Andhadhun Film Review – Journey Down the Rabbit Hole

Here is a treat for the black comedy thriller lovers. In Andhadhun, Ayushmann Khurrana and Tabu are on top of their game. For the most part, the duo keeps us hooked to the screen. The movie has an engaging narrative style that will appeal to the film connoisseur.

Andhadhun Film Review

Andhadhun revolves around Akash (Ayushman Khurrana), a blind piano player who accidentally stumbles upon a murder leading to a series of darkly humorous events. There are plenty of plot twists with the central characters operating in darker tones for the most part. I will restrain from prodding any deeper into its story lest I give away too much.

Moviegoers will find the narrative construct of the film intriguing. The movie doesn’t follow a linear narrative as it opens with a farmer chasing a rabbit across his cabbage plantation and then cuts to Akash in his apartment. We all but forget this opening scene as we go along with Akash on his mind-numbing journey.

Tabu’s character is probably the toughest to pull off without it becoming too farcical. To her credit, she makes Simi, who is anything but your typical housewife, look authentic and yet is a blast to watch. For his role of a blind man who is caught up in a maelstrom of murder, lies, and deceit, Ayushmann Khurrana is right on the button. He does not put a foot wrong as he has you wondering what lies next in store for his character. Radhika Apte’s Sophie, who is enamoured by Akash, and other characters played by Zakir Hussain, Ashwini Kalsekar, Manav Vij, et al., have a significant part in the story, with the latter two seen in one of the many stellar scenes of the movie.

Prepare for a wild ride with the cinematography that is visually absorbing for the most part. There are jaw-dropping moments that come up out of nowhere. The sound helps build up the action quite nicely as the characters go about their Machiavellian ways.

Although the songs are nothing to write home about, they at least do not draw the viewers out of the story. For a movie with a piano player at its centre, the filmmakers might have done better with a catchy foot-tapping tune or two that kept the audience humming along.

The film does get a tad convoluted approaching three-quarters of its runtime, and this might put off a few in the audience. When that happens, you might squirm a wee bit in your seat wanting the story to get going once again.

All in all, Andhadhun takes a fresh approach to storytelling, not seen that often in Bollywood, with directors hesitant to explore newer ways of presenting their story. Most filmgoers will relish the innovative screenplay while the amateur filmmaker might want to take a note or two after watching it.

Film Comments’ Andhadhun film review rates Andhadhun (3.5 / 5)

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