Movie Recommendation: The Stoneman Murders

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Note: Because Talaash disappoints this week, I am going to recommend a lesser known Bollywood alternative to give you the chills. This one gives you the goosebumps and keeps you on the edge.

IMDB entry: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1183946/

Genre: Crime, Thriller, Suspense

This movie is based on the true life incident of serial killings in Bombay in the early 80's. Interestingly, this was never solved according to police records. The movie director gives his own spin (and conclusion) to this whodunit.

The movie dwells right into the crime in the initial 10 minutes. A pavement dweller is brutally killed (his head smashed by a stone) one night in the Matunga area of Mumbai. A local policeman who has been recently suspended sniffs a serial killing spree but the other policemen wave if off as a random killing on the streets. As suspected, there are numerous killings that follow and establish a pattern - the killings happen between hours of late night and dawn only and is targeted at the pavement dwellers. The suspended policeman thus continues to investigate about the murder, off duty. He sets out to gather evidence and prowls the streets in the night to prevent the killer from harming any more people. But he soon becomes a suspect after police find circumstantial evidence incriminating him. Who is the serial killer and why is he targeting only the pavement dwellers? What is the motive behind the killings? The movie solves these as it approaches the climax.

This movie is bone chilling. The pace is quick and keeps you on the edge. Except for the stray song in a bar, there are no such distracting interruptions in the movie. The underbelly of Mumbai - street dwellers, tramps, bar dancers and the flourishing businesses in the dark add to the mood - most of the movie is dark. There are several times where policeman and the killer run into each other. This makes the movie very racy. The conclusion is believable (backed up by a possible and practical reason for such brutal killings). However, it is not something new - this kind of a conclusion has been seen before in other movies and is rather the only weak point in an otherwise gripping thriller.

What can I say about Kay Kay Menon? As the suspended policeman who tries to solve the mystery, Kay Kay Menon shines and how! He has such formidable acting skills and is convincing as the trigger happy and reclusive cop. Contrastingly, Arbaaz Khan in a smaller role struggles. Rest of the cast does ok. The direction and editing is slick. This movie would have had more impact on a big screen, in fact. 

Overall, a good psychological thriller sure to be enjoyed by thriller movie fans. 

Movie recommendation: Teen Deewarein (Three Walls)

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Note: I had no expectations of this movie. In fact, I wanted to catch a bit of Hyderabad Blues today. I was surprised that Teen Deewarein was the only movie of Nagesh Kukunoor's that I haven't watched. So I gave it a shot. And boy was I surprised!

IMDB Entry: Teen Deewarein (Three Walls)

Genre: Crime, Suspense, Drama

I love watching experimental cinema. I like to give myself a break from the usual, predictable Bollywood plots. That's when I lookout for some offbeat movies like this one. Of course, the more non-Bollywood it is, the more patience you need. Sometimes these movies don't end well and you are left with a bitter taste. This movie is definitely not one of those. The plot is unfolded slowly but it all ties in well and makes sense in a revealing climax.

This is a story of three prisoners facing a death sentence and a filmmaker (Juhi Chawla) who wants to shoot a documentary of their lives in the prison. Each of them have murdered a woman in their life. As Juhi gains trust of each of these men, their stories unfold and give us a perspective of their circumstances. Since all of the movie is inside a prison, you get a glimpse of what goes on in an Indian prison. What happens inside the prison and how Juhi turns around their lives forms the rest of the story.

Jackie Shroff, Naseeruddin Shah and Nagesh Kukunoor play the three prisoners and fit into their roles perfectly. Naseeruddin Shah gets the meatiest role - he plays a small time crook who is also a smooth talker and has escaped several prisons before. Jackie doesn't get much footage, but he is good in the limited role he has. Nagesh Kukunoor is a natural when it comes to playing a Hyderabadi, so this was an easy part for him. Juhi is a revelation! I have never thought of her as a "serious" actress - she was wasted in far too many ridiculous roles in her career and wish she did more of such roles. Because she is indeed a fine actress. The first 30 minutes of the movie runs at a slow pace. It continues in the same pace, but characters and events are blended well in the rest of the movie that you forget the pace after some time.

To a careful viewer, you will get subtle hints throughout the movie on what might happen later. Although the end isn't shocking, it wasn't predictable either. The twist at the end neatly ties in with the the story - i.e nothing in the movie happens without a reason. The fresh take at storytelling surprised me. Definitely a few shades of Tarantino style screenplay - with crime scenes switched in and out as the prisoners open up to Juhi; like pieces of a puzzle fitting together. The dialogues have been written in a mix of Hindi, English and Hyderabadi slangs to give authenticity to the characters - which I liked. Jackie's poetry on life and prison remind me of Red's narration in The Shawshank Redemption. 

There are a few scenes that can be hard to watch for an average Indian cinema lover. And definitely not recommended for family watching. The movie runs like a short film (under 2 hours duration) and this keeps the movie on track without swaying too much away from the main plot. i.e it fits in subjects like adultery, domestic abuse, prison hardships, love and betrayal etc.

This movie might not be a Shawshank Redemption in terms of impact, but it definitely proves that there are so many talented directors in Bollywood who can tell a story and an original one at that. A must watch if you are willing to take a break from Bollywood masala movies.

Movie Recommendation: Manorama Six Feet Under

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Note: I love mystery thrillers! Of late, very few movies in Bollywood are of this genre. The latest I have liked was Kahaani. So imagine my surprise when I bump into one of those lesser known, offbeat thrillers in Bollywood. What a treat!

IMDB Entry: Manorama Six Feet Under

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Firstly, I would like to say, if you are expecting too much action, big star cast and some Bollywood style melodrama and production values, you might as well stay clear of this movie. Although I do consider Abhay Deol as not only a big star but a seal of approval for offbeat movies (going by his track record of Dev D, Oye Lucky Lucky Oye, Ek Chaalis ki Last Local...). So if you are willing to consider an offbeat, suspense movie in a rustic setting, look no more. This is one of those niche movies.

The movie takes place in a sleepy town of Lakhot, Rajasthan. Abhay Deol plays Satyaveer, a bored middle class resident who works at the local municipality as a Junior Engineer. His wife Nimmi (played by Gul Panag), plays a nagging housewife who loves her TV serials and taunts his husband for the middle class lifestyle. Satyaveer's passion is writing but unfortunately his first book "Manorama" (a detective novel) reminds him of his failure as a writer (the book sells only 200 copies). He is so disappointed by its failure, that he does not own even a single copy of his own book. One day, he is approached by a minister's wife, also called Manorama (played by Sarika) who is suspicious that her husband is having an extra marital affair. She pays him to investigate as a private detective and take pictures of his affair, so she can gather evidence about his adultery. 

What follows is an intriguing plot where Satyaveer gets implicated in a double homicide, suicide of Manorama and a missing girl child from a local orphanage. The rest of the plot is how he connects the dots and solves the mystery.

Abhay Deol, is definitely one of the most underrated actors in Indian film industry. He gives life to the character of Satyaveer - both as a passionate detective and as a disappointed writer and husband. The rural setting of the Rajasthan town works well for the story and gives an authentic feel. The movie is slow at times, but picks up pace in the second half. The movie has plenty of good old fashioned detective thrills to it and also at the same time keeps you guessing - very unpredictable storyline. The movie runs on the stellar performances from Abhay Deol, Gul Panag and the supporting cast. I was surprised to see Nawazuddin Siddiqui in an insignificant role as a local goon - but I guess he got more popular only after Kahaani and Gangs of Wasseypur. He is definitely an actor to watch out for.

This movie is not fast paced so it is not a stylish action thriller and nor is it a modern one at that. It is a simple story with the right amount of creepiness and mystery that will keep you hooked if you are ok with its slackish pace in the first half. But I also think that is one of the reasons that make a mystery movie worth a watch - the slow unfolding of characters and sub-stories that add to the plot make it intriguing and suspenseful. Plus, this movie is set in a small town and going by that it has to be slow and uneventful. As a middle class Indian, I could really connect with some social issues that stand out in the movie - the way your neighbors pry on your privacy, small town corruption, greed and the rich poor inequality.

The movie, it seems is inspired by Roman Polanski's Chinatown (I haven't seen that movie yet), but I really don't care because the storytelling has been adapted perfectly for an Indian setting. This movie is a must-watch for mystery buffs!