Review of the Bollywood Movie “Merry Christmas” 

Chetansingh Chauhan (Newzdaddy) [This Review is Featured in IMDb Critics Review]

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In the realm of thrillers, Merry Christmas stands out tall, directed by the seasoned Sriram Raghavan, who returns five years after the acclaimed Andhadhun. This time, he weaves a tale of deception, death, and darkness, skillfully employing the unlikely duo of Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi. While not a rapid-paced narrative, Merry Christmas captivates with its gripping storyline, inviting audiences to absorb and analyze the complexity of a well-crafted plot.

Star Cast: Katrina Kaif, Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi, Tinnu Raaj Anand, Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Pratima Kannan, Radhika Apte, Ashwini Kalsekar

Directed By: Sriram Raghavan

Writers: Sriram Raghavan, Arjit Biswas, Pooja Ladha Surti, Anukriti Pandey

Music: Pritam

IMDb Digital Promoter:  Ashvin Borad (Crazy Studio)

The Slow Burn of Merry Christmas

In a departure from the hurried and patchy narratives which is common in contemporary cinema, Merry Christmas takes its time, offering a slow burn that keeps viewers hooked. You will not like to even fiddle with your phone or like to have a “ummmmhh” with your girlfriend. While the film may have a few dull moments, it successfully avoids the label of boredom. It’s the kind of cinematic experience that encourages reflection, deep analysis, and discussion.

Based on Frédéric Dard’s Le Monte-charge, Merry Christmas opts for a smooth and easygoing and tight screenplay rather than a complex one. While the twists and turns are present, they lack the over-the-top wow factor seen in Raghavan’s previous work, Andhadhun. The climax, though nail-biting, features an experimental ending that leaves room for interpretation but falls short of delivering an awe-inspiring moment.

A Night of Intrigue on Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas unfolds on a fateful Christmas Eve in Mumbai, as Albert (Vijay Sethupathi) returns from Dubai, claiming his mother’s demise. A chance encounter with Maria (Katrina Kaif) in a restaurant sets off a chain of events that thrusts Albert into a murder mystery. The film’s delirious romance in a murder mystery setting provides memorable moments, such as an impromptu dance sequence featuring Vijay and Katrina. This I feel is a single-take dance shot, “awesome guys”.

Cinematic Craftsmanship

Merry Christmas heavily relies on its lighting and background score (by Daniel B George) to enhance key sequences and build tension. The film utilizes close-up shots of pivotal props, including a mixer grinder, spectacles, origami, a teddy bear, buttons in a lift, fish in an aquarium, and a bird in a cage, turning them into integral storytelling elements. There are even lots of very close shots of all the lead actors.

Dialogues and Performances

While the dialogue may not be extraordinary, the film boasts subtle humour, especially in Vijay’s delivery of one-liners with a simple man’s face. A few of the dialogues are just awesome.

Vijay’s portrayal of Albert is a standout, showcasing a pleasant avatar after his villainous role in Jawan. Katrina, a class apart, impresses with her expressions and restrained acting. In my opinion, this is Katrina’s best performance ever.  I was not a very big fan of Katrina’s acting, but in this movie, she has done a brilliant job.  The supporting cast, including Sanjay Kapoor, Tinnu Anand, Vinay Pathak, Ashwini Kalsekar, and Pratima Kazmi, provides crucial support to Raghavan’s mystery universe. Radhika Apte’s 2-minute cameo deserves a special mention as well. The cute little girl is quiet for the entire movie, but her acting and role cannot be neglected and need special applause.

Exploring Every Detail

Merry Christmas engages with its plot and pays attention to the smallest details. Every small detail of how it was Bombay many years back.  The scene of the cinema theatre, the buildings, the lifts etc.  All these small details have been taken care of very efficiently and effectively and give the actual feeling that we are in the late 80s.

Anticipation and Climax

While Merry Christmas maintains an air of unpredictability, keen observers might catch subtle hints leading to the big reveal. During the last 5 to 7 minutes of the film there are no dialogues from any character and Sriram Raghavan has very skillfully been able to explain everything to the audience through visuals only and expressions only. This is the style of Sriram Raghavan.

The climax, though out-of-the-box and experimental, the climax doesn’t achieve the mind-boggling impact expected.

Negatives points

1. The climax does not achieve the expectations from Sriram Raghavan’s movies.
2.  There are too many twists, if you miss something in the movie by chance, you are gone.
3.  The first 30 minutes of the film are boring, with too much talking and nothing thrilling.

Positive points:

1. Extraordinary performance especially from Katrina Kaif.  This is her best performance ever. Also, Vijay Setupathy is an effortless actor, awesome as always.
2. Very good camera angles and a very tight screenplay.
3. Superb Story and dialogues written by Sriram and his peers.
4. Single-take dancing shot of Alert and Merry.
5. No nudity, vulgarity, violence or abuse, so you can watch with your entire family.

Newzdaddy Ratings: 3.5*/5

Merry Christmas offers a unique cinematic experience, blending suspense, romance, and mystery. While it may lack the overt thrill of Raghavan’s previous works, it still stands as a testament to his storytelling skills. Sit back, absorb, and let the world of Merry Christmas unfold before you.

Also Read:

Review of Gujarati Movie “Danny Jigar”