Neeyat Movie Review: Vidya Balan Shines Amidst A Mix Of Clichés And Clever War Games
Star Cast: Vidya Balan, Ram Kapoor, Amrita Puri, Rahul Bose, Shahana Goswami, Neeraj Kabi, Shashank Arora, Prajakta Koli
Vidya Balan's portrayal of a laconic and hawk-eyed crime investigator in Anu Menon's "Neeyat" brings a refreshing novelty to the film. Her character's use of silence as a shield and a tool adds a unique element to the story. The movie incorporates clever twists alongside some clichéd hooks and contrived sleights, resulting in a whodunit that is sporadically effective.
The performances in the film vary in quality. Neeraj Kabi, Shahana Goswami, and Shashank Arora, playing their respective roles, elevate the overall standard of acting. However, some of the other actors fail to deliver performances that could help overcome the weaker parts of the narrative.
The screenplay, crafted by Anu Menon, Priya Venkataraman, Advaita Kala, and Girvani Dhyani, cleverly incorporates a plot detail inspired by contemporary reality: the flight of a bank loan defaulter and a maverick businessman responsible for the suicide of several employees.
Mira Rao, the senior CBI officer, and sleuth, exhibits characteristics reminiscent of Miss Marple, Benoit Blanc, and Sherlock Holmes. However, she eventually becomes her own unique character. Plunging headlong into the case that lands in her lap, Mira Rao views everyone in Highgrave Castle as a suspect, but the audience struggles to unravel her hints and motives. Despite some forced and hurried moments in the climactic scenes, "Neeyat" successfully sustains the mystery until the final act, incorporating significant twists along the way.
Overall, "Neeyat" is a fast-paced, strictly by-the-book thriller that may not reach the heights of a true-blue humdinger, but it avoids any risk of being a disappointment or a failure.
