Manorama: Six Feet Under

Before watching Manorama, i considered Johnny Gaddar as best scripted suspense movie of modern times, but Manorama is far above from Johnny. The best thing is that the storyline looks real and on the level of a common person. It is not like a typical Hindi Cinema (bollywood) suspense movie with the protagonist playing a hero. I gave 9 because i felt detached in middle of the movie but approaching to the end, it captures attention and the climax is well written. I'll curse myself for not watching it for so long even after i heard its praise from my friends. Abhay Deol looks good as a Middle class Rajasthani and so as Gul Panag. Vinay Pathak is exceptional as usual.

This movie is as real as it gets on the screen. The movie makers have done a great job to maintain the real feel and not dramatize anything. Every scene, every place, every character feels so real. For example, SV's bandage on his fingers is dirty and beat up just like the rest of his disheveled look. The table in Dr. Poddar's office has a transparent plastic cover over the table cloth just as you would find in many Indian households.

The story is excellent too. Keeps you captured till the last scene. It is also funny at times. My only complaint with the movie is that I didn't like Raima Sen as the choice to play Sheetal's character. She has a heavy Bengali accent not suitable for her character. Also Nimmi(Gul Panag) delivers her "Hinglish" dialogues with an upper class English accent.

Overall this is an excellent movie to watch.

Manorama Six Feet Under is a neo-noir gem that stands out in the landscape of Indian cinema. Film directed by Navdeep Singh, which is an adaptation of Roman Polanski's classic film "Chinatown." Set against the backdrop of the dusty, desolate town of Rajasthan, the film offers an intricate narrative filled with intrigue, betrayal, and an exploration of human frailty.

The story revolves around Satyaveer (Abhay Deol), an unambitious and disillusioned irrigation officer who finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit when he is approached by a beautiful woman, Manorama (Gul Panag), the wife of a powerful politician. Manorama seeks his help to find evidence of her husband's infidelity. As Satyaveer delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of lies, corruption, and murder.

One of the film's strongest assets is its screenplay, which is sharp and layered. With a running time of around 120 minutes, the film deftly balances pacing and exposition, allowing viewers to slowly piece together the mystery alongside Satyaveer. The dialogues are well-crafted, often laced with dark humor and irony, which adds a unique flavor to the narrative.

The film's cinematography is exceptional. The dusty landscapes of Rajasthan are captured with a stark beauty that perfectly complements the film's noirish tone. The background score, with its haunting melodies, adds to the suspenseful atmosphere.

Abhay Deol delivers a remarkable performance as Satyaveer; he embodies the character's cynicism and vulnerability with ease, making him relatable and compelling. Gul Panag shines in her role as Manorama, bringing an enigmatic charm that engages the audience. The supporting cast, including the likes of Raima Sen and Vinay Pathak, adds depth to the film, each character contributing intricately to the unfolding mystery.

One of the film's strengths is its deliberate pacing. It's a film that requires patience, as it slowly unravels its complex plot. While this may not appeal to everyone, it contributes to the overall atmosphere of suspense and intrigue.

The film's ending is open to interpretation, leaving viewers to ponder the true nature of the characters and their motivations. This ambiguity adds depth to the narrative and encourages repeated viewings.

In the End, Manorama Six Feet Under is a film that rewards patient viewers. Its compelling story, strong performances, and atmospheric visuals make it a standout in Indian cinema. It's a film that lingers in your mind long after the fiml end's.

First I would like to tell who would surely like this movie, so if you are one of them then go and grab the movie right now - 1. People who have lived major part of their lives in a small town of India and know the slow and uneventful life. 2. People who have had great ambitions in life but some how could not achieve success in the magnitude of expectations. 3. People who are mystery aficionado not just in movies but in life also. 4. People who form their own opinion about the movies rather than just following the herd mentality.

If you fall into any 2 categories out of the 4 mentioned above then its a movie for you.

Review -

This is one movie created by a very intelligent director who is absolutely comfortable with his intelligence and skill of movie making and does not go over board to show the intelligence. The plot of the movie is defined in a sleepy small town of Rajasthan. The beauty about the plot is that it shows a lot about a small town of Rajasthan without spending too much time in creating the backdrop. This is not just true for Plot but for characters also. The characters of this movie unfold with the course of movie and no extra effort is done by director to over simplify or over explain it. By the end of the movie you would be absolutely ready to answer any question asked about the character. Not because director told you all about the characters but because you would know these character so well. In terms of story its little slow in the first hour but if you fall into any of the above categories you would not mind waiting for next eventful hour. Once the story picks up the pace then you have to sit tight to assimilate all the details or you would get into the trap of post processing. Its not like a conventional suspense movie where you get to know the bad man at the end. Some where during the movie you would realize who is the bad man but why and how are the questions which will be answered later. In the initial part of the movie you would question why the protagonist of the movie is so confident and sure about his ability but you would get the proof of that by the end of the movie. At the end protagonist does not get fame or revenge or pleasure of killing the villain of the movie but you would have a subtle smile when at the end protagonist gives all the answer and takes sweet unconventional revenge. Acting wise it 10/10. Abhay Deol is a class actor, who knows his character in and out. Gul Panag has done full justice to her role. Vinay Pathak is as usual his best. But I think the credit goes to director who has carved out his characters so well that even you would feel that "I can also do this role, I know this person so well." At the end, its a must watch movie. Its a disappointment that this movie could not get commercial success but I guess that the fate of all great movies made in India.

I saw this movie after johny gaddar and before seeing i liked johny gaddar but Manorama exceeded my expectations.. it was superb suspense movie with very normal background and yet it showed powerful message in the film.. till half way of the film I lost patience and interest but then again it started and I am glad that I did not left the movie at half way.. nowadays movies have big stars and beautiful backgrounds and splendid film sets.. this movie proves that big sets and good makeups are really not needed nowadays..(But the mass don't understand this) Good film needs good direction, good script and finally good execution.. Manorama deserves 10 out of 10.. but still can not give that as perfection is dangerous for ambition..!!