Sikandar Ka Muqaddar : Not Neeraj Pandey’s best still this heist thriller has its high points

The central performances of Avinash Tiwary and Jimmy Shergill majorly contribute in making the movie engaging even when things go astray.
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar (Hindi), 29-11-2024, Drama, Thriller, 2 hours 23 minutes, 16+, OTT
  • Main Cast: Jimmy Shergill, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Rajeev Mehta
  • Director: Neeraj Pandey
  • Producer: Shital Bhatia
  • Music Director: Payal Dev
  • Cinematography: Arvind Singh
  • Rating: 3/5

Neeraj Pandey’s latest work plays along the lines of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece Les Miserables. There are themes of moral ambiguity and the relentless persuasion of a cop spanning across years.

More than a thriller Sikandar Ka Muqaddar streaming on Netflix, works as an interesting character study of two individuals whose lives undergo a significant change in the backdrop of a heist.

Synopsis

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar begins off on a high note. A heist happens at a diamond exhibition in the year 2009. Jimmy Shergill’s Jaswinder Singh zeroes on three suspects based on his instincts, something that Jaswinder is very proud of.

The suspects are Sikandar Sharma (Avinash Tiwary), Kamini Singh (Tamannah Bhatia) and Mangesh Desai (Rajiv Mehta). As Jawinder Singh gets deeper into the case the pursuit turns into an endless obsession significantly affecting both his personal and professional life.

Eventually, no one is convicted and the case gradually slips away from people’s memory but Jaswinder is thoroughly convinced that one of the three has definitely stolen the diamond. His primary suspect is Sikandar Sharma. This is the story in brief.

What works and what doesn’t

Stills from the film Sikandar Ka Muqaddar
Stills from the film ‘Sikandar Ka Muqaddar’. (X)

Director Neeraj Pandey along with co-writer Vipul K Rawal waste no time in setting up the proceedings, Jaswinder Singh’s questioning of the three suspects and his strong belief in instincts pique the viewer’s interest in who stole the diamond.

Things are gripping till the point of no convictions being made and Jaswinder Singh losing his job. The movie starts stagnating once it gets into the mode of non-linear storytelling. The constant intercuts do more harm than good.

However, the flashback portion does have some good stretches too. The best is Sikandar’s character battling one major hardship after the other. Also, no character is completely good or evil here. Whether it is the suspects or the cop they come across as individuals driven by the circumstances around them.

Sikandar’s struggles have been shown in detail and it does strike an emotional chord. The film though could have done a little more exploration of Jaswinder’s life post his suspension. Having said that the scars left by the passage of time come across strongly.

Apart from the constant intercuts the movie does suffer from being a slow burn testing the viewer’s patience. The ending also lacks the punch that Neeraj Pandey is known for in his previous movies like Baby (2015) and Special Chabbis (2013).

Performances

Avinash Tiwary and Tamannaah Bhatia in Sikandar Ka Muqaddar
Avinash Tiwary and Tamannaah Bhatia in ‘Sikandar Ka Muqaddar’. (X)

A strong aspect of Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is undoubtedly the strong acting performances particularly that of Avinash Tiwary and Jimmy Shergill. Both the actors rise above the uneven material keeping the viewers invested. Jimmy Shergill who had played the role of a cop previously in films like A Wednesday, managed to bring freshness to this role too.

The character of Jaswinder starts as a cop with a perfect record but soon becomes a wreck in his relentless pursuit. Jimmy does a fantastic job of portraying the various nuances. The fall from grace could have been better explored, yet Jimmy makes the viewers feel the pain of Jaswinder.

Avinash Tiwary is also wonderful as the man who rebuilds his life amidst the constant harassment. He particularly shines in portraying the emotional turmoil of Sikandar.

Apart from these two, Tamannah Bhatia also makes a striking impact as a single mother with secrets of her own. Despite lesser screen time the actress does a very fine job in making the viewers empathize with Kamini’s problems.

Final take

To sum it up Sikandar Ka Muqaddar has good performances and some strong passages making it watchable.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Lust Stories 2: An Engrossing Anthology About Love, Sex, And Desire

Much like its predecessor ‘Lust Stories’ (released in 2018), ‘Lust Stories 2’ also offers a fresh perspective on female desires.

Lust Stories (2018) — directed by Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee, Anurag Kashyap, and Karan Johar — was a well-made anthology about female desire.

The protagonists in these segments belong to different generations, socio-economic statuses, and upbringings. But the common aspect that bound them was sex and lust.

The standout story in Lust Stories was the short directed by Zoya Akhtar. Her story was about a domestic worker and her boss. Zoya expertly tackled the issue of a class divide through the lens of lust.

Now, after a gap of five years, you have Lust Stories 2. Much like its predecessor, this also offers a fresh perspective on female desire.

Made For Each Other

Lust Stories 2 begins with R Balki short Made For Each Other. This short primarily looks at checking sexual compatibility before marriage. It opens with Veda (Mrunal Thakur) and Arjun (Angad Bedi).

You have both families discussing when their marriage should take place. At that exact moment, Veda’s  daadi (grandmother, played by Neena Gupta) asks Veda whether she and Arjun had pre-marital sex.

As expected, this leads to a complete silence in the room. Daadi also adds that checking sexual compatibility before marriage is as important as doing a test drive before buying a car.

In the hands of a lesser actor, daadi’s dialogue may have sounded awkward. However, Neena Gupta makes the cool daadi work with her natural performance. Her scenes with Mrunal in particular are very good to watch.

Mrunal Thakur and Angad Bedi don’t have a lot to work with. Nevertheless, they make for a good lovey-dovey couple.

The Mirror

The Mirror, directed by Konkana Sen Sharma, is more intense than Balki’s short.

Isheeta (Tillotama Shome) is an individual leading a mundane life. She has repressed sexual desires.

But one day, things take a significant turn when she accidentally sees her domestic help (Amruta Subhash) engaging in a sexual act with her husband in her house (Isheeta’s).

Instead of confronting the domestic help, Isheeta gets drawn to the scene. She gets a lot of pleasure from watching them.

This segment primarily looks at the inner desires of Isheeta and the complexities that arise from her voyeurism. This short also shows that lust knows no caste, colour or gender.

Both Tillotama and Amruta Subhash are in wonderful form with their uninhibited performances. Though it reminds you of Zoya Akhtar’s short in Lust Stories, Konkana adds many more layers.

Sex With Ex

Sujoy Ghosh’s Sex With Ex is a thriller in typical Sujoy Ghosh’s style. This segment of Lust Stories 2 doesn’t completely draw you in, but it isn’t a complete waste either.

David Chauhan (Vijay Varma) is involved in an accident on the outskirts of a town. While searching for a mechanic he visits a hamlet where he runs into his ex-wife Shanti (Tamannaah Bhatia).

Shanti was assumed to be dead for a long time. Expectedly, this reunion brings a flood of memories.

The best part of this segment is the real-life sensuality that Tamannaah and Vijay Varma bring to the table. The twist at the end also takes you by surprise.

Tilchatta

The last chapter of Lust Stories 2 is Tilchatta (Cockroach) directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma.

It deals with two issues mainly — firstly, it is about an upper-caste man who still feels that he is living in the age of kings; secondly, it is about a woman trying to find her agency in an abusive marriage.

The patriarch here is Kumud Mishra and the married woman is Kajol.

Tilchatta takes place in a sprawling haveli. Amit Ravindernath Sharma does a wonderful job of bringing out the toxicity and suffocation that Chanda (Kajol) and her son are going through in that large space.

There is an affecting subplot concerning sex workers since Chanda was a sex worker before getting into this haveli. This subplot adds more heft to the drama.

Both Kajol and Kumud Mishra bring their A-game. Kumud Mishra shows once again why he is considered a brilliant actor. He is absolutely terrific as the torchbearer of patriarchy. The way he unabashedly gazes at the bodies of women with so much lust makes the viewers hate him.

Kajol, as the woman trying to find her agency, conveys a lot with just her body language. As viewers, you want her to take the bold step which she eventually does, although things don’t go exactly according to the plan.

Verdict

Much like Lust StoriesLust Stories 2 also makes a bold attempt at bringing taboo topics to the forefront through the digital space.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

Jee Karda: A Tale Of Friendship With Good Dose Of Fun And Drama

Director Arunima Sharma’s web series is a good attempt at exploring the different problems faced by today’s youth.

A mirror of contemporary times!
Jee Karda (Hindi)
  • Cast: Tamannaah Bhatia, Anya Singh, Aashim Gulati, Suhail Nayyar, and Hussain Dalal
  • Direction: Arunima Sharma
  • Producer: Maddock Films
  • Music: Sachin Jigar
  • No. of episodes: 8
  • OTT platform: Amazon Prime

Arunima Sharma’s Jee Karda (What the Heart Wishes) is a relatable tale of seven childhood pals, now in their 30s going through different issues.

Through this tale of friendship, Arunima Sharma touches upon multiple topics. Not all of them are fleshed out sufficiently. But still, there is a lot to enjoy particularly if you are in the mood for some fun.

Jee Karda begins with an old man making a prophecy about a bunch of schoolchildren. He tells each of them how their lives will turn out and what things they need to keep a distance from.

Children dismiss this farfetched prophecy, and we fast forward to 15 years.

At the centre of this tale is Lavanya (Tamannaah Bhatia). She is on the verge of marrying her childhood friend Rishabh (Suhail Nayyar). Even at that stage, we see her struggling to come to terms with the idea of marriage and the complexities that come with it.

Among others, Arjun (Aashim Gulati) is a popular Punjabi pop singer who is often embroiled in controversies. Preet (Anya Singh) is struggling to find a compatible partner.

Sheetal (Samvedana Suwalka) is married to Sameer (Malhar Thakkar). She is facing the challenges of living in a joint family and is desperate to have her own space with her husband.

Melroy (Sayan Banerjee) is in a problematic relationship with a guy called Yavar. Melroy is trying to cope with Yavar’s inability to come out of his closet.

The last one in the group is Shahid (Hussain Dalal), a school teacher struggling financially to make ends meet.

In a nutshell, Jee Karda looks at how these seven friends navigate the challenges of adulthood.

There is no denying that the theme of Jee Karda isn’t exactly original. The story at times reminds you of both Shashanka Ghosh’s Veere di Wedding (2018) and also Ayan Mukherjee’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013).

But what makes the show work is how Arunima Sharma deals with the different plotlines.

Strong plotlines

One of the best tracks in Jee Karda is the one involving Sayan Banerjee as Melroy. He is a homosexual man who had to face a lot of problems because of that.

The director does a wonderful job of portraying the arch of his character. It also helps that Sayan did complete justice to the character.

Another subplot that deserves a mention is that of Hussain Dalal’s Shahid.

Shahid comes from the lower social strata, in comparison to his friends. As a result, life has never been easy for him. Hussain Dalal does a very good job of bringing out the vulnerability of Shahid.

The story of Samvedana Suwalka is similar to what we had earlier seen this year in Zara Hakte Zara Bachke (2023). However, there is no denying that the claustrophobia of her character Sheetal is easily relatable for many married women.

Coming to the main leads, Tamannaah Bhatia gets to portray a character which is vastly different from what we have seen in her earlier films. To Tamannaah’s credit, she does pull off a wonderful performance.

There are times when she goes overboard. But nevertheless, she is impressive.

Aashim Gulati is also fun to watch as the Punjabi pop singer. His character Arjun is not just high on energy, but there is also a vulnerable side to him.

Another aspect that works for Jee Karda is the family scenes featuring Lavanya’s mother and Rishabh’s parents. Their contrasting ideologies have been well portrayed by the director.

Weak points

Among the seven friends, the one track that sticks out like a sore thumb is Anya Singh’s Preet. The arc given to her is the weakest of all.

One major problem with Jee Karda is the overdose of the “F” words. After a point, it does get irritating.

Technical aspects

The cinematography by Mahendra Shetty is suitably glossy adding to the rich production values. Sachin Jigar’s background music also works well.

Final takeOverall, Jee Karda is a good attempt at exploring the different problems faced by today’s youth. Some of them manage to resolve them while others don’t; a mirror of contemporary times.

(Views expressed here are personal.)

November Story: Slow Paced But Effective Crime Thriller

There is a lot to like about Indhu Subramanian’s November Story streaming on Hotstar. The director takes an interesting premise and does a good job for most part of the show. The twists and the turns keep you engaged, there is a solid cliffhanger at the peak of each episode which will keep you intrigued. Yes, there are issues like the slow pace and the long drawn out climax but it still works in spite of its flaws. The reason for naming the show as November Story is because the character of the crime novelist goes to a particular house every year on November 16th. The series consists of seven episodes on the whole.

Tamannah plays Anu, she is the daughter of India’s best crime novelist Ganesan played by GN Kumar.  Anu works as an ethical hacker while trying to look after her father who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. She is trying to sell their ancestral property that they own without the knowlegde of her father in order to have more money for her father’s treatment. One day Anu comes across a woman whom she had briefly met in the train the previous day. The woman is found dead in the house she’s been trying to sell. To make things worse her father is there in that house at the time of the woman’s death. Anu is sure that her father is innocent and the rest of the series is about how she proves that her father is innocent along with finding out who actually killed that woman.

The good thing about the series is how the director unravels the plot. He builds up the characters really well. You get into the headspace of the characters and as a result you empathise with Anu’s efforts.

The father and the daughter relationship has also been portrayed with the required sensitivity. Anu’s efforts to be a caretaker daughter to her father will definitely strike a chord.

Another good thing about November Story is how things are tied up seamlessly. The narrative is always a step ahead with the guessing game and also in establishing the motives of the culprit.

The humour in the series comes from the cops’ viewpoint, portraying their restlessness and fatigue. While the comic scenes may look odd given the genre of the series but its understandable as the makers didn’t want to keep the narrative too serious at all times. However these scenes work quite well particularly the ones featuring Aruldoss as the investigating police officer.

Technically also November Story is a pretty good product. The background score of Saran Raghavan blends well with the narrative without screaming for attention. The cinematography of Vidhu Ayanna is in perfect sync with the premise of the show. The atmospherics contribute a lot in the audiences being invested in the series.

After playing the glamorous heroine for most part of her career Tamannah gets an opportunity to show her acting skills and she makes the most of her meaty character. One of the reasons why the character resonates is that it shows that a strong women can be vulnerable and have flaws too. The actress oozes confidence in her part, with this role Tamannah proves that she can be more than a glam doll.

GM Kumar plays the ailing crime novelist writer quite well. Another stand out performance comes from Pasupathy. He is very good as the forensic expert with shades of grey. It is a tricky part but the actor does complete justice to his role.

November Story on the whole is a compact whodunit thriller with a strong emotional thread.