Merry Christmas

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!

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.

Negative: Toooo slow, but only watched till end hoping that direction will surprise, but unfortunately total disappointed, Predictable at most of the parts Katrina was totally wrong choice for this role, she can't act at all.

Vinay pathak is over acted.

Leems like only Sriram Raghawan name used but actually he did not work and taken care only last 25 minutes

Positive: Vijay: effortless acting, always like to see his acting and he never disappoints.

Best part of the movie was last 20-25 minutes, which is the saviour and only part which viewers will take back from theater.

Sanjay Kapoor is best suited for unpredictable charecter roles but some how industry has not much offered such roles to him.

Watch only if you don't expect anything from Sriram Raghawan.

Excellent movie. A very detailed and intimate sequence starts the movie. Soft and nice and charming. It is all good. And you start wondering when the plot is going to start.

And just as you wonder, the movie starts talking. Plot thickens. Craft does stand out. Details come out in a very nonchalant manner.

The plot has a certain made-upness to it that can throw a viewer off. But at the same time, there are some very interesting nuances. I really loved the way the movie ended.

It was a can't put down for me. There are moments that movies present that just bring you joy. Spectacular shots that just bring elation to you out of the blue. There were multiple such moments in this movie.

There is a very fine emotional thread that stays intact through all the drama and that thread had a grey shade to it.

One word that sums up this whole film is "Magnificent".

This was Kaif's one of the best performance I've seen. And, no doubt in Sethupati sir's act as well. The whole cast did an amazing work. Stellar performance from every actors who were seen on the screen.

I have always been an enthusiast of crime thriller noir cinema and this is a film which I will add up to my list.

The first half of the films was just 2 characters having conversation and some might feel tedious, but that part of the film did okay for me. It was kind of like Before Sunrise. I knew that it was creating an unhurried build-up for the second half. It really tests your ability to stay patience. As it was sir Raghavan's sir film I was pretty sure that the characters were hiding something which we are going to experience with some massive twists and turns in the second half.

And when the second half hit the show not even a single person that were watching the film in theater got distracted, they were wholly into the film.

The cinematography and the direction of the whole film was top notch. It really was offering a beautiful shots with momentous secrets of the characters.

I was expecting more people to be on theater for this film. But, sadly there were only few. And If I am not wrong people will talk more about this film after it comes on OTT.