‘Pari’ Movie Review: “A film that pushes the horror genre in the right direction”

We’ve all seen those horror films with the abandoned, haunted house, and an unsuspecting family moving into the premises. We’ve all seen those horror films with paranormal activity and cheap scares, via actual visuals or sound tricks. Considering all that we may have seen, ‘Pari’ is definitely different, especially for Bollywood. In an industry where horror films usually turn into moments of unintentional comedy, ‘Pari’ surprises us. However, not all surprises are perfect, or devoid of flaws. ‘Pari’ is the type of film that you appreciate and enjoy, but something is missing. On one end, you appreciate the director for trying to push the envelope, yet you cannot ignore certain blemishes. It’s like a cake without the cherry on top.

So what’s the story? This film (No Spoilers) starts with a man named Aurnab (Parambrata Chatterjee) in an arranged marriage set-up, trying to get to know the prospective bride. After the interaction, as he goes back home, his car hits an old woman. This is what sets the film in motion. We are then introduced to Rukhsana (Anushka Sharma), an orphan who is found in a chained and battered state in the midst of a Kolkata forest. Aurnab decides to give her refuge since it is her motherwho was hit by the car and killed. Gradually he realizes that there is more to her than meets the eye. One shocking revelation after another lead to a series of disturbing moment.  We are introduced to a cult, and a strange backstory. The concept and story is commendable since it is fresh and also brings to light the Bangladesh Refugee crises in a very indirect manner.

This is a film that scares less, but shocks more. Frightens less, but disturbs more. There is a distinctive difference between these words. The film, for the most part, has a strange, eerie vibe and we are consistently curious to know what will happen next due to the bizarre, and surprising gory nature of things (For a Hindi film, this is quite gory)… During the first half of the film, the scenes in themselves are interesting, but they seem disjointed. This makes us even more anxious to know how everything connects, but the problem is that it takes too long for that to happen and the ultimate result is not as satisfying as we would hope. The script moves in a sluggish pace and there are a few unnecessary moments as well. The other issue is that you don’t feel for the characters. There is too much plot, and too less of a human touch. These are the main flaws of the film.

The direction by Prosit Roy is strong, and uplifts this movie quite a bit. His direction transforms what would have been a below average film into a film worth watching. Each scene is crafted carefully, with the cinematography and sound design adding to the feel of the film. For any horror film, the cinematography and sound design is extremely important, and this movie gets that right! This is a technically sound film, where everything goes with the horror vibe. Even the production design goes with the disturbing feel of the film. Another strength of this movie is the acting by Anushka Sharma and Parambrata Chatterjee. Anushka has done a commendable job, getting into the skin of a confused and lost orphan. She strikes a nice balance between subtlety and harshness. Parambrata Chatterjee doesn’t seem to be acting. He is literally that natural, and it’s a pleasure to see him perform so effortlessly. Special mention to Rajat Kapoor, who plays a sinister and twisted character with much ease. The characters have been showcased nicely by the director.

So overall, this film has moments and aspects worth appreciating, even if there are certain flaws that prevent it from becoming what it could have.  In an industry where horror films are often filled with cliché’s, done to death tricks, and forced ‘filmi’ moments, this film takes an untrodden path, and pushes the horror genre in the right direction! It takes courage to even attempt such a subject. Yes, it may be too much for certain viewers to handle, but there is always a first. This type of film is required and should hopefully encourage other filmmakers to push the envelope further!  Lets hope that the trend of horror films grow!

3.5 out of 5 stars.