Merry Christmas (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – Two strangers meet on a fateful Christmas Eve. A night of delirious romance turns into a nightmare. Revealing anything more would be a crime.

My Take – With films like Ek Hasina Thi (2004), Johnny Gaddaar (2007), Badlapur (2015) and Andhadhun (2018) dominating his filmography, writer-director Sriram Raghavan has well proven his ability to present unique thrillers laced with dark humor.

His latest too is no different.

Based on author Frédéric Dard‘s French novel Le Monte-charge (Bird in a Cage), the film unfolds as a tantalizing whodunit skillfully crafted and starring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif, whose performances form the cornerstone of the intriguing narrative, delivering a thoroughly enticing and entertaining thriller that diverges from the ordinary.

Yes, the deliberate pacing may challenge some viewers, and the film could’ve done with slight trimming for an enhanced impact, yet the second half captivates with a seductive dance of intrigue. Right from the first scene, it lures us into a deceptive calm, slowly building up before shifting into a high-stakes narrative, leaving us hooked and unable to look away.

This transition is a testament to the skillful screenplay and the expert direction, which navigates the complex layers of the story with precision and intensity. Offering a refreshing departure from formulaic cinema, with Sethupathi and Kaif‘s pairing as the winning card, Tips Films and Matchbox Pictures produced feature indeed marks a stellar start to 2024 for Hindi cinema.

Set in a time when Mumbai was known as Bombay, the story follows Albert (Vijay Sethupathi), who has returned home after being away for the past seven years. Mourning the loss of his mother, who passed away in his absence, on Christmas Eve, Albert decides to go out to enjoy the beauty of the city and have dinner himself.

However, things take an interesting turn when he encounters a stranger at a restaurant who was meant to have a blind date with a beautiful woman named Maria (Katrina Kaif). However, when Maria appeared with her child, Annie (Pari Maheshwari Sharma), he requests Albert to tell her that he had to leave for some urgent work, as he bails.

While Albert does the needful, he also strikes up a conversation with her. Unbeknownst to him, the whole night is eventually going to evolve into something a lot more complicated, something a lot darker.

Written by Raghavan, along with his longtime collaborators Pooja Ladha Surti (Ek Hasina Thi, Badlapur) and Arijit Biswas (Andhadhun, Agent Vinod), the film falls in a niche category of slow burn thrillers which demands attention and not for anyone looking for engagement in every frame.

The first half is purely a setup in progress for a wild ride coming in second half. It’s a simple film with a charming start, but it takes an unexpected twist that somewhat jarringly shifts the tone early on and takes the film in a completely different direction, without giving up much of its established light-heartedness and charm.

Once the setting is done and the film reaches the second half, where we see Albert looking at the whole thing from the audience perspective, as things start to unravel pretty differently, and the signature Sriram Raghavan elements start to kick in.

Every seemingly pointless detail we see in the earlier part of the film has a purpose in making the somewhat unthinkable twist in the tale look plausible. The twist in the tale that happens at the midway point is something that can look bizarre if not done properly.

The screenplay’s strength lies in its ability to seamlessly weave romance and thriller elements, creating a tapestry rich with tension and emotion. The film’s editing is sleek and sharp, contributing to the overall tight and engaging narrative. The background score further elevates the suspense, playing a crucial role in maintaining the film’s intense atmosphere.

Sure, it doesn’t land completely, but it neither acts as a sour note. The film so aware of its premise and audience that at no point does it lets the grip go loose. And the climax of course works as a peculiar mix of humor, surprise, irony, and despair.

Performance wise, Vijay Sethupathy with his distinct sarcastic humor and irresistible charm is a delight throughout. Katrina Kaif is easy on the eyes as always, but also brings in a commendable turn, which will shut her naysayers for good. Most importantly, their chemistry is palpable, adding a layer of authenticity to the film’s romantic elements, while also amplifying the tension inherent in the thriller genre.

Radhika Apte is delightful in a cameo, while Tinnu Anand, Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak and Pratima Kannan are effective in supporting roles. Pari Maheshwari Sharma is impactful. On the whole, ‘Merry Christmas’ is a compelling thriller laced with delightful performances.