Merry Christmas

Film Review: Merry Christmas now screening in theatres Synopsis - The paths of 2 lonely souls (Albert) Vijay Sethupathi & (Maria) Katrina Kaif cross on a Christmas Eve somewhere in the 1990's when Mumbai was still called Bombay. They get drawn towards each other before a chain of horrific events threaten to derail their lives forever!!

All events depicted on the film happen in the course of one night ... Sirf Ek raat ki kahani hai boss🙂 !!

Shreeram Raghavan who has given us pathbreaking films like Johnny Gaddar, Badlapur & Andhadhun has again tried to do something different!! But if u r expecting a fast paced film like Andhadhun or Johnny Gaddar u will be sorely disappointed!!

Most of the film, especially the first half trudges along with the pace of a tortoise which might seem boring to many . However each scene in the first half sets the tone for an interesting 2nd half where most of the action happens . Re-creation of the old world charm of Bombay in the 90s with tunes of old songs playing in the background, the iconic Regal cinema in SoBo , old BEST buses etc speaks volumes of the effort that the makers have put in!!

Sethupathi is just brilliant, cracking funny jokes that leave u in splits in the most serious moments. Katrina too has given a restrained performance. Others in the cast - Vinay Pathak as the cute inspector, Sanjay Kapoor, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tinnu Anand & Radhika Apte in a cameo have played their parts well .

This is a film which will be considered a masterpiece by some while being panned by others at the same time!! Not for people who r fond of usual masala Hindi films .

I loved the film , even with its slow pace . It will be well worth the wait of u hang on till the end !! Not as exciting as Andhadhun but not bad either . Worth a watch guys .. go for it !!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one ... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #merrychristmas #vijaysethupathi #katrinakaif #merrychristmasfilm.

Forget the fruitcake and spiked eggnog, "Merry Christmas" is the real holiday treat you deserve. This isn't your grandma's feel-good Christmas movie; it's a suspenseful, stylish, and morally ambiguous masterpiece from Sriram Raghavan. Picture "Inception" meets "Casablanca" with a dash of Mumbai masala chai, and you're getting close.

Imagine a forbidden romance between a lonely housewife and a mysterious stranger, set against the twinkling lights and bustling chaos of Christmas Eve Mumbai. Pari Maheshwari Sharma smolders as the housewife, trapped in a gilded cage, while the enigmatic Vijay Varma saunters in with secrets simmering in his eyes. Raghavan paints every frame like a visual poem, using light, shadow, and even the way a sari swirls to hint at the tangled web of desires and betrayals to come.

Get ready for Hitchcockian twists that'll leave you gasping, like unwrapping a perfectly-shaped present only to find a ticking bomb inside. But Raghavan isn't just playing games; he's using this suspense to dig deep into the messy heart of human relationships. Is love a refuge or a prison? Where does loyalty lie when faced with temptation? And can you ever truly escape your past?

The music in this film is like a monsoon rainstorm on a Mumbai rooftop, swirling with sitar twangs and melancholic cello cries. It seeps into your bones and adds another layer to the film's intoxicating atmosphere. You'll be humming these tunes long after the credits roll.

Raghavan isn't afraid to borrow from the best, weaving the suspenseful chills of Hitchcock with the philosophical musings of Eric Rohmer. It's a genre-bending cocktail that's both familiar and refreshingly unique. He throws in unexpected pop culture references and Bollywood winks that'll have you grinning between gasps.

"Merry Christmas" isn't a film to passively watch; it's an invitation to participate, to puzzle over clues, question characters, and grapple with the moral tightrope they walk. It's a slow burn that explodes into a finale that will leave you shaken, stirred, and maybe a little bit hungover on existential questions.

So, ditch the fruitcake and dive into "Merry Christmas." It's a cinematic feast that will linger long after the last bite, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew about love, loyalty, and the magic (and mayhem) of the holiday season.

P. S. Don't forget to pay attention to the little details in this film. Raghavan loves hiding clues and symbolism in every frame, from the color of someone's shirt to the stray object on a table. It's like a treasure hunt for the observant viewer!

A Pure Sriram Raghavan style murder mystery but not yet upto the mark.

Movie starts off with slow pace screenplay with good character development and storyline.

Music is good in the 1st half and well suited with the characters but screenplay could've been much better and can easily trimmed few scenes to make it more engaging.

2nd half is the main highlight of this film where the film gets interesting and the plot demands your attention. Though I'm little surprised in the climax the way director has shown in the different style of his movie making is good but still to be considered as an open ending from my view.

Acting Performances of VIJAY & KATRINA carries the whole film from start till end though the story doesn't demand much characters and supporting cast did a good job too.

Cinematography & Bgm is well good in some scenes and specially in climax music is on another level From storywise yes it has some unique way to present murder mystery with a few twist but still it is average as compared to director old filmography.

It's definitely a one time watch for cinema fans and those who love watching Sriram Raghavan's film......

I saw this third day last show with my family in Gaiety theater, Bandra West.

The sad part was that the theatre was almost empty but i enjoyed the movie n was looking forward to it cos of the director Raghavan. While the misogynist n regressive film like Animal was theatre packed.

Coming back to this film, this one truly transports the viewers to the 80s Bombay. The Regal theatre, Colaba's lanes n empty streets all added an extra nostalgic charm.

There are no twists n turns n the movie moves at a deliberate slow pace showcasing the laid back attitude of the 80s.

Haven't read the book n haven't seen the short movie.

Katrina Kaif was a very wrong choice to potray a woman from the 80s.

Vijay was perfect n gave a good restrained performance.

The movie has a surprise reveal, rather than some mind-blowing and wtf twist.

Serpentine twists and turns. Nail-biting suspense and tension-filled moments that keep you on edge. A masterstroke finale... Director SriramRaghavan delivers an out-of-the-box, absorbing tale that teases your mind, besides keeping you engaged and entertained. MerryChristmas could've done with faster pacing and slight trimming for an enhanced impact... Also, this film depends entirely on a strong word of mouth, so don't expect fireworks at the BO on arrival.

In the coming days, one word that's sure to be associated with Merry Christmas is 'slow burn'. In the past few years, we, as an audience, have become so accustomed to a fast-paced narrative that anything remotely unhurried feels like it's demanding a lot from us. In Merry Christmas, Sriram Raghavan takes his own sweet time to tell the tale of a woman in an unhappy marriage and a man with a mysterious past while also making sure that his characters have abundant time to breathe, talk, and even go for a walk around town.

On the whole, MERRY CHRISTMAS is a well-made thriller and is laced with a fine performance by Vijay Sethupathi. At the box office, it'll need a strong word of mouth to succeed as it appeals only to the multiplex audience in the urban areas.