Okay, wow, that was quite a film, and I have no doubt it will be watched in one breath by most viewers and will keep them all on the edge of their seat the whole time through, just like it kept me and my family. Andhadhun is first and foremost a wonderful story, and Sriram Raghavan, one of the most talented directors working in Hindi movies today, brilliantly translates it onto the screen, creating a stylish and highly taut thriller which is very slick and aesthetically appealing, but also very credible, involving and thought provoking as a story. The narration style is excellent, and the plot is highly unpredictable, with many plot twists popping up as the story unfolds. Even the tiniest sub-plots and seemingly inconsequential characters are excellently incorporated in the story, so nothing is really redundant. Technically, the film is very impressive - the camera work is stupendous, and the sound score is fantastic and never exaggerated. Music is obviously an integral part of the film's narrative style and, indeed, while the soundtrack numbers are by no means great numbers, they suit the scenario. The piano playing is fantastic. Another of the film's great assets is its metaphoric symbolism, intelligently and delicately presented through the tiniest of cues. Right from the very first moment, we are given a valid hint at what's going to be done eventually, and the cycle is spot on.
The characters are wonderfully etched out, and the acting matches it perfectly. It is, by and large, excellent by one and all and hardly anyone here is less than convincing. Andhadhun obviously belongs to the two leads who are polar opposites in terms of morality and intentions, but they also greatly complement each other within the story. Ayushmann Khurrana is always highly likable and convincing, and in this film, he does a great job of adding depth into a character that could have easily become unidimensional. His Akash is real and flawed and not a stereotypical hero, and the way Khurrana plays Akash's changing states is so good that even knowing the truth, the viewers might be confused. And speaking of breaking stereotypes, who could be a better choice for the role of the merciless Simi if not the magnificently charismatic Tabu, who happens to be one of India's greatest actresses. Her portrayal is extraordinary, because while playing a bad, villainous archetype, she saves it from veering into caricature and creates a woman who is as evil and immoral as she is real and conflicted. She actually manages to make her character almost a comic one, and this is perhaps her most entertaining performance in this regard. These two make Andhadhun an incredible cinematic experience and what can I add more except just please go and watch this film if you still have yet to.
