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Prasad uses various psychiatric tools like putting Aditi to extreme emotional trauma by posing as a serial killer and puts her through hypnosis to bring her sub -conscious to the fore.
Finally, the treatment works and Aditi blurts out her innermost secret. What is that secret? Well, that’s the suspense . Director Mane has kept the proceedings fairly brisk and has been inspired by many films like ‘Dial M for Murder’, ‘Vertigo’, ‘Gaslight’, ‘To Chase A Crooked Shadow’, ‘Grand Larceny’, ‘Postman Always Rings Twice’ and closer to Bollywood’s ‘Shaque’ besides the dark noir plots of James Hadley Chase novels.
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The film can only boast of some excellent performances, especially by Prasad Oak, who gives one of his best performances as a shrink turned serial killer. Santosh Juvekar is rightly restrained as the caring husband. Aditi Sarangdhar as a disturbed wife, gives a good account of herself. Subodh Bhave’s role as Santosh’s partner and that of Mangesh Desai's are half baked .Most of the film has been shot indoors in a bungalow, a la RGV style which reminds one of his films 'Kaun' and 'Raat' and the Hollywood classic 'Halloween'.
Shabbir Naik has shot the film in natural light without any fancy angles, which any other DOP could have gone overboard with. The songs are okay but the background music is more effective and gives goose bumps sometimes. The editing is superb and the director has used many cinematic 'jerks' to startle the audience, which is expected from any good thriller.
However, the film is not totally flawless. Can a five year old girl have a sub-conscious mind, is a matter of debate? Why Aditi does not confess to her understanding husband? Why is she shown talking lovingly over the phone, to some other person? Why can't a good shrink just put Aditi on the couch and treat her?
Well, the film is enjoyable. That's the bottom line.
by Sandeep Hattangadi © MMW
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