Movie Review - Badla

The repertoire of Sujoy ghosh as the director has some fairly forgettable films - like "Home Delivery" and "Aladin" - a sweet but unsuccessful "Jhankar Beats" and two very impressive "Kahani - 1 & 2". The latest one "Badla" firmly establishes the genre in which he is best - Badla is everything a movie can ask for from a suspense-thriller.

When was the last time you watched a movie that starts and finishes in a one BHK beautifully furnished flat, the only solace in which is a window with a view to a busy street in a happening British city, revolving around just three main characters and yet you remain glued to your seat, latching on to every scene and word - guessing what comes next. You only go out of that room to recreate the scenes of the story but you are back immediately.

I remember having that experience as a kid, watching a movie "Ek ruka hua faisla" on the door-darshan because that movie did not get any theatres for commercial release. However, that movie was another era and hence is no basis for comparison.

This one weaves almost an Agatha Christie murder mystery and I don't find a better simile because the movie is set in so clearly stated british environment, tones and style. Consider this - a murder happens in a room of a hotel 200 miles away in a snow clad place with only one tram-ish transport to and from the hotel. The body is in the bathroom showered with Pounds (or were those Euros 😃 ) and the suspect with her fingerprints on the vase that was used to kill the victim, sitting beside the body trying to save him when the police enters the scene. The suspect is screaming there is someone else in the room and pleads the police officer for help as the officer arrests the suspect. There is absolutely no signs of anyone having entered or left the room and there is no evident possibility of anyone having possibly done that. And yet there will be no suspense or thrill if this obvious suspect would be the killer. Would there be?? 😉 And while I am tempted to take you through the very Aghtha Christie-stic twists and turns of the plot but I think you are already sitting up believing me when I say that it is a Agatha murder mystery alright - so I rather suggest that you watch it - in a theatre, mind you. And let me assure you there were no spoilers in this review till now. You will enjoy the movie as much as I did even after reading this review.

I have often said that good cinema is about imaginative storytelling and here is another movie that proves it. You come out and say well it was a simple story - then why the hell were you sitting on the edge the seat for the full 121 minutes with gaping mouth and appreciating mind. Because the story is narrated in a gripping style, you are already curious about what comes next. A very tightly written script and tighter screenplay does a marvellous job - as does a very crisp and still fluent editing. It's an unputdownable murder mystery.

Taapsee Pannu turns out another stellar performance after "Pink", "Mulk" and "Shabana". She is talented and often her talent is wasted in movies like "Manmarziya" and "Judwaa-2". She holds on with confidence against the Big-B perfectly portraying the young, successful, sharp witted independent business woman who loves her hubby and the kid and yet is analytical, poised, confident, controlled, ambitious, liberal, evil - even cold almost sinister. Taapsee plays the emotions although the effort shows. Yet she does not let this movie become just a Big-B movie.

Amitabh Bachchan is Big-B. I generally cannot imagine anyone else in the roles he does in such a movie. In this movie you won't too. Think!! Two people sitting in a room narrating a story to you - you will not be bored only if you have the voice, eyes, delivery and style of Big-B. Yet again he wins me over as his long time fan. In fact, I relate so much to the first half of his character - cold, analytical, data/fact driven and always asking for the other aspect of the case.

And yes - some very crisp, timely and unforgettable dialogues are like the icing on the cake. Here are some favourites
"बदला लेना हर बार सही नहीं होता लेकिन माफ़ कर देना भी हर बार सही नहीं होता"
"वो मुर्ख होता है जो सिर्फ सच जानता है पर सच और झूठ का फर्क नहीं जानता"
"सच वही होता है जो साबित किया जा सके"

I tried hard but can't find a fault in the plot or picturisation. Maybe the only problem with this movie is that it is not for light casual watching - because a few seconds of distraction can cause you to lose a thread. Or that at the end you realise that movie did not have a song to let you relax and eat your popcorn, maybe. A few people may disagree with me when I say that I love movies the way "Badla" ends. Simply.

Badla is a "must see" recommendation from me - a movie that helps you realise that there are at least three aspects to every story/issue/case - my side, your side and the truth. Enjoy yourselves - and let me know later how it was.