synopsis. 'Karthik Calling Karthik', is the story of a lovable loser Karthik, whose life changes with the help of someone who also claims to be Karthik. A thrilling, soulful and romantic journey of this man's victory against all odds.
Debutant director Vijay Lalwani's psychological thriller Karthik Calling Karthik starts off well but within 20 min into it, derails. Things change from bad to good - good to bad in no time and at the interval point leaves you with a sense of discontent. Also, most of the happenings are far from convincing with hardly any scope to build any sort of connection with the characters. The romantic angle acts as a hindrance to the mystery. Post interval, the thrill element works, but just when your curiosity level rises, the film falls flat into a disappointing description about the character's illness and an even more disappointing and predictable climax. 
Karthik Calling Karthik is inconsistent and suffers from far too many loopholes in the plot. It neither works as a romantic flick nor a thriller. The first half of the film is extremely sluggish, with many cinematic liberties taken. Dialogues are ill-written, lame and very clichéd. Music is a huge relief, Hey Ya is nice. Cinematography could have been more effective owing to the requirements of the genre. 
Coming to the performances, Farhan Akthar is a revelation. He has grown as an actor and portrays his character brilliantly. However, he does loose his footing when he transforms into the telephonic Karthik. Deepika Padukone is amazingly stylish and looks stunning throughout the movie, however gets little scope to perform. Ram Kapoor as the Boss and Shefali as the psychiatric consultant are great in their supporting roles. 
To Sum things up, Karthik Calling Karthik is half baked with hardly two scenes sending a cold shiver down your spine. The thrill is less while love and comedy seem to be forced.