Vadh Review

Plot:

A retired school teacher, Shambhunath Mishra, commits a crime under unusual circumstances to get rid of his harassing loan shark, Prajapati Pandey. With the police on his trail, Shambhunath must cover his tracks to stay out of jail.

Acting:

Sanjay Mishra sinks his teeth into a complex and layered character with effortless ease. Neena Gupta complements Mishra well, but deserves a meatier role. Saurabh Sachdeva's villainous turn is a revelation and Manav Vij is first-rate as a morally dubious cop.

Cinematography:

Sapan Narula’s camera work is commendable, capturing the gloomy setting of the film to great effect. The scene when Shambhunath discards the body is particularly chilling.

Direction:

Directed by the duo of Jaspal Singh Sandhu and Rajeev Barnwal, Vadh is an interesting crossover between small-town, slice-of-life cinema and edgy thriller. The Mishras’ world and struggles are relatable, and the film benefits from the robust acting talent.

Screenplay:

The story of Vadh is complex and emotionally engaging in most parts, but the screenplay fails to reach the standards set by the similarly themed film, Drishyam. The film meanders through improbable twists in the latter half and the investigation stretch feels underwritten.

Music:

The makers of Vadh wisely refrain from stuffing the narrative with unnecessary songs. The background score, unfortunately, feels too generic at points.

Verdict:

Vadh is an ordinary thriller that can be mildly enjoyed if one watches it with no expectations. Overall, Vadh is an interesting film to watch with commendable cinematography capturing the gloomy setting effectively. Sanjay Mishra, Neena Gupta, Saurabh Sachdeva, and Manav Vij deliver compelling performances. However, the screenplay could have been better to elevate the film into something extraordinary.

Share this review