User reviews

I saw this movie after johny gaddar and before seeing i liked johny gaddar but Manorama exceeded my expectations.. it was superb suspense movie with very normal background and yet it showed powerful message in the film.. till half way of the film I lost patience and interest but then again it started and I am glad that I did not left the movie at half way.. nowadays movies have big stars and beautiful backgrounds and splendid film sets.. this movie proves that big sets and good makeups are really not needed nowadays..(But the mass don't understand this) Good film needs good direction, good script and finally good execution.. Manorama deserves 10 out of 10.. but still can not give that as perfection is dangerous for ambition..!!

Before watching Manorama, i considered Johnny Gaddar as best scripted suspense movie of modern times, but Manorama is far above from Johnny. The best thing is that the storyline looks real and on the level of a common person. It is not like a typical Hindi Cinema (bollywood) suspense movie with the protagonist playing a hero. I gave 9 because i felt detached in middle of the movie but approaching to the end, it captures attention and the climax is well written. I'll curse myself for not watching it for so long even after i heard its praise from my friends. Abhay Deol looks good as a Middle class Rajasthani and so as Gul Panag. Vinay Pathak is exceptional as usual.

This movie is a great piece of work though it is not meant for the masses. This movie has plot twists after plot twists and mystery after mystery, I generally am able to predict the direction of a movie quite early in the film, but this one was a major exception. The star of the movie is definitely Abhay Deol (this guy is definitely going to go places in the long run) with his authentic Rajasthani portrayal of the character -- S.V. The rest of the cast has done an exceptional job and full points to all the people involved in the making of this film. I would like to congratulate Navdeep Singh for making such a beautiful movie with a strong and authentic Indian essence. I would definitely recommend this movie if you are a mystery films buff.

First things First, if I need to describe Path Breaking Cinema, I will use Manorma Six Feet Under as an example. And this film is not a Direct lift of Roman Polanski's famous hit Chinatown, Manorma hold on its own. The first word that comes to my mind while I intend to describe this movie is Efficiency.

There have been few thrillers that so effortlessly thrill you, keep you right on the edge of your seat, get you acquainted with such rich characters yet manage to knock you with killer twists and pull a fast one on you. Endlessly inventive, this is not one of those films that are just that. It explores the psychology of being a wannabe spy like no other film.

Abhay Deol is in a role thats tailor made for him, he's such a natural actor, he brings life to Satyaveer Singh and you feel that Satyaveer is a small town Rajasthani and you never feel that the character actually is played by a Punjabi Jat living in Bombay.

This is Navdeep Singh's first film as a director, and it is apparent he has the heart and soul of a storyteller. He never imposes himself upon the film; he just lets the narration flow effortlessly. He seems to be an actor's director, and the finesse with which he handles them, in close ups, dealing with each other reminds me of Steven Soderbergh.

Gul Panag is one of the Finest Actresses in India today (Lot more talented than a Rani, Priety & Aishwaria). She already proved it with Dor and now in Manorma in a not so significant role, she still proves why she's the most underrated actress in the Hindi Film Industry.

Vinay Pathak, Kulbushan Kharbanda & Sarika are competent too.

Only Raima Sen hams here.

Anyways a 9.7 out of 10 from me for this Masterpiece.

Too bad for most of my friends who had to settle tor Over The top Nonsense movies like Partner, Hey Baby & Welcome while I loved every bit of Manorama.

After 'Johnny Gaddaar' here's another amazing thriller. 'Manorama 6 Feet Under' is clearly an inspiration of 'Chinatown'. Note inspiration, not ripoff nor remake. In one scene you even see Chinatown playing on TV. The writing is clever, the visuals are impressive and the performances are very good. Director Navdeep Singh stays with his sub-heading 'In the desert nothing is as it seems'. So in 'Manorama 6 Feet Under' nothing is indeed as it seems. Singh smartly unfolds the mystery and springs a lot of surprises. The film is set in sandy Rajasthan which is portrayed as mysterious, dry, isolated, illusive and frightening. Thus, it's a perfect set-up for the film.

Coming to the performances, Abhay Deol scores again in yet another different role, not just different from what he's done but also from what other actors of today are doing. The actor is certainly here to stay and hope he continues the good work. Gul Panag has a simple role but she does her part very well. Raima Sen shows tremendous versatility. Sarika is stunning in the title role and Kulbushan Kharbanda and Vinay Pathak are very good.

The songs are minimal. But the few that we have are pleasant and adequate for the screenplay.

'Manorama 6 Feet Under' is one exciting puzzle and a treat to watch. It's bizarre. It's dark. It's funny. It's thrilling.

This movie was released in India about a month back. I had heard that it is based on Roman Polanski's China Town. That, and Abhay Deol made me interested to see this movie.

The story is more or less the same as China Town. The backdrop of the movie is the desert Indian state of Rajasthan. Satyaveer (Abhay Deol) is a government engineer who writes detective novels in his spare time. One day, a lady called Manorama (Sarika) comes and requests Satyaveer to spy on her husband Minister P.P.Rathore (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) for a sum of money. Satyaveer agrees. Later when Manorama dies Satyaveer realizes that Manorama was not the wife of the Minister Rathore. He be-friends Manorama's friend Sheetal (Raima Sen). Satyaveer realizes that there are further mysteries behind the whole episode. The racket of land grabbing, corruption, immoralities etc.

The winner of the movie is its script. The first time Director Navdeep Singh has done a decent job in adapting China town. Abhay Deol has justified the role of a rural detective with great underplay. The pace of the movie is similar to that of China town, but the twist, suspense and narrative keeps us glued to the movie. There are no brutal scenes of crime, violence and sex (as in Johnny Gaddar that keep youth audiences glued), but still it has the subtle creepiness about the whole movie. This thrill is maintained till the very last frame of the movie.

The music is okay and a few songs inserted in the narrative (which could have been avoided). The best part of the movie is the rural Rajasthan setting that brings a new dimension and scale to the movie. Sadly the movie is 35 mm, otherwise it would be a great pleasure to see the desert landscape and the colors on a cinemascope or 70 mm canvass.

Abhay Deol has shown great acting potential with his underplay and sincerity. Still this are his early days, but if he gets the right opportunities he can turn out to be a great actor for Indian cinema.

All in all, a very good movie experience. Nice to see Bollywood experimenting.

(Stars 7.5 out of 10)

This movie is as real as it gets on the screen. The movie makers have done a great job to maintain the real feel and not dramatize anything. Every scene, every place, every character feels so real. For example, SV's bandage on his fingers is dirty and beat up just like the rest of his disheveled look. The table in Dr. Poddar's office has a transparent plastic cover over the table cloth just as you would find in many Indian households.

The story is excellent too. Keeps you captured till the last scene. It is also funny at times. My only complaint with the movie is that I didn't like Raima Sen as the choice to play Sheetal's character. She has a heavy Bengali accent not suitable for her character. Also Nimmi(Gul Panag) delivers her "Hinglish" dialogues with an upper class English accent.

Overall this is an excellent movie to watch.

I would rather first comment upon the length which would be a decider for anyone who has a healthy appetite for movies, a tad shorter would've made it better. Yet this movie delivers, let it come to you...nice and easy. And then anyone can realize how simplicity and realism has been imparted to this movie..no particular stellar performances but simple plot and a simpler yet smooth performance by characters makes it interesting and fresh(...no cheesy lines or regular bogged "bollywood" plot).Moreover its a characters portrayal not an actor's image snitching it. I say this movie is worth your 2 hours...and then maybe 10-15 mins more of it

lets put it this way.. i was waiting for Gul Panag's next movie after Dor, but before I started with Manorama, I already knew Gul had nothing much to do in this movie... but little did I realize no one had any thing to do in this movie in the first.... 85 % of the time?? but kudos to the director in building up the character of Satyaveer. Abhay brings out the humbleness & honesty in a loser Satyaveer.

I think by the first half may be slow and the movie may be predictable, but the finale act was good. If you like twists and turns in a movie or if you are a suspense aficionado, my suggestion - zip past the first 50 % of movie. If you like to see culture, tradition, art, etc see the first part too. Though the movie is slow, the cinematography is worth a watch.

OK I admit I became a fan of Gul Panag after Dor, and was waiting in anticipation for this one, she did not have a big role to play. But she had honesty in her character. She's still going on and strong.

Abhay Deol has repeatedly bettered himself from his last film - he's raising the bar every time. Good show Abhay !! Raima Sen - good show. Sorry the script was not exactly centered around you, but you did justice to the role.

Manorama Six Feet Under is a neo-noir gem that stands out in the landscape of Indian cinema. Film directed by Navdeep Singh, which is an adaptation of Roman Polanski's classic film "Chinatown." Set against the backdrop of the dusty, desolate town of Rajasthan, the film offers an intricate narrative filled with intrigue, betrayal, and an exploration of human frailty.

The story revolves around Satyaveer (Abhay Deol), an unambitious and disillusioned irrigation officer who finds himself embroiled in a web of deceit when he is approached by a beautiful woman, Manorama (Gul Panag), the wife of a powerful politician. Manorama seeks his help to find evidence of her husband's infidelity. As Satyaveer delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of lies, corruption, and murder.

One of the film's strongest assets is its screenplay, which is sharp and layered. With a running time of around 120 minutes, the film deftly balances pacing and exposition, allowing viewers to slowly piece together the mystery alongside Satyaveer. The dialogues are well-crafted, often laced with dark humor and irony, which adds a unique flavor to the narrative.

The film's cinematography is exceptional. The dusty landscapes of Rajasthan are captured with a stark beauty that perfectly complements the film's noirish tone. The background score, with its haunting melodies, adds to the suspenseful atmosphere.

Abhay Deol delivers a remarkable performance as Satyaveer; he embodies the character's cynicism and vulnerability with ease, making him relatable and compelling. Gul Panag shines in her role as Manorama, bringing an enigmatic charm that engages the audience. The supporting cast, including the likes of Raima Sen and Vinay Pathak, adds depth to the film, each character contributing intricately to the unfolding mystery.

One of the film's strengths is its deliberate pacing. It's a film that requires patience, as it slowly unravels its complex plot. While this may not appeal to everyone, it contributes to the overall atmosphere of suspense and intrigue.

The film's ending is open to interpretation, leaving viewers to ponder the true nature of the characters and their motivations. This ambiguity adds depth to the narrative and encourages repeated viewings.

In the End, Manorama Six Feet Under is a film that rewards patient viewers. Its compelling story, strong performances, and atmospheric visuals make it a standout in Indian cinema. It's a film that lingers in your mind long after the fiml end's.

For actual review, skip to the third paragraph. You will find many written pieces on internet about this movie. They call it a gem, underrated masterpiece, best thriller etc. Honestly, while watching it, I did not feel for a single moment that it's going to be half as they good as I have heard.

What people are appreciating is the storyline(of Manorama), and not the film itself. Only a few people can notice important aspects of a film while watching it, but almost everyone on internet is a self proclaimed expert on films. That's why below average films are often rated highly on apps like IMDb.

The first and biggest problems with the film is that it has too many unnecessary scenes. Most conversations between Abhay deol and Gunal panag are about random things. The actual story is missing, so much time is wasted on scenes which are not even needed there. All scenes are slow moving. Dialogues should have been crisp. The dialogues don't suit the mood of the film.

There's a big flaw in the story. The lady while dying said to Abhsh deol, "My name is... and I am thirty two years old". Rather than telling the actual thing, she gave him a riddle which he might not be able to solve in his lifetime. This is not smart film-making.

There are a few positives as well, no bigger than Abhay deol's performance. Vinay pathak is also good in his short role. The film has a good ending, atleast better than usual Bollywood thrillers. The last 40 minutes of the film are the busiest, the paciest and the best. However, all these things are secondary, the most necessary things for a film are it's screenplay and editing, and Manorama fails in both departments.

Manorama Six Feet Under is akin to reading a novel. Viewers who are not fond of reading might judge the pace of the movie to be slow. It takes a while to build the atmosphere, characters gets established, suspense builds up and races ahead to a grand finale.

Screenplay and cinematography is commendable, you can almost feel the heat of the desert and sand on your face. A few places you can see the shades of Tarantino style of movie-making.

MSFU is the story of Satyaveer who stumbles upon a mystery and the (failed!) writer in him itches to seek the truth – redemption or quest?

Abhay Deol apparently is focusing on building his competency in the "new-age cinema" genre (there is too much competition in the mainstream anyway). As Satyaveer he puts on a convincing get-up coupled with a restrained performance.

Gul Panag uses the usual sarcastic house-wife lines to portrays a convincing character.

Vinay Pathak goes to shows that he is good at everything and not just comedy. Minor hitch here: why does he carry a strong accent while her sister doesn't? Convent studies maybe?

Raima Sen character staunchly believes "Men and coffee are good rich" and the tension which prevails between Abhay and Raima over the game of snake and ladders is truly amazing, especially the come-hither passes.

Sarika has a small but effective role. Its goes to show that acting is akin to ride a bicycle.

Khulbhushan Kharbanda is as usual dependable.

The two henchmen have portrayed their parts well (apologies for not knowing their names).

Finally I must add that gone are the days where Bollywood used to paint the perfect world. Its emotionally gratifying to see just like true-to-life, the movie also depicts shades of grey.

First I would like to tell who would surely like this movie, so if you are one of them then go and grab the movie right now - 1. People who have lived major part of their lives in a small town of India and know the slow and uneventful life. 2. People who have had great ambitions in life but some how could not achieve success in the magnitude of expectations. 3. People who are mystery aficionado not just in movies but in life also. 4. People who form their own opinion about the movies rather than just following the herd mentality.

If you fall into any 2 categories out of the 4 mentioned above then its a movie for you.

Review -

This is one movie created by a very intelligent director who is absolutely comfortable with his intelligence and skill of movie making and does not go over board to show the intelligence. The plot of the movie is defined in a sleepy small town of Rajasthan. The beauty about the plot is that it shows a lot about a small town of Rajasthan without spending too much time in creating the backdrop. This is not just true for Plot but for characters also. The characters of this movie unfold with the course of movie and no extra effort is done by director to over simplify or over explain it. By the end of the movie you would be absolutely ready to answer any question asked about the character. Not because director told you all about the characters but because you would know these character so well. In terms of story its little slow in the first hour but if you fall into any of the above categories you would not mind waiting for next eventful hour. Once the story picks up the pace then you have to sit tight to assimilate all the details or you would get into the trap of post processing. Its not like a conventional suspense movie where you get to know the bad man at the end. Some where during the movie you would realize who is the bad man but why and how are the questions which will be answered later. In the initial part of the movie you would question why the protagonist of the movie is so confident and sure about his ability but you would get the proof of that by the end of the movie. At the end protagonist does not get fame or revenge or pleasure of killing the villain of the movie but you would have a subtle smile when at the end protagonist gives all the answer and takes sweet unconventional revenge. Acting wise it 10/10. Abhay Deol is a class actor, who knows his character in and out. Gul Panag has done full justice to her role. Vinay Pathak is as usual his best. But I think the credit goes to director who has carved out his characters so well that even you would feel that "I can also do this role, I know this person so well." At the end, its a must watch movie. Its a disappointment that this movie could not get commercial success but I guess that the fate of all great movies made in India.

"Manorama Six Feet Under" is a film inspired by "Chinatown". Indian movies that are inspired by foreign films, or outright copies, are pretty common.

When the story begins, Satyaveer has been suspended from his job as a policeman. Apparently, his recent bribe was noticed by the powers that be...though according to this and MANY Indian movies I've seen, policemen taking bribes is pretty much the norm. While awaiting his review and possible return to the force, a woman comes to him...asking him to do some detecting work. Apparently, she thinks her husband, the Irrigation Minister, is cheating on her. He sneaks into the man's compound and snaps a few photos of the man with a young woman....and he then gives him to the wife. However, he soon learns she's NOT the man's wife! And, there's obviously something serious going on here, as a couple goons soon beat the stuffing out of Satyaveer AND the fake wife turns up dead...and it's declared a suicide. But he knows it cannot be, and so Satyaveer continues investigating the case. In the meantime, Satyaveer's bitter wife has left him. She's sick of him working on this case as well as his suspension. Based on what we see of her, Satyaveer is now a lucky man! What's next? And what sort of conspiracy is afoot? And what does the new canal project have to do with all this?

Like "Chinatown", this film is a bit violent and, at times, hard to watch--especially when the goons break Satyaveer's fingers. At least they didn't slice his nose apart as they did in the American film! There also is a bit of a body count through the course of the story. I am mentioning these in case you dislike violent films...the film certainly is, but not gratuitously so.

I am no expert on Indian films, though I have seen a couple hundred more or less. I did notice, though, that unlike most Indian films we get here in the States, there are none of the usual musical numbers. Even in gangster films, I've seen song and dance numbers....and I think the lack of these scenes helps "Manorama Six Feet Under" to be more tense and realistic.

Overall, a very fascinating film...albeit a tad slow. It has a very complicated plot that very slowly unfolds as well as a few surprised here and there...the sorts of things that make a thriller like this one work well. Well worth seeing and stylistically, a film that non-Bollywood fans might find more familiar and approachable. I did, however, deduct a point in my rating simply because the story wasn't exactly an original...though fortunately it was different enough from "Chinatown" that it's still very worth watching.

There are very deliberate nods to 'Chinatown' in Navdeep Singh's cumbersomely-titled thriller 'Manorama, Six Feet Under'; but also a very distinctive Indian flavour. I also liked the idea of a detective whose not a real detective at all, just a failed writer of detective fiction with a tired marriage and a corruption scandal hanging over his head. The character's flight into real detective work is an escapist fantasy, one that starts as little more than a game but grows into something more, and the psychology of the character was well handled. The twisty plot was also good, and some parts of it were even original. My only complaint - the film is maybe longer than it needs to be: as thrillers go, it's really quite lethargic. And while I liked the atmosphere, I missed a bit of zim and menace in its languid pace.

Written and Directed by: Navdeep Singh.Starring: Abhay Deol, Gul Panag, Raima Sen and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.

Manorama (Sarika) in her 40's (or 30's?) walks in to Satyaveer Randhwa's (Abhay Deol) house in Lakhot, Rajasthan. Styaveer has recently debuted his first mystery novel, titled Manorama, which Manorama has read and curiously asks him to do a job for her. For a budding novelist, who doesn't keep a copy of his own novel since it reminds him of his failure, 10,000 Rs is quite a temptation. But the job turns out to be a list of scandals and illusions mysteriously unfolding into a grand finale.

Manorama Six Feet Under is THE noir cinema. Navdeep Singh, along with Devika Bhagat, has written a marvelous screenplay. Right from the need for a detective protagonist, to femme fatales, a cop who helps protagonist solve mystery, flashbacks, high contrast images, silhouettes, habitual liars, corrupt villain and secrets that are violently dark are all necessary noir elements seen through Hollywood film-noir and neo-noir. Although the 'sad end' is rather toned down cleverly. This movie reminds of J J Gittes and his 'Chinatown' (1974) so much that at one point the nose-cut seen featuring director Roman Planski's cameo is shown on the TV. In this Bollywood era of Hollywood copiers where plots are copied but the required environment for that plot is never even understood let alone copied. This movie stands alone for director and writer's ability to transfer exact noir elements from Raymond Chandler's Double Indemnity (1944) and The Big Sleep (1946) which of course were adapted in Chinatown as well. The muted trumpet is used aptly creating a mystery atmosphere. This is an extraordinary debut.

Abhay Deol has shown great potential as a novelist using his writing abilities to find clues in his own life. His choice of movies have been unusual, for instance Ek Chaalis ki last local (2007). Next up is Raima Sen as Sheetal. She comes quite natural here. Kulbhushan Kharbanda never fails to perform. Gul Panag as Satyaveer's disagreeable wife is rather convincing. Sarika has a short appearance. But the best performance above all was Vinay Pathak as Brij Mohan, Satyaveer's brother in law and cop. He blends in with his sentence delivery as hot as Rajasthan's desert.

Last but definitely remarkable is the cinematography. The hot sand, empty roads, dried bushes, burning sun and desert mountains are stunning and a bonus to this fast paced story that has twists after twists. Almost every event and person has a meaning and purpose. Nothing goes untouched for the second time. With an achievement like Manorama I wonder what's next for Navdeep Singh. This movie you do not want to miss.

My rating: 9.5/10.

Manorama Six Feet Under review :

Loosely adapted from the cult classic Chinatown (1974), Navdeep Singh's debut film was a leisurely paced crime thriller with some super-fine performances from its principal cast.

Abhay Deol played a suspended PWD engineer who doubles up as a writer for hobby sake. A minister's wife (Sarika) hires him to investigate the alleged affair of her husband (Kulbhushan Kharbanda). Soon enough, she is bumped off by a truck. Is it suicide or murder? What is the motive and who are involved?

The gorgeous Sarika left a mighty impression even in a small role. Gul Panag, as Abhay's nagging wife, is a revelation. An act to remember indeed! Raima Sen brings in her own sensuality and mystique to her complex character. As for Abhay, he is simply brilliant and one of the main reasons I recommend this movie to you. Go for it!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

This is a rip-off from Roman Polanski,Jack Nicholson 1974 Mystery "Chinatown" to a major extent and eventually end-up to same old cheap Indian pretext of "jameen-jayjaad,paisa,daulat" whatever you say...This a perfect example of how Indian directors trying to fool the audience end up making dimwit of themselves...they can't dish-out the same Hollywood version in India...so they try to add their own genuine Indian-ness(which is actually fake and lame)...and on excuse of a multi-layered mystery ,totally confuse themselves...Somebody should go and tell them...even though very few... but some Indians have access to Hollywood Classics and you just can't fool everybody trying to imitate that work. Although this movie is different from usual Hindi movies and the director has tried to put some effort but the cast is not convincing enough...fake rajasthaani accents,detached characters,unemotional performances and actors act as though they don't seem to understand the gravity of situation...only Kulbhushan Kharbanda has shown his veteran ability...others just go through the motion. Trying to imitate the gripping atmosphere and story-telling of the original one,director concocts a loosely held narrative with lousy, lackluster editing and the same old "They were after your Money" conclusion, which is so worn-out and old that the viewer thinks he wasted his 2hours 17minutes. In the end to all Indian Directors and Actors "Please do something worthy and original and strictly avoid comedy,otherwise people like Akhshay Kumar will ruin Indian Cinema. ...!!!

Manorama Six Feet Under is an intriguing, complex and offbeat thriller set in a sleepy small town of Rajasthan.

The movie is a promising debut by director Navdeep Singh. People who are used to the escapist Bollywood fare may find the movie too slow or confusing. The fact is that 'Manorama' leaves many threads of the story open-ended. Even as it pays homage to noir genre, the movie stays close to reality. And there is a strong sense of impending doom throughout the film's narrative.

The plot of 'Manorama Six Feet Under' takes a winding path instead of going linear. Beginning on a cogent note, the movie veers onto a somewhat tangled route, as the focus flits from one subplot to another.

Verbally sparse, intelligent, and visually striking, the movie holds your interest despite its languid pace.

And complementing the director's and cinematographer's commendable job are performances by the actors.

Abhay Deol's natural and underplayed portrayal of SV lends a lot of credibility to the character. More than acting, Abhay believes in spontaneous performance. And it comes through on the screen.

Gul Panag stands in equal stead, playing his bickering, nagging wife. Raima Sen , as the other woman in SV's life, is good. Vinay Pathak , playing a cop, doesn't have ample footage but he gets to mouth some well-written lines. Sarika has a very small role. Kulbhushan Kharbanda is impressive.

Inspired from Roman Polanski's movie 'Chinatown', 'Manorama Six Feet Under' is a film for those who like unconventional cinema. At times bizarre, at times fascinating, the movie is arguably the first of its kind in offbeat Hindi cinema.

Recommended for those who like offbeat films.