Film Review: Gumraah [Misled]

Starring: Aditya Roy Kapur, Mrunal Thakur, Ronit Roy, Vedika Pinto, Keeya Khanna, Mohit Anand

Director: Vardhan Ketkar

Released recently, ‘Gumraah’ is a suspense thriller which follows the classic whodunnit scenario with unexpected and intriguing twists throughout.

Sub Inspector Shivani Mathur (Thakur) is assigned to a murder investigation which seems fairly straightforward at first but is soon riddled with more questions than answers.

‘Gumraah’ follows the story of two doppelgangers, Arjun and Sooraj (both played by Kapoor) and how they become the prime suspects of the case.

Employing the time-tested plot of lookalikes is not new for Bollywood – whether it be the 60’s classic ‘Mera Saaya’ or the relatively recent Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Om Shanti Om’ – but Ketkar is clever with his handling, keeping the film interesting throughout.

While both of them are suspects, and are in custody, the police team is soon faced with both the doppelgangers blaming each other for the murder. What thickens the plot further are the ulterior motives of the police personnel within the team itself.

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The screenplay makes sure that nothing about this investigation is straightforward and none of the characters can truly be trusted, making this thriller a true treat for the adrenaline junkies.

Speaking of the cast, Thakur is a treat to watch as she plays the no nonsense Mathur, fleshing out the grit and feistiness of a passionate inspector extremely well. ACP Dhiren Yadav (Roy) is also a highly intriguing character who will keep the viewers guessing right until the end. His motivations remain unclear for most of the film adding drama to the story. Kapoor’s acting talent as he portrays the starkly contrasting personalities of his dual role is worth a special mention.

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There are a few instances in the film which would’ve benefited from further editing or shortening, but these are negligible and considering the fact that this is Ketkar’s debut film, he has certainly excelled in his efforts of making this a gritty, nail-biting suspense which keeps the viewers hooked right until the end.

Streaming on Netflix now, be sure to check out this already trending film for an exciting evening!