“Blackmail” Review: Experience – A thrilling and fun rollercoaster ride!

A man finds out his wife is having an affair. Instead of the usual confrontation, he decides to blackmail his wife and the man into giving him money so that he can sort out some of his pending loans and EMI. Plus, he gets his revenge too! Sounds simple, right? Well, that ends up leading to another blackmail. Then that blackmail leads to yet another blackmail! Soon we end up in a situation where the characters are blackmailing each other, without even knowing that they are being blackmailed themselves. Twists and misconceptions galore, one thing leads to another, and what we end up with is one hell of a fast-paced, gripping, and adventurous journey! In short, all hell ends up breaking loose, and it’s wonderful! Rarely can hell be described as something so glorious. Director Abhinay Deo has succeeded in this regard.

Some films are films, while others are experiences. “Blackmail” falls in the second category. From the first 5-10 minutes, you get sucked into this world, even though the first dialogue is about 5 minutes into the film. That right there is a perfect example of visual story telling. That is one of the major plus points of this film. You see things happening, you aren’t told. That is what keeps you gripped. The tone of the film is set right from the beginning, and from there on, there is no looking back! There are many smart moments throughout the film. The screenplay, by Parveez Sheikh, is well written, unique and funky. The overall style and structure of the film deserves praise for it’s innovativeness. Kudos to the writer and the editor. The cinematography, in terms of camera angles and lighting, goes perfectly with the type of film that this is. There are a few smart shots rather than many shots just for the sake of shots. That credit goes to both the cinematographer and the director. Even the music is rocking and gives you an adrenaline rush as you see the characters taking each other on a ride! A thumbs up to the music composer, Amit Trivedi!

Every aspect of the filmmaking process blends wonderfully in this film. As for acting, Irrfan Khan is in top form! That obviously isn’t saying much since it’s already common knowledge that he is a jam-packed performer and an excellent actor, but you genuinely can’t imagine anyone else playing his role. You understand what he is thinking just by his expressions and body language. Arunoday Singh gives a career defining performance in this film. Divya Dutta is wonderful, as always. Kirti Kulhari is a natural. The rest of the cast has done a great job, and I must say, hats off to the casting director!

Overall, this film is a thrilling and fun rollercoaster ride. A good dark comedy after a long time. Either watch it with friends, or watch it alone. But do watch it, mainly for the experience.

4 out of 5 stars.