Thai Massage: A mixed bag of emotions with Gajraj Rao at the forefront

Plot

Thai Massage follows the story of a conservative middle-class widower, Atmaram Dubey, who embarks on a personal journey to seek sexual liberation after his wife's passing. This journey takes him all the way to Bangkok, Thailand, with the help of a local good-for-nothing guy, Santulan Kumar.

Acting

The film's trump card is Gajraj Rao, who sparkles in both comedic and dramatic moments as Atmaram. His performance is measured and tugs at your heartstrings with the struggles his character goes through. Divyendu Sharma, in the role of Santulan, is earnest and sincere but suffers due to lack of solid writing. The rest of the actors end up as caricatures due to the focus being too strong on the main character.

Cinematography

Director Mangesh Hadawale captures the essence of a sleepy town, Ujjain, and its residents' mentality skillfully. The picturesque milieu of Bangkok is depicted beautifully, especially Phuket's Khao Sok Lake where Aatmaram travels with a female Russian blogger. The cinematography truly shines in these moments.

Direction

Hadawale's script has some real and convincing initial portions dealing with Atmaram's inner turmoil. However, the narrative becomes rather muddled and implausible once the protagonist evolves and defies societal norms. The film is also inconsistent in its tonality while making feeble attempts at comedy. The focus on the main character leaves the rest as underdeveloped caricatures.

Overall

Thai Massage is a mixed bag, but it is heartening to see Gajraj Rao leading a mainstream Bollywood film. Although the film's concept and thought are commendable, it lacks tautness and falls short on the quirk quotient. The premise may remind one of Rao's earlier outing, Badhai Ho, but it portrays our tendency to equate respectability and abstinence better. The film has some poignant moments but is underwhelming overall.

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