There haven’t been any major Bollywood releases in 2024 so far.
Merry Christmas is the first of the lot, which too falls in the mid-budget segment. The movie has been simultaneously shot in Hindi and Tamil languages.
It is director Sriram Raghavan’s first Tamil directorial. Katrina Kaif is also making her debut in the language as an actor.
Interestingly, the cast of the Tamil version is different than the one in Hindi. I would be using the information based on the Hindi rendering.
Based on the novel Le Monte-charge by Frederic Dard, Merry Christmas runs for almost two and a half hours. Here is my review.
Merry Christmas Synopsis
Set in a time when Mumbai was called Bombay, Merry Christmas is about a chance meeting between two complete strangers. What their union brings and how their stories intertwine form the crux of the tale.
Directed by Sriram Raghavan, it starts Vijay Sethupathi (Albert) and Katrina Kaif (Maria) in lead roles while Radhika Apte (Rosie) plays a cameo and Sanjay Kapoor (Ronnie) has an extended cameo.
What Works for Merry Christmas?
Merry Christmas unfolds with a captivating subtlety, drawing viewers into an intriguing setup that gradually reveals its mysteries.
Alfred, a loner, accidentally meets Maria on Christmas Eve. Accompanied by her mute daughter, she invites him to her house.
Telling more than this will be a crime to those who haven’t watched the movie.
The story takes time and doesn’t make furious jumps to suggest a fiery template.
The film’s strength lies in its commitment to realism, avoiding gratuitous clichés or abrupt plot shifts.
There’s a genuine dedication to the primary theme that persists until the very end.
The background music complements the modern-day thriller ambiance, contributing to the film’s overall sincerity.
In true Sriram Raghavan fashion, the narration is dark and thoughtfully engaging, reminiscent of the plot variations seen in ‘Andhadhun.’
The unpredictable twists in the second half add to the film’s intrigue, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
Special mention goes to the well-paced songs, notably Arijit Singh’s romantic track, evoking echoes of ‘Wo Ladki’ from ‘Andhadhun.’
How are the Performances?
Katrina Kaif delivers her best-ever performance as Rosie in Merry Christmas. Speaking very honestly, I have never been a fan of Kaif’s acting. But, in this film, she outclasses all her previous outings.
Her held-back act is the backbone of the movie. Generally, she has a very commercial presence which is loud and shiny.
The fact that she ditches the conventional and breaks the bubble of her career wins you over in Merry Christmas.
She restricts herself and looks within the character’s ambit to present an intricate individual on the screen. This is the Katrina we have been missing for decades.
The meritorious actor, Vijay Sethupathi, portrays Albert in the Sriram Raghavan directorial. He is effortlessly genuine to the core and makes good use of his intrinsically built palette of expressions.
Two major stars from different industries pull off extremely nuanced performances no one might have expected from them.
They hold their established statuses and become nobody characters, which are down-to-earth and realistically pertinent.
Radhika Apte’s cameo as Rosie is honest to the sketch. She puts genuine efforts into making her scenes impactful.
Sanjay Kapoor plays Ronnie in Merry Christmas. His demeanor is striking even in an extended cameo appearance. An experienced player, he makes acting look like a piece of cake.
What Doesn’t Work for Merry Christmas?
The first hour may not click with everyone since it is limited to the lead actors, making the pace look weak.
I watched the first show of the film. Three people were there, including me. Out of which, two left as soon as the first half ended.
So, while the critics may have their opinions, as a viewer, the grip could have been tighter in the first hour.
Secondly, I’m not sure how many would agree, but Merry Christmas’ screenplay doesn’t do justice to its storyline.
Watch or Not?
It’s an engaging film, undoubtedly. The focus on authenticity is its biggest strength whereas the first half needed a better screenplay (to capture the audience’s attention).
You should consider spending money if you have the patience of watching a ‘growing’ suspense thriller.
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