Neeyat Movie Review: “Neeyat,” directed by Anu Menon and featuring Vidya Balan in the lead role, releases in theaters today, July 7, 2023. As the curtains rise on this highly anticipated film, we present our comprehensive review, offering insights into the cinematic experience awaiting audiences.”
Plot of ‘Neeyat’:
Set on a stormy night in Scotland, “Neeyat” revolves around the exiled businessman Ashish Kapoor, also known as AK (portrayed by Ram Kapoor), who gathers with his close associates and loved ones to celebrate his birthday in a magnificent castle. From the outset, underlying tensions among the attendees become apparent, foreshadowing the forthcoming turmoil.
The atmosphere takes a drastic turn when AK unveils a significant decision, directly involving detective Mira Rao, played by Vidya Balan. This pivotal announcement sets off a chain of events, shrouding the narrative in suspense and intrigue. To uncover the gripping twists and turns that follow, one must witness the unfolding of “Neeyat.”
Neeyat Movie Review:
At first glance, “Neeyat” may appear to be in the vein of “Knives Out,” but unfortunately, the film fails to live up to its initial impression. Though the story is set in an isolated castle in Scotland, “Neeyat” charts its own narrative course. While it incorporates some familiar murder mystery tropes, the film ultimately falls short of delivering a compelling experience that truly stands out. So, is it worth watching? Let’s delve deeper to find out.
Anu Menon, known for directing “Four More Shots” and “Shakuntala Devi,” also co-writes and directs “Neeyat.” The film unfolds within the confines of an isolated castle, centering around Ashish Kapoor (Ram Kapoor), a businessman who flees India after being embroiled in a massive financial scandal. Drawing inspiration from real-life figures like Vijay Mallya, Anu weaves an intriguing tale around AK, who calls upon the CBI from India to surrender and assist with his extradition. The plot thickens during AK’s birthday celebrations, where he gathers his close friends and family. However, the attendees’ intentions prove to be far from pure.
After an apparent murder occurs, Vidya’s character assumes the role of investigator. But in this story, not everything is as it seems. The background OST continuously echoes the warning, “farebi main, farebi tu” (I am deceitful, you are deceitful), effectively keeping the audience on alert.
Anu skillfully creates a world that feels relatable and familiar to the audience. Rather than succumbing to the trappings of a conventional detective drama, the twists and turns unfold in a non-linear format, engaging viewers in a thrilling guessing game.
The story itself is decent and possesses moments of shocking revelation, akin to Sujoy Ghosh’s groundbreaking film “Kahaani.” However, Anu Menon occasionally succumbs to clichéd tropes of the “locked room murder mystery” genre, although she manages to inject some fresh elements into the narrative. Unfortunately, the film’s potential is marred by lackluster performances.
Star Cast of Neeyat:
With a talented ensemble cast including Vidya Balan, Neeraj Kabi, Rahul Bose, Shahana Goswami, Shashank Arora, Niki Walia, Amrita Singh, Ram Kapoor, and Prajakta Kohli, among others, it is disappointing that none of their performances leave a lasting impression. Despite their best intentions, their portrayals often come across as caricatures. Serious scenes become unintentionally laughable, and apart from a few fleeting moments of amusement, the dialogue delivery feels more like a script reading than a cohesive performance.
Regrettably, there are hardly any standout scenes that linger in your memory once you leave the theater, and the visuals fail to leave a lasting impact. However, Vidya Balan delivers a decent performance as she embodies the character of a robotic, nerdy investigator. While not her best recent performance, she manages to infuse nuances into her portrayal, despite the limitations.
“Neeyat” remains entertaining as long as you can overlook the mediocre performances, but that is a demanding ask. In the end, the film earns a modest rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars for its efforts.