Manorama : Six Feet Under : Film Review

Here is one more example of how good advertising people can be a film maker. An experienced Ad maker Navdeep singh, ventures for the first time into movies. And the subject that he chooses is not preachy, its not sensitive, its not about a message etc., its plain entertainment. Its pure good fiction. Let me make it very clear, this movie belongs to its script. A well written well thought out suspense film throwing a hundred dots on to you till the last 15 minutes and joining all the dots to lead to the climax of the film. Truly Awe some.

"Registan ka yahi sach hai,

yaha jo hota hai wo dikhta nahi aur jo dikhta hai wo hota nahi"

Hence, starts a movie with an unusual looking Abhay deol in a rugged look, driving a motorcycle on the barren roads cutting the desert. Would not like to detail the story here as it would be giving too much out, the movie has twists and turns of event every 10 minutes. Characters as mysterious as the desert are not all that they seem to be.

Putting the characters Together

The only character the way he seems is Satyaveer (Abhay Deol), a suspended Construction engineer, who is a part time writer and wants to be famous, he wants to overcome the shackles of the small town, small place and unknown life living between the mediocre people you see every day and wants to be a "big fish". But he knows that

"Dunia ki ladai mein har baar badi machli kya khana pasand karti hai?"

"Chhoti machlio ko".

With a sharp mind, that he wrote his book "Manorama", he moves on to find out the reasons behind a murder, he finds a detective within in himself. But the luck it seems is not in his favour and he falls into the BIG FISH's game.

The Big fish, minister P.P.Rathore (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), through out the movie is just like his character, unaccessible. Someone whom you know only through the talks of other people and characters in the film. You hear about him, his personal life, his involvement in issues, his dirty political objectives everything from someone else's mouth. This does not create a clear picture of him in your mind and maintains the mystery around him intact.

Manorama (Sarika), age 32, keeps you wondering through out the movie who she is and you get a new identity of her every now and then in the movie. Where did she come from? where did she go? How was she related to the whole story? Keep on thinking till the end.

Raima Sen's character is another such mysterious personality, who is she, is she sheetal, what is it that she wants, who is she? Whoever she is, her simplicity is charming enough to seduce our married Satyaveer.

Then there is a motley of simple characters, not as complicated as discussed here. But this mix of complex and simple characters weaves the suspense of the script darker and dense.

There is Nimmi (Gul Panang), Jittery wife of Satyaveer, who wants to live a simple life and is not very appreciative about her husband's antics. There is Nimmi's brother, Inspector BrijMohan (Vinay Pathak), whose love for Malpoa and alcohol and disinterest in married life is quite clear in his interactions with his friend Satyaveer. Then there is Biharilal(Brijendra Kale), a simple next door neighbour. Then there are single cliched characters of Goons, roommate of the female protagnist, Minister's wife, his illicit daughter and many more to confuse you through out the story.

And weaving all these characters together is a thick, let me say a very thick story line. It unfolds slowly and makes you savour every moment of the story telling. All credit for the movie goes to Devika Bhagat and Navdeep singh for writing such a master piece. It just moves on like some Agatha christie fiction work. Dialogues (Abhinav Kashyap and Manoj Tapadia) support the story well. Dialogues are understandably simple and to the point.

A great start by the director Navdeep singh, would appreciate him for the choice of story and casting. A wonderful assemblage of talented actors fitting the role perfectly.

I feel the cinematography (Arvind Kannabiran) could have been a little better.Though the plot thickens nicely, the whole aura of a story set in desert could have been done a little better. So is it with the editing (Jabeen Merchant), which looks naive at times. Music by Jayesh Gandhi and Raimond Mirza is Ok. There are songs but none that you can remeber.

Performances are the key for a good suspense thriller and the performance in this movie confirms the same. Raima Sen and Sarika are top class. The very looks, the charm, the mysterious simplicity of Raima sen, just befits the character in the most appropriate manner. Kulbhusan Kharbanda lives up to the expectations from him. Though she hams at time, Gul Panang is good. Vinay Pathak as the eccentric officer is Brilliant, he brings a smile to face whenever he is onscreen. But the real winning performance of this movie is that by Abhay Deol, a not too experienced shoulders to carry of an entire suspense movie with him. Absolutely fantastic. I have started liking his choice of role and also his execution of the same. Look at the movies he has done, Socha na tha, Ahista Ahista, Honeymoon travels, Ek Chalis ki last local, and Manorama, all so different. He is a deol to watch out for in future.

All in all a treat for the lovers of suspense thriller with thick story line.

31/2 * for this fantastic debut by the director Navdeep singh.