INDIA: A gripping, original Bollywood thriller is here! Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta starrer Vadh may sound like a basic thriller that drops a brain-shattering twist at the end. But it is a totally different game that manages to deceive you on a surficial level.
Vadh is a kind of thriller notion in the genre that explores the layers of human emotions with a heavy dose of family values (which is a good thing).
The film showers the aftermath of the monstrosity faced by an average Indian middle-class couple (Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta).
Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Rajeev Barnwal serve as the filmmaker duo joining the director chair. Luv Ranjan bankrolled the Bollywood feature under the banner of Luv Films. The name of the talented filmmaker (Pyaar Ka Punchnama) attached to the thriller is enough for us to watch the film.
Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta form the soul of Vadh
Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta take centre stage, forming the crux of the thriller feature. The veterans in the acting game deliver another gem of a performance that places the heart of the story in the right place.
We have seen Sanjay Mishra in most of the comedic roles, but Vadh deeply explores his serious side in acting. Neena Gupta adds another layer of emotions that helps us to connect with the story. As viewers, we can easily form an emotional bond with characters like they are part of our lives.
Saurabh Sachdeva and Manav Vij’s characters initiate a ride of intensity that propels the story. Especially Saurabh has played the negative role with such perfection that we feel all the ultra-negative emotions for the character.
On the other hand, Manav delivered a gripping performance, but it could have been more interesting if he had given more screen time.
Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Rajeev Barnwal have brilliantly interwoven the characters in the story that, sucks us into the film straight from the beginning.
The filmmaker duo also penned the story, which syncs as a perfect piece of the puzzle delivering satisfaction to us.
The story kickstarts with a brutal murder which was also depicted in the trailer. The clip hinted at an average thriller that may sound similar to Drishyam showcasing cop vs. the protagonist game.
Yes, the film has some of the mentioned basic elements, but it executes the riskiest take in thrillers by revealing the essential idea at the beginning of the story.
This doesn’t make us think about who did or how he/she did it, but it makes us think about why he/she did it. The reason behind the crime forms the recipe of Vadh.
What could have been better?
Vadh put forth a gripping first half thanks to its tight screenplay, which piques our curiosity for the second half.
The way each character is introduced on screens one after another with a murder premise forms the spark for something huge will happen after the interval.
However, the spark ignited at the start of the plot needed to be turned into an explosion at the climax, but unfortunately, this doesn’t happen.
In the second half, the gripping screenplay slides in a manner that increases the predictability factor of the story.
The climactic conclusion is handled decently, but looking at the thrilling start of the first half, it could have been made more interesting.
Verdict:
Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Rajeev Barnwal’s directorial Vadh is a unique thriller in Bollywood that accelerates the story with Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta’s stellar performances.
Transcontinental Times rating: 3.9/5
Also Read: Drishyam 2 Review: Ajay Devgn’s Thriller Game Grips Us in a Perfect Remake
