Sanket's Review: "Shaitan" is well organised film

Cast: Rajeev Khandelwal, Kalki Koechlin, Shiv Pandit, Rajit Kapoor, Nikhil Chinappa, Kirti Kulhari

Director: Bijoy Nambiar

Length: 2.05 hours approximately

“Shaitan” is a film that explodes fictions which are very rare and real. The director attempts at shocking their viewers by keeping the plot rotating with twists and turns. Nothing really makes an place in front of your eyes, when this film is on! To know what I meant, one definitely needs to watch the film. “Shaitan” may not appeal to everyone for sure, but it has to offer for everyone. At times you feel exhausted, but in a good way and that’s the reason why this film is an absolute yes-yes.

“Shaitan” is not an easy film to be made. There is lots of proceedings in the film. One is the partying gang ho loves absurdness. The other is cop’s suspension with her marital relation doesn’t work for him. And you wonder what actually will collide them, because at the very beginning you have the feelings in your heart that something big is able to happen for taking the narration ahead. All these issues are sequenced effortlessly and that’s why it is a well organized film. “Shaitan” should be credited for its adventurous pioneering because it is an original script that strikes gold. It’s a master-stroke on the maker’s part too. The first half has some clutches for violating slow pacing, especially the codes of kalki’s death mom. This whole track looks a complete misfit here. But the bonding between the 5 friends and their mad mischief really makes some fun, though in an unusual way.

But its second half that keeps you on the edge! Every alternate scene has something different to tell which comes in a good way at screenplay. The director puts right amount of thrilling portions and some terrific chase sequences especially the one in second half inducing Rajeev Khandelwal chasing one a bribed cop. It is the best scene of the whole film. “Shaitan” also scores for its technical values. The camera-work is marvelous. It would have not got better then this kind of work. Kudos! The music is very decent but their background score that hams up needlessly at times.

The performances are mention-worthy. It would be an understatement saying Rajeev Khandelwal pulls the maximum attention through his act. Shiv Pandit stands very good too. Neil and Rajit are good too. But its ladies who disappoints. Kalki Koechlin does some parts extremely well, specially the one scene where she bursts into ego with cop, immediately after landing. But rather she fails miserably. She had that over-the top issue with role which demands more intelligence then hard work. Rest all are fine.

One must give a go to “Shaitan” who has that appetite for some unusual films. “Shaitan” is not the best works, but definitely it is more engaging then any other recent thrillers. Every minute is so well executed (barring those slow portions.) You can come out and feel the price of your ticket. Don’t go in expecting a fun film, which promos suggests. It is a film that must be watched for its originality in many aspects especially the technical.

Rating- 3.5/5