Sohum Shah earned his due quite late in the industry. The author remembers the time when she witnessed Sohum’s chef-d’oeuvre, Tumbbad (2018), and was shocked that there was barely any chatter around it at the time of its release. However, over the years, the period folk horror film gathered a huge fandom, owing to the reach of OTT. But since then, the actor-filmmaker’s other supremacy was nowhere to be found for a long time. So when Crazxy was announced by the star himself, it was already touted to be another unmissable piece of work from Shah.
Story:
The latest thriller drama, Crazxy, revolves around a surgeon, who finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game on receiving a ransom call after his estranged daughter with Down syndrome gets kidnapped. While the actor-producer’s 2018 flick was packed with mysteries, his current is an edge-of-the-seat suspense thriller. But, is it as good as you expected? Let’s find out in this review.
Review:
Crazxy begins by establishing the facets of the lead character, who is in a noble profession, but kindness and patience are seldom found underneath his I-don’t-give-a-damn attitude. The introduction scene even showcases his egotistical personality when the actor erratically begins to race with a stranger, just to prove his superiority when a biker pulls over unannounced in front of his Range Rover and makes a vulgar gesture. The whole sequence instantly grabs your attention, while his victory smirk followed by the groovy song in the background hooks you to the screen in anticipation of more such moments in the film.
On his way to “buy out his life,” the tense doctor receives a call stating the kidnapping of his daughter. At first, he drives his car to a predetermined destination, but after some discussion with his ex-wife, current girlfriend, and the kidnapper over calls, he finds himself in an unexpected situation coupled with emotional turmoil. Being a self-absorbed human, he even takes time and multiple puffs of a cigarette to decide if he wants to save his offspring’s life or himself from a court case. With so much mystery surrounding the pivotal character, the movie impresses with such a clear and strong premise.
Director Girish Kohli appears to have squeezed out all that he could in this mysterious and edgy drama. Gradually, the movie keeps gripping your attention as the narrative moves further. At one point, you may end up doubting all the major characters and yet you won’t be able to even remotely guess the unpredictable conclusion. That’s the beauty of Crazxy! The presence of the pivotal cast, except Sohum, is reduced to their voices. The lead actor often appears talking to several people on calls, while their photographs on his phone serve as their introductions. And this unique angle of actually not showcasing the physical acts of any of the major characters oddly works in favour of the film.
On the other hand, Sunil Borkar and Kuldeep Mamania’s visually appealing cinematography also deserves a mention here. While the first half of the movie takes you on a ride (literally!) through the highways and bridges of Delhi-NCR, the latter part showcases an unknown territory of North India that sees miles of wilderness through striking vertical and drone shots. The picturesque locations serve the purpose of the story quite well, lending a picturesque quality to the overall cinematic experience.
Penned by Gulzar and crooned by a young vocalist – Devika Sharma, the Vishal Bhardwaj-composed track O Papa surely tugs at your heartstrings. And the track, Paapi 2.0, by Romy, Khullar G, Manan Bhardwaj, and Yeah Proof is the grooviest. However, the original score of the high-octane movie by Jesper Kyd impresses the most. Earlier, his work in Tumbbad was exceptionally praise-worthy, while the Hitman and Assassin’s Creed series fame Danish composer leaves you surprised with his understanding of the noise in Indian films. Meanwhile, the old Hindi songs Goli Maar Bheje Mein from Satya (1998) and Abhimanyu from Inquilaab (1984) fit perfectly in the sequences they are placed.
The high-voltage drama and the banger music are just the right components for a perfect thriller. While Crazxy presents a delightful dish with perfect ingredients and a pinch of wit and humour, you get a feeling that something is missing. In the climax, which is certainly unpredictable and shocking, the film seems unfinished. The moral of the story is valid, but the realisation happens too soon for the lead actor. On the other hand, you also feel that the narrative should have ended after providing the answers to some crucial questions. What happens now? Will the “antagonist” face any repercussions for such a felony? Maybe not to all, but this author does sense the need for those explanations being a thriller drama buff. Meanwhile, the reasoning behind the ‘X’ in the title of the film has also been conveniently left to the viewers to discern for themselves.
Spoiler alert! Sohum, being the center of the show, leaves no stone unturned to portray his grey-shade character with absolute conviction. He reminds you of being one of the main components in making Tumbbad a ‘cult classic’ in such a short period. From getting his dialect right to the body language of a downright egomaniac to his flawless expressions, the actor proves to be one of the most iconic performers of our time. Just before the ending, his character gets physically hurt yet keeps going as he needs to find “something.” In the following sequence, the ace actor gets so raw that it creates a bizarre agitation inside you, almost willing you to stand up and help him. It’s simply surreal to witness such a powerful act on screen!
Sohum also impresses with his methodical acting in the movie. In one of the sequences, his character appears changing the tire of his car and simultaneously helping out doctors in a surgery room via virtual call. Sohum carries out the tedious task so effortlessly through his rendition that it makes the scenario appear quite honest and transports you to the middle of the unending barren land. The actor effortlessly embodies the psychological and physical turmoil that his character goes through. Meanwhile, the writer-director deserves to be applauded for creating such an engaging circumstance in the film.
Nimisha Sajayan is another brilliant addition to the cast in the movie. If you’ve seen the actress’ impressive acts in The Great Indian Kitchen and Poacher, you can imagine the impact of her crying and begging in the film as she asks her ex-husband to save their daughter. The rhythm in her voice in the middle of a dire situation, such as that, just over a phone call is exemplary. Meanwhile, Tinnu Anand’s throaty menacing voice makes you believe that he is “indeed” a vicious psychotic man. Kudos to the veteran actor! Shilpa Shukla’s performance comes across as quite charming, while Unnathi Surana portrays her role with the right mix of emotion and authenticity.
Verdict:
Apart from a little unsettling and somewhat incomplete conclusion, Girish-Sohum’s powerful collaboration emerges as one of the most thrilling and engaging ventures in a long time. Meanwhile, the gripping narrative, stunning visuals, groovy scores, and captivating performances are icing on the cake. Crazxy is the most unique mystery-thriller movie to have come from Bollywood ever and is deserving of your time. It’s out in theatres now. Go watch!
Crazxy
Watch In: Theatre
Director: Girish Kohli
Writer: Girish Kohli
Cast: Sohum Shah, Tinnu Anand, Nimisha Sajayan, Shilpa Shukla, Unnathi Surana
Rating: 3.5 stars
