Pune Highway

Just watched Pune Highway and at first I thought it was a murder mystery but it's not. It's more of a drama that slowly unfolds, and honestly, I kinda liked that by the end.

It's about friends stuck in a crisis, and things get really tense. The acting's solid, and it messes with your head in a subtle way. Not a typical thriller, but it keeps you hooked with a tense mix of fear and guilt, but it's also darkly funny in parts. The performances are uniformly great and emotionally on point.

Overall an unusual and compelling film to unpack. These days those are few and far between. Highly recommend if you like the unexpected.

Adapted from Rahul da Cunha's play, Pune Highway is a slow-burn psychological thriller that trades jump scares for moral unease. The film pivots around a group of childhood friends whose lives unravel after a body is found near their apartment complex - a narrative ripe with paranoia, guilt, and suppressed history.

The tension never explodes, it festers. Amit Sadh and Jim Sarbh deliver the expected fireworks - both playing men haunted in different keys. But it's Sudeep Modak, as the quiet, watchful Inspector Pethe, who is the film's quietest coup. His performance is subtle and unsettling, never demanding attention but always commanding it. There's something almost Kafkaesque in the way he draws out confessions - not with force, but with stillness.

The film's pacing stumbles in parts, and its theatrical roots occasionally peek through, but Pune Highway succeeds in crafting an atmosphere that stays with you - grimy, grey, and eerily familiar.

An absolute surprise. The movie keeps you engaged throughout with amazing acting by all actors, relationships it portray and the way it unfolds. Its more than just guessing who is the killer. The world it creates, the people it brings to life and a human understanding to story with simplicity and craft. The way investigating officer's character is played with such humaity and conviction is rare to see in recent films. The way 3 friends, each very distinct and yet how they hold on to each other, the way matters of love & relationships are always grey. The choices character makes are so much more relatable and yet dramatic enough to keep us going. A must watch.

"Na story ka pata, na character - sab hawa mein flow ho rahe hain."

I had hopes. Not high hopes, but at least something watchable. Pune Highway, however, turned out to be a chaotic circus dressed as a thriller. It's like someone put together a theatre rehearsal, added some random dialogues, dim lighting, and called it cinema.

The story? Still searching.

The characters? Lost on the same highway, I guess.

The pacing? Slow enough to make a snail yawn.

The drama? Over-the-top notanki, without any soul.

The suspense? Non-existent. Even Google Maps has more plot twists.

The whole movie moves with zero direction - neither literally nor emotionally. It's not just boring, it's frustratingly pointless. If you're looking for a masterclass on how to waste talented actors and test audience patience, this might be it.

Verdict: Watch only if your WiFi is down and you've finished watching paint dry.

Perfect combo of boring, slow, and bekaar.

Pune Highway is a taut, edge-of-your-seat thriller that stays with you long after the credits roll. But what truly elevates this cinematic experience is Amit Sadh's intense and immersive performance that anchors the film with emotional depth and raw vulnerability.

As the story unfolds within the confined space of a rundown hotel on the outskirts of Pune, the characters are pushed to their emotional and moral limits. It's in this pressure cooker environment that Amit Sadh shines.

Amit Sadh plays a man haunted by trauma, paranoia, and the fragility of trust. His portrayal is layered and magnetic-he doesn't just act, he inhabits the character. From his haunted eyes to his sudden outbursts and simmering anxiety, every beat of his performance feels authentic. He masterfully conveys the fear, confusion, and bottled-up anger of someone teetering on the edge, making the audience feel every ounce of his desperation.

What's remarkable is how Amit Sadh never overplays his hand. Even in moments of high drama, his control is precise. He brings a deeply human quality to the role, making his character not just believable but heartbreaking. You're drawn into his world, and you root for him even as the situation spirals out of control.

The ensemble cast is strong, and the direction is tight, but Pune Highway belongs to Amit Sadh. His performance not only showcases his versatility but also reaffirms his place as one of the most compelling actors in contemporary Indian cinema.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers and powerful performances, Pune Highway is an unmissable ride-and Amit Sadh drives it.