Khazana, written and directed by Rahul Nath, is a tragic tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the film. Marital abuse, unmet expectations, misunderstandings and revenge are the main themes of this movie, but apart from that it delves a lot deeper into human psychology.
It is the story of a young woman, Vaidehi (Ulka Simone Mohanty), who is married into a rich family but never quite fits in. She faces mental, verbal and physical abuse from her husband, Amar (Ahmed Lucan). Her mother-in-law and sister-in-law try their best to bring her down and manipulate her husband against her. All the horrendous injustices plotted against her turn her into a broken, sad and angry woman until she can take no more, so she decides to fight back.
In the beginning, the movie highlights all the difficulties faced by women after their marriage in the South Asian society and the emotional toll it takes on them but the movie takes a disturbing twist near the end and turns darker still. It tells the story about how your injustices will end up engulfing you, quite literally. There's a story behind every crime and it's usually the victim who ends up turning into the culprit.
The sound effects are relevant and keep the viewer glued to the screen. The acting of the entire cast is admirable, especially that of Vaidehi (Ulka Simone Mohanty), her facial expressions clearly depicting her inner-conflicts and how she is trying to hold her sanity together. Combined with a beautiful script and well-delivered dialogues, it keeps the viewer engrossed throughout the film.
It is a thought-provoking film that leaves you stunned at the end. It highlights the dark truths of our society and a must-watch if you are interested in psychological thrillers; and while it can be a controversial topic for some, it sure does stand out from the typical South Asian movies.
