What’s Good: Superb mounting and terrific performances from Sonakshi Sinha and Paresh Rawal.
What’s Bad: Nothing bad, but the denouement may be a shade tough to comprehend.
Loo Break: Not at all!
Watch or Not?: Yes!!
Language: Hindi
Available On: Theatrical release
Runtime: 114 Minutes
User Rating:
Sanal is bent on exposing a ‘spiritual’ leader named Amardev (Paresh Rawal) who has a great following, but soon begins to suffer and is murdered (or is it suicide?) under mysterious circumstances while Nikita is away. The police want to close the case, but Nikita is adamant that there has been foul play. Devoted to her brother, she tries to convince his colleagues to investigate and, finding reluctance on their part, decides to do so herself. Their friend, Jolly (Suhail Nayyar), decides to help her, and their investigations begin at Sanal’s home, where a whole lot of mysterious phenomena are seen and seemingly occult aspects sensed or described in an audio recording of Sanal.
The first step in their investigation is Freya (Kalliroi Tziafeta), who Sanal planted in Amardev’s setup to uncover what, if anything, he was up to. Freya lives in a remote cottage, and when Nikita and Jolly reach there, she behaves in a very weird manner and finally slits her own throat.
At a dead end, and under suspicion from the cops for Freya’s death, the two of them (and their relationship is turbulent, with Jolly in unrequited love with Nikita) confront Amardev, and the battle of wits begins. Amardev coolly tells Nikita that she cannot prove anything against him when she threatens to expose him within a week. Macabre things begin to happen with her (including involving a harmless cat), and we even have a corrupt British cop who adds to the goings-on.
So what’s the truth? Is it Amardev at work? Or some supernatural entity? Or is there a connection between Amardev and the demons? Will Nikita go the way Sanal went, or will she expose him as more than a spiritual leader?
Nikita Roy Movie Review: Script Analysis
Based on the original story and screenplay by Pavan Kirpalani (of Phobia fame), the script has been reworked by a bevy of writers headed by director Kussh S. Sinha and comprising Neel Mohanty and Ankur Takrani, with Belal Khalique in charge of dialogues (along with Kussh).
The movie steers away from the standard horror template and even takes on a social dimension within its storyline. There is nothing over-the-top, and the film also does not overtly go melodramatic or scary. It is the written word that strongly helps the visuals create all the atmosphere and tension and whips up the suspense quotient.
Following a more Western than Indian storytelling style, the film does not veer into extraneous zones for ‘entertainment’ but sticks to a slick and concise narration. For this reason, the denouement is also sharp and swift. But that can also be a dampener for the conventional Hindi film audience: it comes too fast, is too technically sound, and is clinically put across. Social relevance, criminal intent, and the paranormal blend quite interestingly in this riveting drama, but with a more leisurely and better-explained climax, the impact would have been even more.
Nikita Roy Movie Review: Star Performance
Sonakshi Sinha is fantastic as Nikita, and her steely determination and seemingly stubborn nature are wonderfully brought out by her director-brother. Not that he needs to be given all the credit! Sonakshi’s debut 15 years ago in Dabangg, followed by films like Lootera, Double XL, and Kakuda, and the series Dahaad and Heeramandi, all point to an actress who continues to grow. And she has indeed done it again in this film as the resolute rationalist who is a dedicated but aggrieved sister.
Unlike the overhyped arty brigade of actors (we all know who they are for that very reason!), Paresh Rawal is effortlessly in sync with Amardev. His smile is deadly, unlike in his comic or emotional ventures, his body language itself ominous, and he is a psychological manipulator to the T. Mainstream brilliant actors are known to give a unique and refreshing touch to even similar kind of roles they themselves have enacted over the years (note masters in that field like Ashok Kumar, Pran, Amrish Puri, Amjad Khan, Danny Denzongpa and Om Puri) and Rawal is no different. He makes Amardev dexterously repugnant even as he seemingly hypnotizes his devotees with his magnetic charm.
Suhail Nayyar as Jolly is competent. Arjun Rampal is excellent as Sanal, and his brief role makes a lasting impact. Kalliroi Tziafeta is a talent to watch. In her (very) brief role as Freya, she is just ‘Wow!’.