Kahaani is a crazy ride: from the fast pacing to the plot twists to the vibrantly shot scenes of Kolkata, you’ll be on the edge of your seat trying to wrap your head around this film.
Vidya Bagchi (played by Vidya Balan) is a heavily pregnant lady who has just landed in Kolkata in search of her husband, Arnab Bagchi. She, however, finds it difficult to get the answers she seeks – everyone tries to convince her that her husband doesn’t exist. There are secrets buried in the city, and director Sujoy Ghosh peels apart the story layer by layer, thankfully doing so without a overbearing background score that basically tells you how to feel.
The story does have plot holes, and on looking back post the film’s end, some logic may end up looking flimsy. However, you don’t spend much time worrying about this, because the guessing game is just too much fun. And thankfully, Sujoy Ghosh doesn’t resort to throwing in red herrings to derail you. He tosses a clue here or there, and you may have a wild idea about how the film ends, but it’s difficult to connect the dots. Perhaps this is why Kahaani will be even better on a second viewing, because when you know the end, you can go back and piece together all the things you missed the first time around.
Here’s no surprise: Vidya Balan is fantastic. She is a powerhouse and proof that a woman can carry a film on her own shoulders and make it work entirely. The best way to describe her – and her character, also named Vidya – is badass. The supporting cast is also stellar. Parambratta Chattopadhyay plays the sweet, half-in-love cop very well; your heart goes out to him. Nawazuddin Sidiqqui is powerful as the ruthless intelligence officer; this is a guy you should look out for. Saswatta Chatterjee, as the contracted killer, manages to be both creepy and funny at the same time. Cinematography is first class – Setu captures the soul of Kolkata, from the people to Durga pooja. Sujoy Ghosh’s direction, as alluded to before, is ace. Namrata Rao‘s editing is crisp, keeping your attention throughout.
We rarely get a suspense/thriller that actually works, so when something like Kahaani comes along, you have to sit back and appreciate it, even through plot holes. If suspense is your genre of choice, catch this one in cinemas!