Feb 16, 2013 04:15 PM
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“Vishesh Films is succeeding backwards”, is what Vishesh Bhatt feels, as claimed by Mahesh Bhatt in several interviews. The statements makes sense since the recent films of the banner have done roaring business (Raaz 3 was one of the biggest hits of 2012) but is abound with clichés and at places, cheesy dialogues and situations. It still made for an entertaining watch but at a time when the emphasis is on believable and straight-out-of-life cinema, how long can Bhatts continue with such films? At such a juncture, Murder 3 comes as a whiff of fresh air. Logic still takes a backseat at places and cinematic liberties are used here and there. But the setting is more real, lousy and scary special effects are absent and thrill and shock value is tremendous, especially in the latter part of the movie. This one surely deserves a watch!
The story of the movie: The rich photographer Vikram (Randeep Hooda) is devastated after his girlfriend Roshni (Aditi Rao Hydari) breaks up with him and vanishes without a trace. He very soon finds solace in Nisha (Sara Loren) and she moves in with him, in his palatial house. Very soon, Nisha starts hearing eerie voices in the house. On the other hand, inspector Kabir (Rajesh Shringapure) who’s investigating the disappearance of Roshni, is of the view that Vikram is behind the whole matter.
Murder 3 is unlike Bhatt banner has attempted in recent times. The closest it can get to, in terms of international standards and a world cinema feel, is Anurag Basu’s Gangster (2006) although both films are diametrically different from each other. Also, it was a risk since Murder franchise is known for its lethal combo of sex and violence. Murder 3, on the other hand, effectively uses sensuality in the right doses and not even once does it get explicit (no surprise that the film has got U/A certificate). Even the violence isn’t gory at all. But the risk pays off, although the film could have been much better. The first half is plain average. Nothing much happens and the in-your-face cinematic liberties spoil the mood to an extent. For instance, Vikram’s bungalow was supposed to be in Mumbai and dating back to pre-independence era. It didn’t however seem so at all. But thankfully, things change in the second hour. Again, for few moments, one might question, ‘was such a twist really necessary?’. But as the film progresses, one realizes the twist of the tale works big time! Also, though there are songs, it doesn’t hamper the proceedings. The film is just 120 minutes and director ensures that viewers remain gripped. The climax is quite unpredictable and the film ends on a surprising but justified note.
Randeep Hooda looks dashing in the new hairdo and keeps his performance restrained and mysterious, which works best in a film like this. Believe it or not, he is relegated to the backseat in the post-interval portions. The actor is proving his worth, film after film and it’s good to see that reputed filmmakers like Imtiaz Ali and Karan Johar have signed him for their big ventures. Aditi Rao Hydari looks a bit odd in the first half but dominates the second hour and how! A powerpacked performance for sure! Sara Loren too puts her best foot forward and looks very pretty too. Rajesh Shringapure looks fine but his hair style is awful. Bugs Bhargava Krishna (DK Bose) doesn’t impress. Shekhar Shukla (Inpsector Amble) is okay. Karla Singh (Mrs Fields), Tonishaa Pawar (Niyomi) and Shraddha Jaiswal (Nisha’s roommate) were fair in their small roles.
Music is shockingly a letdown. Only Mat Aazma Re leaves a mark. Raju Singh’s background score as always was apt. Sunil Patel’s cinematography is decent and the locales of South Africa and Goa are well shot. Rajat Potdar’s sets aren’t convincing. A smaller and a bit more older-looking house would have been perfect for the film.
Murder 3 is an official remake of the Spanish film The Hidden Face and kudos to its writers for coming up with a novel and brilliant storyline. Vishesh Bhatt does great in his debut venture and instead of taking a tried and tested route, which he could have easily done, attempts to do something drastically different. Murder and Murder 2 were erotic thrillers but Murder 3 is a plot-driven fare with emphasis on drama, emotions and thrill too. Only if the rough edges and the first half were taken care of, Murder 3 would had been an outstanding endaevour!
On the whole, Murder 3 has a mediocre first half but shows it’s brilliance in the second hour with the interesting and unpredictable twist in the tale. The climax is quite surprising too and the film proves that Vishesh Films is out for a much needed makeover. Music is disappointing but performances are decent while Vishesh Bhatt comes up with a fine debut. The film is made on reasonable costs and will recover its investment but theatrical business might remain dull due to low buzz and absence of Emraan Hashmi. However, the film has its moments and watching it in a theatre will be no harm. Do give the film a try!
P.S.: In order to avoid giving out the suspense and twist of the film, I am not mentioning my best scenes!
