Merry Christmas

One word that sums up this whole film is "Magnificent".

This was Kaif's one of the best performance I've seen. And, no doubt in Sethupati sir's act as well. The whole cast did an amazing work. Stellar performance from every actors who were seen on the screen.

I have always been an enthusiast of crime thriller noir cinema and this is a film which I will add up to my list.

The first half of the films was just 2 characters having conversation and some might feel tedious, but that part of the film did okay for me. It was kind of like Before Sunrise. I knew that it was creating an unhurried build-up for the second half. It really tests your ability to stay patience. As it was sir Raghavan's sir film I was pretty sure that the characters were hiding something which we are going to experience with some massive twists and turns in the second half.

And when the second half hit the show not even a single person that were watching the film in theater got distracted, they were wholly into the film.

The cinematography and the direction of the whole film was top notch. It really was offering a beautiful shots with momentous secrets of the characters.

I was expecting more people to be on theater for this film. But, sadly there were only few. And If I am not wrong people will talk more about this film after it comes on OTT.

Forget the fruitcake and spiked eggnog, "Merry Christmas" is the real holiday treat you deserve. This isn't your grandma's feel-good Christmas movie; it's a suspenseful, stylish, and morally ambiguous masterpiece from Sriram Raghavan. Picture "Inception" meets "Casablanca" with a dash of Mumbai masala chai, and you're getting close.

Imagine a forbidden romance between a lonely housewife and a mysterious stranger, set against the twinkling lights and bustling chaos of Christmas Eve Mumbai. Pari Maheshwari Sharma smolders as the housewife, trapped in a gilded cage, while the enigmatic Vijay Varma saunters in with secrets simmering in his eyes. Raghavan paints every frame like a visual poem, using light, shadow, and even the way a sari swirls to hint at the tangled web of desires and betrayals to come.

Get ready for Hitchcockian twists that'll leave you gasping, like unwrapping a perfectly-shaped present only to find a ticking bomb inside. But Raghavan isn't just playing games; he's using this suspense to dig deep into the messy heart of human relationships. Is love a refuge or a prison? Where does loyalty lie when faced with temptation? And can you ever truly escape your past?

The music in this film is like a monsoon rainstorm on a Mumbai rooftop, swirling with sitar twangs and melancholic cello cries. It seeps into your bones and adds another layer to the film's intoxicating atmosphere. You'll be humming these tunes long after the credits roll.

Raghavan isn't afraid to borrow from the best, weaving the suspenseful chills of Hitchcock with the philosophical musings of Eric Rohmer. It's a genre-bending cocktail that's both familiar and refreshingly unique. He throws in unexpected pop culture references and Bollywood winks that'll have you grinning between gasps.

"Merry Christmas" isn't a film to passively watch; it's an invitation to participate, to puzzle over clues, question characters, and grapple with the moral tightrope they walk. It's a slow burn that explodes into a finale that will leave you shaken, stirred, and maybe a little bit hungover on existential questions.

So, ditch the fruitcake and dive into "Merry Christmas." It's a cinematic feast that will linger long after the last bite, leaving you questioning everything you thought you knew about love, loyalty, and the magic (and mayhem) of the holiday season.

P. S. Don't forget to pay attention to the little details in this film. Raghavan loves hiding clues and symbolism in every frame, from the color of someone's shirt to the stray object on a table. It's like a treasure hunt for the observant viewer!

Film Review: Merry Christmas now screening in theatres Synopsis - The paths of 2 lonely souls (Albert) Vijay Sethupathi & (Maria) Katrina Kaif cross on a Christmas Eve somewhere in the 1990's when Mumbai was still called Bombay. They get drawn towards each other before a chain of horrific events threaten to derail their lives forever!!

All events depicted on the film happen in the course of one night ... Sirf Ek raat ki kahani hai boss🙂 !!

Shreeram Raghavan who has given us pathbreaking films like Johnny Gaddar, Badlapur & Andhadhun has again tried to do something different!! But if u r expecting a fast paced film like Andhadhun or Johnny Gaddar u will be sorely disappointed!!

Most of the film, especially the first half trudges along with the pace of a tortoise which might seem boring to many . However each scene in the first half sets the tone for an interesting 2nd half where most of the action happens . Re-creation of the old world charm of Bombay in the 90s with tunes of old songs playing in the background, the iconic Regal cinema in SoBo , old BEST buses etc speaks volumes of the effort that the makers have put in!!

Sethupathi is just brilliant, cracking funny jokes that leave u in splits in the most serious moments. Katrina too has given a restrained performance. Others in the cast - Vinay Pathak as the cute inspector, Sanjay Kapoor, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tinnu Anand & Radhika Apte in a cameo have played their parts well .

This is a film which will be considered a masterpiece by some while being panned by others at the same time!! Not for people who r fond of usual masala Hindi films .

I loved the film , even with its slow pace . It will be well worth the wait of u hang on till the end !! Not as exciting as Andhadhun but not bad either . Worth a watch guys .. go for it !!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one ... Adios 🙂!!

#sanjuzzreviews #merrychristmas #vijaysethupathi #katrinakaif #merrychristmasfilm.

A very slow burn ..by a exceptional director who thrives in movies of this genre. He has had made most of his material hit the spot...and usally word of mouth gets his movies to go up in viewership But in this one ..the buildup takes an entire first half that could have been easily chopped by 30 percent minimum.. but in the hindsight the buildup was needed for the so called surprise ending But a watchful viewer would have guessed it as we get into the last course It's a very decent story ...but it doesn't bangs like his previous work.

Actors are very honest to their art. Katrina does exceptionally well. Vijay is such a charm you ...just love watching him on the screen.

Only if there was more meat on the soup the celebration would have made it perfect merry cristmas.

I saw this third day last show with my family in Gaiety theater, Bandra West.

The sad part was that the theatre was almost empty but i enjoyed the movie n was looking forward to it cos of the director Raghavan. While the misogynist n regressive film like Animal was theatre packed.

Coming back to this film, this one truly transports the viewers to the 80s Bombay. The Regal theatre, Colaba's lanes n empty streets all added an extra nostalgic charm.

There are no twists n turns n the movie moves at a deliberate slow pace showcasing the laid back attitude of the 80s.

Haven't read the book n haven't seen the short movie.

Katrina Kaif was a very wrong choice to potray a woman from the 80s.

Vijay was perfect n gave a good restrained performance.

The movie has a surprise reveal, rather than some mind-blowing and wtf twist.