Introduction
Neeraj Pandey thrillers have always fascinated me especially for their distinct treatment and execution. Whether it's 'Special 26', 'A Wednesday', or 'Baby', director Neeraj Pandey has always managed to present his thrillers in a unique way, which, apart from being grippy, have also explored the mental landscape and psychological dynamics of key characters, at various instances. This time around, while Neeraj Pandey's trademark 'psychic-exploration' finds a solid place in his latest Netflix thriller 'Sikandar Ka Muqaddar', it's the execution that was stretched out beyond the film's abilities.
Basic Plot
What seemed to be an easily solvable diamond heist case at a diamond expo in Mumbai involving only three suspects, takes tolerance and patience to the next level as there's no culprit found even after 15 years.
Positives
Storytelling and Performances
It's the non-linear screenplay and the pulpy writing that combine to fuel captivation in this thriller. The narration feels fresh and so does the twists at proper intervals that you don't really see coming. The main events of the film are broadly segmented into two parts which have a 15 year gap between each other, and while you would be awry of how the superimposition of the two timelines would feel like, director Neeraj Pandey makes sure that the two timelines are utilized in the best way possible so that the audience get dual information and not get bored at the same time! The screenplay is treated in a question-answer like format, where, for every event in the past, there was a reason, which is revealed in the future. A rare, unique, and effective writing I must say!
Talking about performances, Jimmy Sheirgill as IO Jaswinder Singh and Avinash Tiwari as Sikandar Sharma really do steal the show. It's mainly about the 'cat-and-mouse-chase', 'ego clashes', 'emotional conflict', and the overall chemistry between these two characters that make this film all the more engaging. Tamannaah Bhatia does good as Kamini Singh and while her character has less meat and dynamism, it's refreshing to see her back in full-fledged acting after appearing in back to back item chartbusters. Nonetheless, her character provides a much needed emotional depth in the film. The way the lead actors perform in the emotional and dramatic scenes is really good and when talking about emotional scenes, there's a particular scene that I want to mention, which is where Avinash Tiwari's character admits his wife into hospital, reaches home only to see his landlord has thrown out his children on the road in the middle of the night, rescues them by taking them to a social shelter home and the next moment, is attacked by robbers who escape with his money that he saved for his wife's medical expenses. The character breaks down on the road after witnessing so many things going wrong in his life and Avinash's performance in that scene was truly amazing!
Technical Aspects and Neeraj-ism
Among technicalities, the aspects that deserve solid mention are the color grading and Arvind Singh's camera work. Generally we see bluish tint in thrillers like these and this film has smartly avoided that regular practice, resulting in a reduced redundancy in terms of visual appeal. Even with a very natural color tone the film is able to maintain it's mood, and as this isn't something that you regularly see in thriller films, it's a thumbs up. Talking about camera work, it's quite interesting to be honest! Long single takes have been prioritized over regular camera angles and this works very well in keeping up with the interrogative and investigative nature of the film. Wide angles have also been focused upon and all in all, the camera work elevates the film for sure.
By the term 'Neeraj-ism', I meant the typical touch that director Neeraj Pandey tries to keep in maximum of his films, and this film is no exception. This film is rich in 'discussion' scenes, which makes for a good concoction when combined with the drama. 'Sikandar ka Muqaddar' carries a natural tone in the revelation and dramatic scenes which is a good addition. Aspects like human emotions, relationships, failures and love, are given enough spaces in the screenplay, so much so, that, at some point, you may feel like watching a well made slice-of-life film. While this may sound unique for a thriller film and is a new approach for sure, it's because of this approach that the film kind of loses it's track.
Underwhelming Aspects
Narrative drift and Execution
This much through the review, I'm sure you would call me out for not talking about the 'diamond heist' that I mentioned at the very beginning, and instead, brag about how well the conversation-heavy drama and emotions are. While you are absolutely correct from your position, let me tell you that the film itself follows this exact same grammar and I'm not kidding! A diamond heist, main suspects having their lives turned upside down, two suspects coming close to each other, and their life story; this is what this film was all about. The drama was so well set and established that the viewers would have probably felt uncomfortable, witnessing Jimmy Sheirgill's character winning the case, especially after how mean he was shown. Throughout the runtime, one barely cared who the diamond robber really was and Jimmy Sheirgill's antagonization only shifted the focus away from the main crux. The film did try to get into it's narrative with a rather good twist, but it's the established drama that kept the twist at bay, while you can’t help but struggle with the dilemma of whether to praise the good ending twist or reject it for creating a tonal shift from the rest of the drama! The climax, thus, suffers from a drastic tonal shift and average execution, and while the rest of the film truly prioritizes the script, it falters at the very end leading to a bittersweet experience. The hint to a sequel at the very end of the film could have been written off entirely as that makes minimal sense.
Conclusion
While Neeraj Pandey's previous films have significantly worked even after dealing with the main plot and human emotions at the same time, things have changed this time around. The 'sitting on the fence' idea backfires as none among the two main checkpoints (drama and plot) of the film is optimally reached, resulting in a film that overdoes and exhausts itself towards the end. The performances and screenplay are definitely the strongest aspects which makes this film stand out in the crowd of contemporary thrillers. I genuinely appreciate the director's choice of incorporating the noir factor in the writing, but it makes less of a difference. That being said 'Sikandar Ka Muqaddar' is a well written story, with strong dialogues and terrific performances, which falters at the end trying to go beyond it's capabilities. If you think you know who the killer is; 'ghanta pata hai tumhe.'
Watch Out For
- Cast performances
- Screenplay
- Twists at good intervals
WTF Rating
6.5/10