We have all seen enough of linear characters with a rather confusing arc of progression. And it’s time now that we enter the world of grey. Not only should there be characters with more layers but also stories set in that universe of complexities. Who doesn’t love a movie that leaves you pondering as to who was right and who wasn’t rather than just handing out the verdict in a very preachy manner?
Not all films are supposed to teach, neither are most of them supposed to align with our moral compasses. And this deviation and distinction are what draw the line between reel and real. Reel/Fiction is all that realism is not. It can be a far-fetched thought or a reflection of society, but it is just that.
Touching these topics and taking a baby step into the world of grey characters in Netflix’s new release Haseen Dillruba starring Taapsee Pannu, Vikrant Massey, and Harshvardhan Rane in the lead roles. It is a romantic thriller with a pertinent murder mystery written by Kanika Dhillon. The film is directed by Vinil Mathew and produced by Aanand L. Rai, Himanshu Sharma, Bhushan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar. Amit Trivedi directs the music.
The movie is set in the small town of Jwalapur, having a very rural and rustic vibe. The investigation of the murder case of Rishab Saxena (Vikrant Massey), whose prime suspect is his wife Rani Kashyap (Taapsee Pannu), established as an infidel woman having an extra-marital affair with Neel (Harshvardhan Rane), forms the main plotline of the movie.
The story progresses as the investigation continues and the climate of the film keeps shifting from a romantic comedy to a crime thriller with the change of its timelines. Another towering omnipresence is that of a Hindi crime novelist Dinesh Pandit.
The first half sees an establishment of the story and the relationship between the couple. The second half, however, is filled with character arc projecting all over the graph. The characters are given well enough space to explore all shades of grey. The impressive performances by the three main leads don’t let you lose interest. Filled with love, lust, revenge, bloodshed, and a whole lot of drama, this movie is pure pulp fiction, as one would guess a certain Dinesh Pandit would write about.
The movie is one small step towards breaking the shackles of linear black and white characters; it still is not wholly successful. But brownie points for the attempt.
Here’s a short review in bullet points for you to decide whether to watch it or not (if the above details weren’t clear enough)
- There is no point entering the universe of Haseen Dillruba with too much practicality because it is essentially pulp fiction on screen. Once that is sorted, you will actually like the movie.
- The movie is directed in a way that the timelines are quite smooth, maintaining the flow very well. Thus keeping the audience hooked.
- The characters are a little too unrealistic, and the sudden changes in their arc is confusing at times.
- The side characters have done a great job too. Be it Aditya Srivastava as the investigating officer, Yamini Das as Rishu’s mother, Daya Shankar Pandey as Rishu’s father, or Ashish Verma as Afzal, Rishu’s friend. They provide the spice of comic relief.
- The music and songs are a great addition and only help to set the narrative of the story.
- While Vikrant Massey and Taapsee Pannu’s characters show the spectrum of whites and blacks, Harshvardhan Rane is given little to no space to show the hints of white. His screen time is also minor.
- The climax was good but nothing that we haven’t already seen. It kind of felt foreseeable.
image source: globalcirculate - The last revival looked like a poor attempt to stretch and make it look like a together-forever kind of happy ending.
- However, the performances have saved the movie, and the three actors have made everything look so much more believable.
You can decide for yourself now; the movie is already streaming on Netflix India.
