Brilliant performances help prop up average thriller
Starring: Sunny Deol, Dulquer Salmaan, Pooja Bhatt, Shreya Dhanwanthary
Director: R Balki
ONE of the worst kept secrets in India for many years is that critics can be bribed into giving fake reviews and ones who are not paid will often give a negative write-up, even if the film deserves praise.
Director R Balki has turned that into a dark drama about a ruthless serial killer, who is targeting critics, and the tough police officer on his trail.
There is a lot that works in this film, but at the same time plenty of wrong turns prevent it from being a complete package. Although the central premise is interesting, it isn’t one that will be relatable to a wider audience or interesting enough to carry an entire story. Disjointed directing and a fractured screenplay means the film gets lost somewhere between a gripping thriller, romance and a drama exploring a dark side of media. This also means the movie ties itself up into knots and develops plot holes.
Thankfully, there are some great performances powered by contrasting personalities that keep you engaged until the end. After what seems a long time, Sunny Deol is back on fine form as the tough police officer trying to track down the killer. His ferocity onscreen reminds you of what a great actor he is. Meanwhile, Malayalam movie star Dulquer Salmaan makes one of his rare forays into Hindi cinema and offers up a multi-layered turn as an unhinged individual who has different sides to his personality, from the romantic to something more sinister. He is simply brilliant in every scene. Pooja Bhatt and Shreya Dhanwanthary also make best use of what is on offer.
This seems to have been made more for those working in the film industry than the audience and should be watched just for the lead actors.