'Dial 100' unfolds on a rainy night with Senior Police Officer Nikhil Sood beginning his shift in the Mumbai Police Emergency Control Room, just like any other day. Soon after, we learn that his personal life is in shambles as a result of his wife Prerna's (Sakshi Tanwar) troubled relationship with their teenage son Dhruv (Svar Kamble). While juggling with his wife's constant phone calls, Nikhil ends up taking a distress call from a hysterical woman who wants to end her life owing to a personal tragedy. When the anonymous caller gets a little too personal, Nikhil realises he has to race against the clock to keep the world from learning about a dark secret that could put his loved ones' lives in jeopardy.
Manoj Bajpayee adds depth to his character of a middle-class guy who has failed both as a husband and a father. However, as a cop, he is smart and quick to act in order to save his family. Playing a cop and dealing with high-pressure situations is nothing new for Bajpayee or the viewers; we've seen him shine in roles like this before in 'The Family Man' and 'Silence...Can you Hear It?'
Neena Gupta gives you the shivers right away as the unpredictable Seema Pallav, while also emotionally involving you with her character of a grieving mother seeking vengeance for the untimely death of her son. Gupta excels in her role, but once her motive is revealed, she maintains a poker face throughout. Sakshi Tanwar has limited screen time but she steals the show, especially in the scene where she breaks down. Overall, character development is in place, and you'll want to stick around with them the whole time.
Overall, the thrills begin once we witness Seema Pallav (Neena Gupta) in action and Nikhil Sood in a catch 22 situation, which ends quickly once the layers begin to unfold. The film's editor, Asif Ali Shaikh, cuts the running time to under two hours, lending credence to the story's of what happened on one fatal night.
All said, Rensil D'Silva delivers a revenge narrative that mainly relies on performances rather than a promising premise. So, if you are looking for some riveting performances, the trio of Manoj Bajpayee, Neena Gupta, and Sakshi Tanwar is worth your time.
