xpics
Joined Jun 2006
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Reviews89
xpics's rating
A very interesting thriller with very unusual cinematic treatment. On the backdrop of a spy story, this delves deeper into human pysche and politics within intelligence department.
The direction is such that it does not reveal clearly what is the motive. What starts as a story about unveiling an assassination attempt on Russian President's visit in India actually turns out to be an internal political slugfest. Director Atul Sabharwal is at his best when it comes to working on a story heavy on political state-of-affairs. However, its not your regular suspense-thriller plot. Forget being a who-dun-it or even a why-dun-it, for a very long part in the film, the audience keeps wondering what-is-happening. Until the entire mystery unveils layer by layer in the penultimate moments. Even here, there isn't easy spoonfeeding of information and the audience has to be discerning enough to grasp the overall narrative. Thereby the treatment is not like a regular thriller but the director wants you to learn things on your own. Thankfully amidst this, the storytelling does not turn abstract though it has its moments of ambiguity.
Performances are a mainstay with Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh and Rahul does in absolute form. The slow burn pacing can be overlooked thanks to the speed up facility in Zee5 OTT app.
The direction is such that it does not reveal clearly what is the motive. What starts as a story about unveiling an assassination attempt on Russian President's visit in India actually turns out to be an internal political slugfest. Director Atul Sabharwal is at his best when it comes to working on a story heavy on political state-of-affairs. However, its not your regular suspense-thriller plot. Forget being a who-dun-it or even a why-dun-it, for a very long part in the film, the audience keeps wondering what-is-happening. Until the entire mystery unveils layer by layer in the penultimate moments. Even here, there isn't easy spoonfeeding of information and the audience has to be discerning enough to grasp the overall narrative. Thereby the treatment is not like a regular thriller but the director wants you to learn things on your own. Thankfully amidst this, the storytelling does not turn abstract though it has its moments of ambiguity.
Performances are a mainstay with Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh and Rahul does in absolute form. The slow burn pacing can be overlooked thanks to the speed up facility in Zee5 OTT app.
Sector 36 is amongst the recent spate of films that are based on real life crimes but fictionalized to avoid legal implications - Bhakshak, Dahaad, Delhi Crime, etc. Right from its opening scene, it makes no attempt to work as a suspense or mystery film. The identity of killer is revealed in first scene. It largely plays like a cop investigation drama. And thereafter usual tropes of the handicaps in police system, the influence of the powerful criminal, etc come to the front. Of course it ends on a more realistic note where the protagonist doesn't win or the criminal is not convicted - staying true to what happened in the actual case of Nithari Killings on which this film is based.
Producer Dinesh Vijan with the maximum success ratio in this year (Munjya, Stree 2, Teri Baaton Ne..., Murder Mubarak) and in recent times (Saas Bahu Flamingo, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke) chooses the platform smartly - this certainly is a film that shall work well on OTT than in theatres for its sheer nature - realism, noir genre, hard-hitting treatment.
Despite claiming to not become gimmicky, the usually restrained Vikrant Massey does go theatrical in the police interrogation scene - making no attempt to hide the crime. Deepak Dobriyal is more nuanced in his act.
Producer Dinesh Vijan with the maximum success ratio in this year (Munjya, Stree 2, Teri Baaton Ne..., Murder Mubarak) and in recent times (Saas Bahu Flamingo, Zara Hatke Zara Bachke) chooses the platform smartly - this certainly is a film that shall work well on OTT than in theatres for its sheer nature - realism, noir genre, hard-hitting treatment.
Despite claiming to not become gimmicky, the usually restrained Vikrant Massey does go theatrical in the police interrogation scene - making no attempt to hide the crime. Deepak Dobriyal is more nuanced in his act.
For some reason I was never quite keen to watch this film until its sequel released in 2024. And with the sequel catching some buzz, just thought will give this one a try - perhaps there could be some character or story continuity.
Firstly the title is misleading. It doesn't contribute much. 'Haseen Dilruba' could rather have been the title of the crime thriller novel in the film that plays a vital role. Then the title would make more sense.
In fact, till half the film, it doesn't even come across like a crime thriller. Rather it plays largely like a love story and enough time is given to simmer the relationship of the newly married couple played by Tapsee and Vikrant. In fact their chemistry is so sensitively and organically built that it seems very real and relatable. The ups and downs in their equation is very nicely explored. It has slice of life shades of Anand Rai rom-coms. Though the film opens from the POV of a police investigating into a crime, the crime element comes only by interval point. You don't mind that much either because the lead couple's camaraderie keeps the proceedings riveting.
Eventually as the film treads into the murder-mystery zone, the suspense isn't something out of the box and the climax is quite predictable early in the narrative. With minimal characters, there aren't any decoy suspects either. In fact, there was could scope to conceal the suspense in the storytelling but not much effort is put in there. Also, with similar setups seen in films like Drishyam and the more recent Jaane Jaan, the treatment lacks the novelty factor. Some shock elements added in the climax seem somewhat far-fetched and plays to the gallery.
In terms of performances, Tapsee Pannu is sexy, both, in her looks and acting. Vikrant is nuanced, like always, and leaves good impact. From the character actors, the actress playing mother is pretty good.
Haseen Dilruba will be remembered more for its palpable romance that for its predictable suspense!
Firstly the title is misleading. It doesn't contribute much. 'Haseen Dilruba' could rather have been the title of the crime thriller novel in the film that plays a vital role. Then the title would make more sense.
In fact, till half the film, it doesn't even come across like a crime thriller. Rather it plays largely like a love story and enough time is given to simmer the relationship of the newly married couple played by Tapsee and Vikrant. In fact their chemistry is so sensitively and organically built that it seems very real and relatable. The ups and downs in their equation is very nicely explored. It has slice of life shades of Anand Rai rom-coms. Though the film opens from the POV of a police investigating into a crime, the crime element comes only by interval point. You don't mind that much either because the lead couple's camaraderie keeps the proceedings riveting.
Eventually as the film treads into the murder-mystery zone, the suspense isn't something out of the box and the climax is quite predictable early in the narrative. With minimal characters, there aren't any decoy suspects either. In fact, there was could scope to conceal the suspense in the storytelling but not much effort is put in there. Also, with similar setups seen in films like Drishyam and the more recent Jaane Jaan, the treatment lacks the novelty factor. Some shock elements added in the climax seem somewhat far-fetched and plays to the gallery.
In terms of performances, Tapsee Pannu is sexy, both, in her looks and acting. Vikrant is nuanced, like always, and leaves good impact. From the character actors, the actress playing mother is pretty good.
Haseen Dilruba will be remembered more for its palpable romance that for its predictable suspense!