My favourite Sriram Raghavan film is Andhadhun. Its script was meticulously crafted. This thriller could give Hollywood movies a run for their money. Tabu was a revelation as the antagonist and Ayushmann Khurrana was the cherry on top. The film left us awestruck as it unfurled and kept viewers glued to the screen till the end. (Which is your favourite Sriram Raghavan film?... January 13)
Ravina Barman
It is Merry Christmas now. After January 2024, my favourite Sriram Raghavan movie is this lively romantic thriller based on the French novel Le monte-charge. Two strangers, one long night and a story well retold with lots of beautiful lines, created magic on the big screen. The director unfolded the mystery in a different pattern in which romance and thrills go hand in hand. Nostalgia was evoked through references to Kodak camera advertisements, single-screen cinema halls, painted movie posters, red telephone receivers and many more. I think every person attached to its making treated this movie with extra care and that care transformed into beauty. The background score was excellent and helped to understand the pulse of many scenes. Nazar teri toofan is a magical song which has enhanced the overall impact of the film.
First-time co-actors Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif displayed great chemistry with the help of Raghavan’s intelligent frames. Vijay Sethupathi did most of his acting through facial and eye expressions. He hypnotised me with his spellbinding performance and Katrina supported him admirably. Not just for being a thriller, Merry Christmas can be seen again and again for many reasons.
Sarbani Banerjee
Though Merry Christmas (2024) is a close second, my favourite film is Andhadhun. Sriram Raghavan shocks you with his unpredictable twists against a background of glamour and glitz in his brilliant and dystopian universe.
In Andhadhun, we have a blind piano player (Ayushmann Khurrana) and a socialite (Tabu) caught in the web of an organ racket. It is a chilling thriller, which is eye-popping due to its raw realism. At the same time, there are measured flights of fantasy, where each action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Pampa Paul
Renowned filmmaker Sriram Raghavan’s exquisitely crafted neo-noir action thriller films hold a special place in every cinema connoisseur’s heart, offering them an unparalleled experience. From his scintillating filmography, I would pick the revenge thriller Badlapur (2015) as my favourite. Based on the novel Death’s Dark Abyss, the cinematic adaptation features Varun Dhawan and Nawazuddin Siddique as the leads. It unfolds the tale of a young man hell-bent on exacting gory revenge on two criminals responsible for killing his family. Powered by riveting storytelling and stellar performances, the film enchants the audience, expressing its myriad layers steadily. The nightmarish transition in Raghu’s (Varun) character from a jovial and loving young man to a sadistic and vengeful person was truly laudable, accentuating Raghavan's competence as a master director. Varun nailing such a complex role with grace redefined his skill as an actor effectively. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this film. It is an underrated masterpiece from him!
Aayman Anwar Ali
Andhadhun has to be one of the best films of Sriram Raghavan. The dark thriller with its ingeniously portrayed scenes kept me hooked till the very end and has remained etched in my mind.
Ishani Sen
My favourite Sriram Raghavan film is Andhadhun. It is a black comedy-cum-crime thriller. Ayushmann Khurrana played the role of the main character (Akash) in the movie. Apart from the lead actor, other actors like Tabu and Radhika Apte did a commendable job. This cinematic masterpiece kept the audience hooked from beginning to end. The story revolves around a ‘blind’ pianist who inadvertently got involved in a web of crime. The most captivating thing about this film is its meticulous storytelling. The plot of the film unfolds in different timelines and perspectives. With its excellent storytelling, fine performances and gripping narrative, Andhadhun stands as the finest thriller in recent times.
Olivia Dhar
In my opinion, Sriram Raghavan’s best film is Andhadhun which offers a smorgasbord of genres and elements. There is a femme fatale in Simi (Tabu) who displays false emotions to gratify her superannuated husband (Anil Dhawan). She is an enchantress whose mere presence leaves a pernicious effect on the characters she interacts with. Akash (Ayushmann Khurrana) plays a blind pianist who gets inadvertently embroiled in a heinous murder perpetrated by others. Raghavan takes us on a rollercoaster ride, never letting the suspense wane even for a moment. With his masterful storytelling style, he keeps us glued to our seats, creating a sense of lurking, impending doom.
The auteur weaves a delicate gossamer of situations which have an apparent likelihood of snapping any moment, but he manages to steer them through with his masterstrokes. No character is beyond the purview of suspicion however benign they appear to be, making the twists and turns in the plot all the more impactful. The narrative, leaping across different perspectives and timelines, is shockingly unpredictable and leaves us nonplussed. The film has a befitting climax in congruence with its spirit. The impeccable plot tapestry, leaving no loose ends, in tandem with the mind-boggling music by Amit Trivedi setting the mood for a perfect thriller, makes Andhadhun a riveting tale of deceit, dark comedy and unconventional romance!
Suparna Ghosh
Andhadhun was my favourite Raghavan film until I saw Merry Christmas. It was a wonderful experience as I found it more of an unconventional romantic story than a thriller. Undoubtedly, the film is quintessentially a Raghavan film with its neo-noir style. The film starts with a tale of two lonely persons coming together accidentally on Christmas Eve, but as the story proceeds the audience senses something eerie in the air.
The gripping story takes a whirlwind turn after the interval and when one feels that everything will end well, comes the blow which is shocking and difficult to accept. Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif have done a marvellous job, especially the latter, who surprised me with her powerful performance. Applause for the director for bringing the nostalgic '70s and '80s back with its Liril and Limca ads, the double-decker buses, the retro tunes of songs and the background score. Nothing felt out of place or unnecessary. Thanks Mr Raghavan for portraying love in its most bizarre form which will relentlessly mesmerise me.
Kakali Mukherjee
Quirky, uncanny and predictable... but I loved the retro feel of Merry Christmas. Huge credit to the top-grade editing, background score, songs and vintage recreation. The chemistry of the shy Vijay Sethupathi with the vibrant Katrina Kaif was uncommon but adorable. Vijay, as always, is a treat and an absolute pleasure to watch. His powerful emotions and performance were phenomenal and compensated for his stilted Hindi accent to a large extent. Katrina is the 'shero' of the film. The damsel in distress is stunning. It is a welcome break from all her typical masala rom-com movies. I truly respect Sriram sir and hold him in high regard. But I missed the magic of Andhadhun and Badlapur in this film. The plot is predictable but the treatment could have been more crisp with the twists and turns with which we usually recognise Raghavan's films. Vinay Pathak looks unconvincing and the role could have been essayed by someone more witty yet comical.
All in all, Merry Christmas is a decent film. But Sriramji, we are eagerly waiting to witness the reincarnation of your Ek Hasina Thi kind of golden films.
Saurav Gupta
My favourite Sriram Raghavan film is Andhadhun. Inspired by a French short film named The Piano Tuner, this suspense-filled crime and mystery thriller, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu and Radhika Apte, is the finest movie by the ace director. I have seen this delightfully dark comedy at least five or six times. It is an exciting and enjoyable watch for me every time because of its intriguing storyline and the rock-solid performances of Ayushmann and Tabu.
Sourish Misra
