Andhadhun
Andhdhun Is A Par Excellence Thriller Movie That Shocks & Stuns The Viewers
Banner: Viacom 18 Motion Pictures & Matchbox Pictures
Producer: Viacom 18 Motion Pictures & Matchbox Pictures
Director: Sriram Raghvan
Star Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan, Zakir Hussein, Ashwini Kalsekar, Manav Vij, ChayaKadam, Gopal K. Singh & Child Artiste Kabir Sajid
Music: Amit Trivedi, Raftaar & Girish Nakod
Bollywood filmmakers have used blindness as an interesting aspect in their movies and most of these films have turned out to be interesting fares in the past. In recent times, films like Kaabil (2017), Aankhen (2002), Black (2005), Fanaa (2006) & Lafangey Parindey (2010) et al featured blind characters and it gave a distinct touch to the film. Now, Sriram Raghavan, mostly known for his crime thriller movies, uses this aspect in his latest fare, Andhadhun.
The scripted scenario of director Sriram Raghvan’s Andhadhun unveils the story of a creative artist who gets involved in a crime scene. Akash (Ayushmann Khurrana) is a blind piano player based in Pune. While crossing the road, he one day accidentally bumps into Sophie (Radhika Apte), who along with her father runs a restaurant named Franco’s. Impressed with his piano skills, she hires Akash to play at Franco’s. Akash impresses the guests with his performance & also Sophie. Both start a love affair. A frequent customer at Franco’s is a yesteryear actor Pramod Sinha. He has retired from films and is now into real estate. 3 years ago, he had married Simi (Tabu), who is his 2nd wife. He has a daughter from 1st ever wife, Dani. Pramod loves Akash’s performance and is also moved by the fact that he is able to recognize Pramod by his voice. It’s his marriage anniversary the next day and he asks Akash to come to his house for a private concert for him & Simi. The same night, he tells Simi that he’s going to Bengaluru the next day for work purposes. He purposely lies as his plan is to surprise Simi and then have a concert by Akash. The next day, Pramod reaches his residence but he’s shocked to find Simi sleeping with her lover, Inspector Mahendra (Manav Vij). In the madness that ensues, Pramod is shot dead. Minutes later, Akash arrives for the concert. What happens later forms the crux of rest of the film.
Sriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Yogesh Chandekar & Pooja Ladha Surti’s story is inspired from the French short film L’Accordeur written & directed by Olivier Treiner. However, a lot of changes have been done and it’s praiseworthy. Sriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Yogesh Chandekar & Pooja Ladha Surti’s screenplay is flawless in the 1st ever half and is bound to leave the viewers stunned. The 2nd half becomes a bit routine & unrealistic. Sriram Raghavan, Arijit Biswas, Yogesh Chandekar & Pooja Ladha Surti’s dialogues are sharp & witty.
Sriram Raghavan’s direction is terrific. In the past, he has made some great urban thrillers like Ek Hasina Thi (2004), Johnny Gaddaar (2007) & Badlapur (2015). Andhadhun is more in Johnny Gaadaar zone and he treats the plot very well. The dark humor element comes out beautifully and that helps the film from becoming too gory or disturbing. Also, his love for 70’s Hindi cinema comes to the fore and it adds to the film’s charm. If only he had done something about the glitches in 2nd half, Andhadhun would have been a game changer!
Andhadhun’s 1st ever half is simply out of this world! The introduction of the characters is great and soon, the plot begins to unfold. There are surprises after every 10-15 minutes. The real fun however begins when Pramod Sinha gets murdered & Akash reaches his residence. This scene is seen to be believed! All scenes from here on take the film to dizzying heights, whether it’s the scene at police station or Manohar visiting Akash’s residence or Akash visiting Pramod’s residence the 2nd time or the prayer meeting. The intermission point raises tension levels significantly. The 2nd half begins with a bang and even a shocker. Although this hour also keeps the viewers gripped, the film begins to drop & gets unconvincing. The proceedings become far-fetched which is not the case in 1st ever half. Newer characters are added while a significant character from the 1st ever half gets sidelined. In fact, the 1st ever & 2nd halves seem like 2 different films. The climax is interesting & do watch out for the final scene!
Amit Trivedi’s music is melodious & suits the narrative well. “Naina Da Kya Kasoor” is the best of the lot and is quite foot-tapping. “Laila Laila” comes next despite coming immediately after “Naina Da Kya Kasoor”. “Oh Bhai Re” is quite quirky while “Woh Ladki” is played at a crucial juncture. Daniel B George’s background score has a very important part to play and enhances the impact in several scenes. The piano pieces are excellent. K U Mohanan’s cinematography gives the film a captivating feel. Also, Andhadhun is a rare film shot almost entirely in Pune & captures the city like never before. Snigdha Pankaj & Anita Donald’s production design is quite rich & appealing, especially Pramod & Simi’s residence. Anaita Shroff Adajania & Sabina Haldar’s costumes are also eye-catching, especially the ones worn by Radhika Apte. Parvez Khan’s action is realistic. Pooja Ladha Surti’s editing is razor-sharp.
Performance wise Ayushmann Khurrana has done unconventional but mostly light films till now. Andhadhun is his 1st ever intense flick & he excels in it. This is a very challenging role as his character has lot of shades & even a secret to hide. But he puts up an excellent act. He’s unforgettable in the sequence where Pramod Sinha is killed and also in the scene immediately after intermission. Ayushmann already has a wonderful filmography and this flick will add a lot of weightage. Tabu delivers a bravura performance as expected. The manner in which she plays the mind games & tries to manipulate the situations at varied points is quite fun. Radhika Apte plays a chirpy character & delivers a fine performance. Sadly, she has very little to do in the 2nd half. Anil Dhawan is terrific & leaves a mark. Manav Vij’s entry scene is quite chilling & do notice how he conveys a lot merely with his eyes. A 1st rate performance! Ashwini Kalsekar (Rasika) is too good & rocks in the scene wherein she’s discussing the murder of Pramod Sinha. Zakir Hussain (Dr Swami) is quite quirky & contributes to the fun quotient. Gopal Singh (Sub inspector) is fine. Chhaya Kadam (Maushi) is an actor to watch out for. Kabir Sajid (the kid) is too good & even too funny. The actors playing Murli & Mrs D’Sa too are also nice.
On the whole, Andhadhun is a thriller par excellence. Very rarely does Bollywood deliver a thriller that shocks & stuns you so well. Although the 2nd half does drop, the impact is made and this would surely result in a good word of mouth.
Tail Piece: Strongly Recommended!
