Saali Mohabbat (2025) Review!!

Synopsis – A housewife gets entangled in a tale of infidelity, deceit, and murder.

My Take – After winning accolades all over for whatever role she has played, most memorably in Taare Zameen Par (2007), it seemed natural that Tisca Chopra would transition to feature film making, after all she already has had the experience to make the necessary plunge due to her occasional stint at writing and directing several acclaimed shorts.

In fact, her debut feature expands on the ingredients of a short film she co-wrote called ‘Chutney,’ a cautionary tale of lust and punishment. But while Tisca Chopra shows promise in her directorial turn, the film with its predictable twists and familiar beats undermine its intrigue, making it less engaging than expected, particularly as you can see the climactic twist coming a mile off.

With a runtime of 108 minutes, the pace remains brisk and the narrative never really drags, yet many parts of the story feel either forced or unnecessary. Though the screenplay, written by Namrata Shenoy, is meticulous in focusing on the little, the switch from a dysfunctional marriage drama to murder mystery is clumsy.

And despite having credible performers and a thoughtful actress guiding the project, the film does not reach the required emotional or narrative depth. The ending too struggles to deliver the final impact it aims to, leaving matters hanging, rather than delivering a story that is complete in itself.

The story follows Kavita (Radhika Apte), a demure but also fraught housewife, who after walking in on her husband canoodling with a guest at a party, proceeds to tell the gathering a cautionary tale of lust and punishment. Set in the fictional town of Fursatgarh, Smita (Radhika Apte) is leading a straightforward life with Pankaj (Anshumaan Pushkar), a compulsive gambler who owns a large sum of amount to the local hood run by the flamboyant Gajendra (Anurag Kashyap).

An amount which can be re-payed off by selling of a house owned by Smita, however, she flatly refuses, considering it to be her father’s last remains, infuriating Pankaj. Their relationship sees further ripples with the arrival of Shalini (Sauraseni Maitra), Smita’s good-looking younger cousin, who soon begins an affair with Pankaj. But when they are found murdered, Smita becomes the prime suspect for the corrupt policeman Ratan (Divyenndu).

While there’s enough frisson in the set-up, the film doesn’t sustain it all the way through. As a thriller and mystery drama, the narrative gets its setting right. The small-town elements, the atmosphere, and the social environment are clearly visible and feel authentic. In the beginning, director Chopra uses Smita’s interest in gardening to convey the story’s deeper meaning, comparing domestic life to a lush garden and infidelity to a weed that needs to be cut out for a healthy home.

However, over time, the feminist lens and the aesthetic production design become overbearing, and the film lacks the sharpness and tight writing that a murder mystery truly demands. Many important details are either rushed or left unexplained. Even the climax, where Sharat Saxena’s character hands her a lethal potted plant, leaves several questions unanswered.

What truly keeps the film engaging are the performances. Radhika Apte is solid and convincing throughout. Her transition from an unremarkable presence to an avenger is seamless. Apte makes you feel compassion, frustration, empathy and suspicion, sometimes all in the same scene. It takes a rare actor to hold that many contradictions together without letting anything slip. Divyenndu is especially sharp as the morally compromised local cop.

Sauraseni Maitra wears her seductress tag on her sleeve and brings the necessary glamour and energy to the film. Anshumaan Pushkar puts up a convincing act in his role. Anurag Kashyap’s presence adds an unpredictable flavor, though his track doesn’t always integrate smoothly. Sharat Saxena, nicely cast against type, as a protective gardener, is likable. On the whole, ‘Saali Mohabbat’ is an uneven thriller that falters despite a striking setting and solid cast.