Rahi Anil Barve’s Latest Review: An Exquisite Exercise in Self-Indulgence
Star Cast: Jaaved Jafferi, Veena Jamkar, Deepak Damle, Mohammed Samad
Director: Rahi Anil Barve
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 104 Minutes
Rahi Anil Barve the Tumbbad fame Writer-director returns with a film that proves a brilliant idea doesn’t always equal a brilliant script. While the premise carries the ingenuity of a classic thriller, the execution feels trapped in its own desire to be “different.” It’s a film that seems to prioritize artistic vanity over the needs of the paying audience.
At a lean 104 minutes, the film’s brevity is its saving grace. However, for a story that leans into a “realistic” aesthetic, the basic illogic is staggering. The director labels this a mix of thriller and “fantasy,” but the plot holes are hard to ignore:
- The Logistics of Isolation: Vasu has been closeted by his father since childhood. Yet, he wears perfectly tailored suits.
- Daily Survival: How do they pay electricity bills? Who taught Vasu to cook or boil eggs? Where do the toothpaste and vegetables come from?
- The “Critique” Standard: While mainstream entertainers are often grilled for a lack of logic, “hatke” cinema like this often gets a free pass from critics. This film puts that hypocrisy under the microscope.
The film’s primary strength lies in its meticulously etched characters and the actors who bring them to life:
- Jaaved Jafferi: In a brilliant image reversal, his portrayal of Parmeshwar is “lovably devilish” and pitch-perfect.
- Mohammed Samad: As Vasu, he delivers a detailed and heartbreaking performance as a simpleton whose entire world begins and ends with his father.
- Veena Jamkar: She is superb as Zeenat, a shrewd and scheming “vixen” who commands the screen.
- Deepak Damle: Fits the bill perfectly as the nuanced partner-in-crime, Ravrana.
Technically, the film is a triumph. Barve extracts high-quality work from his crew, ensuring the film looks and sounds like a “discerning viewer’s” dream:
- Cinematography (Aasif Pathan): Exotically shot, elevating the genre’s visual language.
- Production & Art Direction: Preetam Rai and Surendra Prajapati create a tangible, immersive world.
- Background Score (Sagar Desai): Subtle and skilled, providing the necessary atmospheric weight.
Despite these strengths, the Entertainment Quotient is low. The humor is sporadic, and the narrative often feels like pseudo-intellectual fodder designed for international film festivals rather than the local multiplex.
This film is a classic example of “style over substance.” While it may hypnotize fans of Tumbbad or those seeking a “hatke” experience, it lacks the grounded logic required to truly satisfy.
