Gehraiyaan (2022) Review!!

Synopsis – A journey into the deep rooted intricacies of modern human relationships.

My Take – While the promos of this Amazon Prime release gave an inclination for this one to be just a grounded noir version of the polarized Karan Johar directed Kabhie Alvida Na Kehna (2006), it is actually far from it.

Clearly inspired by filmmaker Woody Allen’s psychological thriller Match Point (2005), here, director Shakun Batra sails into rare territory by trying to decode complex human behaviors and its consequences, through a story that should have been tough to narrate.

Yes, infidelity is definitely the main hook here, but what director Shakun Batra (Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu and Kapoor & Sons) and co-writers Ayesha Devitre, Sumit Roy and Yash Sahai have created around it is an intimate and twisted tale of love and betrayal that is marked by a restrained pitch and a believable, realistic tone. Well that is of course if you discount the bonkers twist in the last half hour.

But backed by exceptional performances, especially Deepika Padukone who delivers some heart-wrenching moments without batting an eye, the film ends up being a progressively written, and a meticulously crafted engaging yet somber look at adult relationships.

The story follows Alisha “Al” Khanna (Deepika Padukone), a 30-year-old yoga instructor, who feels trapped in her life. Haunted by her parents’ unhappy marriage and her mother’s suicide, Alisha is saddened by the fact that her career isn’t going anywhere, and is tiring in her monotonous six-year-long relationship with Karan Arora (Dhairya Karwa), a former advertising executive who quite his lucrative job and is now struggling and unemployed novel writer.

However, her life takes an interesting turn when Tia “Tee” Khanna (Ananya Panday), her first cousin, who has just returned to India after a while, invites Alisha and Karan to spend a weekend with her and her fiancee Zain Siddiqui (Siddhant Chaturvedi), a real estate developer, at their Alibaug beach-side bungalow.

Beginning with some harmless flirting, Alisha and Zain find themselves instantly connected as they discover to have more in common with one another than with their respective beaus. And when the trip ends the two start seeing each other secretly, which naturally leads to all sorts of complications, and a whole lot of personal and professional mess.

Although this is not the first time Hindi cinema has shown infidelity on screen, the treatment of the subject leaves an impression. The narrative has surely matured, the characters are allowed more depth, and it’s no longer merely about simple attraction. But like I mentioned above this one is more than just a story about infidelity.

Here, director Batra and his co-writers are more focused on strained relations and how psychologically the mind works. By digging deeper, with the roaring waves symbolizing tumultuous inner thoughts, the film provides a closer picture of how troubled a human being can be without appearing from the surface level.

Sure, with a runtime of 148 minutes, it does get a tad monotonous and tiring at times, but the pace of the film somehow works in its favor, with the writers never allowing the script to become long-winded.

There is space for silences, brooding, deep inhales and the emotional turmoil to seep through. The conversations and performances create a vivid lived reality. The space could be distant for some audiences, but it is never escapist. You just get drowned in the story while the characters try to untangle issues in their lives.

Like a ticking time bomb, you fear the consequences the two might face. The cinematography and sound also play a significant part in the film’s subtly dramatic canvas. Scenes are designed with a lot of pauses and silences, which are for us to interpret and grasp.

Yes, the sudden shift in the last half comes out of nowhere and seems a bit a deranged at first, but the efficient structuring and the performances keep the twists and turns enjoyable until the satisfying end, like the tenuous bond between Alisha and her father (Naseeruddin Shah) that stays with you and leaves a lump in the throat.

If i had to pick out a flaw from the film it would be the characterization of Zain. While the film justifies reasons when it comes to Alisha, it doesn’t do the same for Zain, who seems particularly happy with a lovable and supportive Tia, but still decides to indulge in an affair. Making matters worse is how in the final act Zain suddenly becomes an out-an-out bad guy with no scope for redemption, only taking inexplicably horrific decisions just to save himself. Hereby impacting the effect of the film.

Performance wise, Deepika Padukone is unsurprisingly excellent. Here, impeccable portrayal almost seems too personal for her and her conviction so strong that you start feeling sad for her and that’s the power of a strong performance. Siddhant Chaturvedi too, despite a comparatively weaker characterization hold his own in essaying a character that’s deeply conflicted. From being charming to chilling, he carries the varied moods of his character superbly.

Ananya Panday also brings a surprise gravitas to Tia’s confusion and innocence and gets ample scenes to show her acting chops. Dhairya Karwa in his limited screen space doesn’t disappoint and adds some light moments to the screenplay. In supporting roles, both Rajat Kapoor and Naseeruddin Shah are flawless. On the whole, ‘Gehraiyaan’ is a dark, engaging take on infidelity and adult relationships that deserves to be relished for its heartfelt performances.