🙄🙄🙄🙄🌟 (4 out of 5 eye-rolls for the effort)
Well, well, well, look what Bollywood served up this time! A spicy drama, cooked in a pot of suspense, sprinkled with a generous helping of betrayals, and served on a platter of greed. A mouthful, right? Welcome to the world of ‘Aliya Basu Gayab Hai’, a thriller that is as straightforward as my love for Bollywood (that was sarcasm, by the way).
So, let’s dive right in, shall we? The plot is as classic as it gets. Rich girl, Aliya Basu (played by Raima Sen, who honestly could use a better stylist), gets kidnapped by two goons who have clearly watched one too many crime shows. These two masterminds, Vikram Singh (Vinay Pathak, trying his level best to be menacing) and Deepak Kumar (Salim Diwan, giving us major ‘I’m trying too hard’ vibes) think they’ve hit the jackpot. But little do they know that this jackpot is more of a Pandora’s box.
While these three are busy playing their twisted game of cat and mouse, you, dear viewer, are left guessing what’s next. And guess what, the plot twists are as unpredictable as the Mumbai weather (and we all know how that is!). Director Preeti Singh and writers J Blakeson and Gibran Noorani have done a commendable job of keeping the suspense alive till the very end.
Vinay Pathak, known for his comic roles, tries a different hat this time as a dangerous kidnapper. His performance is like a spiceless biryani – something’s missing, but you can’t exactly put your finger on it. Raima Sen, on the other hand, manages to hold her own (much like the only teetotaler at a Punjabi wedding). But the real surprise comes from Salim Diwan who portrays a character as complex as a Rubik’s cube. And yes, a little backstory would have been appreciated, but then again, we’re talking about a Bollywood thriller here.
One thing that works in the movie’s favour is the background score that complements the thrilling plot, and the lack of unnecessary detours like songs (thank god for small mercies!).
To wrap it up, ‘Aliya Basu Gayab Hai’ is like a well-made cup of chai – it won’t blow your mind, but it does hit the spot. It’s smart, suspenseful, and packs a punch without the unnecessary drama (a rarity in Bollywood).
So this was Review Rani, signing off with her two cents on ‘Aliya Basu Gayab Hai’. Remember, in the world of Bollywood, not all that glitters is gold, but every now and then, you might just stumble upon a diamond in the rough.
Rani’s Wrap-Up: ‘Aliya Basu Gayab Hai’ – A thrilling roller coaster ride that’s worth the ticket price, if you can stomach the occasional bumps.
