Andhadhun Review: Expect the unexpected!

One thing the audience hates is predictability. From Game of Thrones to Harry Potter anything that surprises us becomes our new favourite. Sriram Raghvan’s Andhadhun is a thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seats squealing, gasping and wanting more.

This mystery is as fresh as the morning dew. The protagonist, Akash is a pianist and dreams of going to London to participate in a music competition. He claims that at the age of 14 years, he was hit by a cricket ball which damaged his optic nerve and has been blind since. Akash is blind in every sense but every now and then he does something that will make you question the genuineness of his story.

Ayushman Khurana is a genius in the film, he does justice to his character and despite all the planning and plotting, you know that he has an innocent heart. He captures the fear, the anxiety and the anger of his character very well. He is a natural at the piano and very convincing as a blind man.

Radhika Apte is a sweet girl who is attracted to Akash and his innate tenderness. She tries to be sensitive towards him but ends up cracking jokes like, ”See you, I mean, I’ll see you soon”.

Tabu plays the ‘loving’ wife of a veteran actor, who is now a real-estate king but still feeds off his old fame. She is magnificent, fearless, dark, deadly and malicious. At one point in the film, she is even rightly called Lady Macbeth. Look out for more subtle references.

The music complements the narrative at every point, even when there are shots of suspense, a loud orchestra plays in the background. It reminds you of Tom and Jerry’s chase sequences from your childhood. The songs don’t take away the screen time but they enhance the narrative. Amit Trivedi’s composition is a delight as always.

The masterful editing of the film is what makes the mystery so compelling. The cinematography is responsible for all the ‘WTF!’ moments and jump scares. All the details lie in the peripheral vision. (Remember the first shot, it all ties up in the end.)

This is no Game of Thrones but everyone deceives everyone. From selling off the individual’s organs to asking for one crore as ransom, no one is innocent. Everyone is looking for their own greed.

All in all, it is a fantastic film with a fresh plotline, great music, subtle comedy, and Alfred Hitchcock-like mystery. Totes recommend!