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अंधाधुन (2018)

2007’s Johnny Gadaar Was a pretty good crime thriller, but since then Sriram Raghavan has given use agent Vinod and badlapur. Both were sort of duds… So I hesitated to go spend my money on this film…
But during the second weekend (when I went to see First man – empty theater) this film was running house full! This piqued my curiosity and I went to see this film on Sunday morning (A rarity for me!)
So this review is a week too late, but it doesn’t matter… this film is here to stay and you can catch it next week as well !

So now for the review itself…
Andhadhun is about a blind piano player and the hijinks he gets up while leading a life of lies…

Plot :
The film is a slow burn thriller but it is brilliantly crafted! The plot is somewhat slow, but never boring. The characters interesting and not too mundane. This reminds me of the 70s thrillers which had realistic people in them but who went to crazy lengths to get their goals. Finding the balance between real people and their over the top actions is difficult and it’s something this film has managed beautifully.

Acting :
Everyone is natural in their roles. I personally cannot stand Radhika Apte, but she is fine in this film and quite tolerable. Part of the reason is that she is an important plot device but her character doesn’t have much to do… Tabu is excellent in the film, she looks her role. Beautiful, yet tired and old. She portrays an ex-actress with perfection! Aayushman is seamless in his role, you forget he is acting after a while its so natural! Rest of the cast is excellent too. Most of them have one or two memorable lines and scenes. No one is really wasted by the director.

Direction :
This is the type of film this director excels at and he really should stick to this genre of 70ish thrillers with a sound plot. The film making style is comparable to Guy ritchie’s and Scorcese minus the quick cuts and more of a steady build up rather than typical gangsters crap story. The pace of the film is more or less even and doesn’t let down or speed up much. But there in lies the brilliance… gruesome events are shown in a nonchalant way to shock the audience without cheap tricks! That’s a master at work!

Overall :
This film is pure gold for the lovers of this director’s first and second film and of thrillers in general. The acting, the plot and everything really comes together. Comparable to this year’s blackmail, but much more shocking and crackling than that film too… this movie is a must watch!

Rating : 8/10.

Andhadhun is a film co-written and directed by Sriram Raghavan. Having watched the trailer, I was intrigues as the trailer didn’t offer much (which is basically what we want from any trailer). After having seeing the film today, I finally can say that this film will go down as one of the best thrillers Bollywood has to offer.

Plot: Life turns upside down for Akash, a blind pianist when he meets Simi Sinha, the wife of the 70’s superstar Pramod Sinha.

Story and direction: The film is inspired from a French short film. Having reading the plot of the short I can definitely say that this film is purely original and made to suit the Indian audiences. Sriram Raghavan and his team of writers have developed a very intriguing and funny plot enough to glue me to my seat. I was literally biting my nails in each minute as the film progressed as I could not guess what is about to happen in the coming minutes of the film. The characters are very well designed and are apt for the setting and the story. We have the two lead Akash and Simi who are polar opposites to each other in terms of characterization. Also, we have Pramod Sinha who was very well characterized as the self-obsessed superstar. Some of the supporting characters like Sophie, Swami, Maushi and Manohar were well justified. The cinematography and editing are top notch. Never for a moment the film went dull or rather I felt bored. The only little issue that I felt the film had was explanation. Some scenes were just left for the audience’s imagination. Sometimes I do like that. But when too many things are left unexplained, I feel sad.

Performances: This film is filled with praiseworthy performances. Ayushmann Khurrana was excellent and splendid. He performed excellently as the blind pianist. Tabu, on the other hand, was ferocious and selfish and was a match for Ayushmann’s character. Many people have complained of Radhika Apte not been given much screen time. I didn’t feel that and her performance was good. Manav Vij and Ashwini Kalsekar were great. Zakir Hussain and Chhaya Kadam were some of the other diamonds in this necklace. Finally, Anil Dhawan portrayed Pramod Sinha in the best way possible.

Music: Each track in the film was suited to the situation and was awesome. Amit Trivedi did it yet again. If I had to pick out one track, it would be ‘Woh Ladki’ sung by Arijit Singh (After all, who doesn’t like Arijit). Daniel B. George has done an excellent work in terms of the background score.

Favorite Scene: There were so many of them but if I had to pick one it would be the first meeting between Simi and Akash. I will not spoil anything, but the balance between the tension and laughter was very well balanced in that scene.

Verdict: Bollywood has given us many great films this year and Andhadhun is one of them. I felt like clapping my hands after the film finished. I was happy and satisfied after watching the film. Filled with great performances and an awesome story, I recommend this film to everyone who loves thriller. I am sure you won’t be disappointed.

I am going with a 9/10.

Sriram Raghvan is back with his mind-blowing style of film-making. I love his work, no one can deny that he is the best in the kind of cinema he makes. If you are unaware of him, just come out to see this the most entertaining film of Bollywood this year!

I would suggest that don't watch the trailer of the movie. Just go with open mind. Film is about a blind piano player, played by Ayushmann Khurrana. Sofie, played by Radhika Apte, meets him accidentally and offers him a job at her cafe. And the story begins... I am not gonna write anything further, because each thing after this is so special for any viewer that he will 100% forget real life and be there with Ayush till the last frame.

So, it is obvious that you will get to hear lot's of piano tunes in the film. Each one speaks out perfectly. Amit Trivedi has given the sound which this kind of film needs. All songs and their lyrics are perfectly suitable to the story. My favorite is Dil Ke Dil Mein!

Great camerawork at required points. Also, I would like to mention that there are many POVs, which actually create humour. This is how the thriller becomes humourous as well as entertaining. This could be a new experience for all Indian movie viewers.

Radhika Apte has nice and small role. Manav vij is superb. His 1st scene was tremendous and unexpected. I can hear it now too when I came on screen the audience said 'Ohh Shit!' Actually, there is another scene as well where we get 'Oh Shit!' from our mouths. Hat's off for writing these scenes! Other supportive cast is good.

Tabu is lady Macbeth. She is gorgeous, sexy, unpredictable, bold and dreadful. She is as usual fantastic. Anil Dhawan is superb too in his role. His old footage have been used wisely. How can I forget to mention this song- Teri Galiyon Mein Na Rakhenge Kadam! Ashwini Kalsekar plays her role superbly in her given slot.

It is very easy to say this after watching AndhaDhun, that this is the career best film of Ayushmann as well as Sriram. Both have done splendid job. Both will make many fans after this. Though both are already successful! This film will surely give the credit which Sriram Raghavan deserves from audience. It is going to be a smash hit. It will also going to hit in all awards of this year. Many are saying that it is the best Bollywood film of this year!

At the end, let me tell you that when I was watching the film with 50 random people in hall, all were reacting exactly as I was reacting. There were claps, smiles, laughs and the most important- Satisfaction on every face! After a long time, the film is there in cinema-hall which actually can make you seat on the edge... that too throughout! Must see...anyhow!