A Thursday Review: Yami Gautam’s film is a gripping saga with heart at its right place
Director: Behzad Khambata
Cast: Yami Gautam, Atul Kulkarni, Neha Dhupia, Dimple Kapadia
Platform: Hotstar
Rating: 3.5 stars
Story:
A Thursday, directed by Behzad Khambata, tells the story of Naina Jaiswal (Yami Gautam), a play school teacher who kidnaps 16 children and makes a series of demands to the institution. What are the requirements? Why would a kindergarten teacher take the law into her own hands and endanger the lives of so many children? A Thursday will provide you with all of the answers.
Technical Departments:
The story of Ashley Michael Lobo and Behzad Kambata is quite interesting and relevant. The writing by Ashley Michael Lobo and Behzad Kambata is intriguing and exhilarating. The writers have a good grasp on their topic and have sprinkled the story with a plethora of exciting and surprise moments. The dialogues of Vijay Maurya are abrasive. A couple of Atul Kulkarni’s snarky dialogues make people giggle.
The direction of Behzad Kambata is excellent. There are no songs or brighter moments in the over two-hour film. The tale and the major characters are the only things that matter. And Behzad manages to hold the audience’s attention from beginning to end. What’s praiseworthy is that the climax is hard-hitting and applaud-worthy. On the other hand, it’s a little unconvincing to see that a single person was able to kidnap the kids while the cops and commandos outside stood by and did nothing. However, these are minor flaws, and the second half’s twists and turns more than make up for them. The tension is unpredictably high.
The beginning of A Thursday gives the impression that it will be a lovely, light-hearted film. However, the thrilling background soundtrack soon begins to play, and it becomes clear that Naina has a nefarious plot in mind. The way she kidnaps the kids without making them feel like they’re in danger, as well as the way she negotiates with the cops, are both excellent.
Performances:
Yami Gautam Dhar has always been a good actress, but after seeing this film, she’ll be seen in a new light. Her acting is flawless, and the way she transitions from scary to sweet must be seen to be believed. As the sardonic and kind-hearted cop, Atul Kulkarni is immensely entertaining and charming. Neha Dhupia’s performance is also excellent. Dimple Kapadia is excellent and perfectly suited for the role. In a supporting role, Karanvir Sharma is quite good. Maya Sarao is attractive, but her role is limited.
Verdict:
A Thursday, on the whole, is a tremendous surprise. It has a tight storyline, excellent execution, and Yami Gautam Dhar’s best performance to date. It’s a film that should have premiered in theatres.
