Review by Prashant Shukla
Plot :
On a beautiful evening in London, Ira and Basuki arrive at Rohit and Sanya’s house for a casual meet-and-greet. Basuki’s a bit of a narc, Ira is the tolerant wife, while Sanya and Rohit seem a little too strange. Four Indians, one house, and a quiet evening, what unfolds between them forms the basic premise of the film!
Performances :
The four leads; Rasika Dugal, Paresh Pahuja, Arjun Mathur, and Zoha Rahman are simply flawless. Most of the film revolves around these four engaging in conversations, and with a script like this, it can either expose an actor’s limitations or become a testament to their craft. Thankfully, their performances fall in the latter category. Truly one of the few aspects where the film shines, even when the writing lets them down.
The Technical Aspects :
One more positive the film has is how it’s been shot! The long oners, deliberately unstable tracking shots, tight close-ups, and the overall claustrophobic atmosphere are executed brilliantly. It doesn’t save the film, but it definitely sets the tone perfectly — especially in the first half. The music, however, is almost non-existent, relying heavily on Beethoven’s classic piano piece Für Elise and an extensive use of ambient noise.
The Writing & Direction :
Anshuman Jha’s direction and Bikas Mishra’s writing can best be described as self-indulgent. The film does a solid job of setting the tone in its first 15–20 minutes — with weird characters, a hint of suspense, and a chilling atmosphere. But after that, it doesn’t really go anywhere — neither where you’d expect nor where you wouldn’t. It just lingers somewhere in between, leaving you unsure of what to feel. Also the second half drags considerably, and after a point, you simply find yourself waiting for it to end.
The Characters & The 2nd Half :
The characters, their decisions, and especially the way they react to certain situations catch you off guard! It’s hard to explain in a single line to someone who hasn’t seen the film but yes, it all feels extremely unnatural, even for characters as eccentric as these. Ultimately, the reason the film fails to deliver is its lack of a solid hook, especially in the second half. It loses its anchor, making it hard for you to care about anything, and takes such a random route that it completely detaches you from the screen. Swinging between being metaphorical and preachy — without committing to either — leaves you dissatisfied.
Final Verdict :
An ambitious suspense thriller that ends up being a huge mess that you don’t connect with as much as you want to!
