Khamosh

Undoubtedly this is the best suspense movie of Bollywood so far(in my view). It has everything that is needed for a good movie interesting plot,good execution,engaging background score,powerful performances and most importantly unpredictable story

Having heard comments from a few friends and users that this movie is the best thriller from Hindi movies, I was curious to watch it. Other reason was the plethora of star cast which had names like Pankaj Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Amol Palekar. But when I watched, sadly the thriller part was missing. Many of the suspects ham so much and have very clear objectives that you get a feeling that they are not the actual murderers and most likely the one not amongst them is the culprit. Mystery was not that good and I am saying that despite of not watching any other language movie from which this movie could have been inspired.

What stands apart and as an appreciation is the performance of the investigating CBI officer by Naseeruddin Shah. Right from his entry the eyes, facial expressions and body language depict that he is not taking this murder just as any CBI officer's routine investigation. The way he tries to investigate the murder is shown very well and seems realistic. No wonder that Sir Naseer is the best actor ever to come from India.

Rest of the cast(names I mentioned in my first para) do play their part with full honesty especially Pankaj Kapoor. Direction wise the movie is OK but some elements like the shooting of the rape scene really does not fit in the actual plot. At some places the comedy seems to be forced and puts a dilemma as whether viewers should chuckle or see the tragedy which goes on in a movie shooting.

Overall, watch it once and get engrossed at the first time. Need not have a repeat view to enjoy the mystery part.

Khamosh is a rare gem in the landscape of Indian cinema - a slow-burn mystery that feels grounded, intelligent, and far ahead of its time. What made it stand out for me was its ability to build genuine tension without relying on gimmicks. The suspense simmers gradually, keeping you hooked with the feeling that anyone could be the killer. And when the reveal comes, it's surprising yet believable - not flashy or over-engineered, but smartly executed.

Unlike many thrillers that try too hard to outwit the audience, Khamosh stays grounded. It doesn't indulge in melodrama or excessive twists. Instead, it leans into its eerie setting, sharp performances, and subtle storytelling to deliver a mystery that feels refreshingly real.

The only downside is the production quality - which, understandably for the time and budget, wasn't great. The print I watched wasn't the best either, which slightly took away from the experience. There's also one minor twist that felt a bit too convenient, but it's forgivable given how well the rest of the story holds up.

Overall, Khamosh is a must-watch for anyone who enjoys understated thrillers. It remains one of the very few Indian films of its era that dared to slow down and let the mystery breathe - and it does so with remarkable restraint and intelligence.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra has created a very Hitchcockian thriller. I liked the idea that the whodunnit story takes place among a films cast and crew as they are shooting on location. Chopra's reference to films like 'The Godfather' and 'Psycho' were quite funny. 'Khamosh' isn't as much a thriller as there's a lot of humour.

While a few of it is unintentional, there's also plenty of satire. I especially enjoyed the humour that took place in the shooting scenes. For instance, the sequence where Shabana delivers her dialogue to Amol while lifeless hand keeps bumping on her foot and she's completely unaware of it.

Some sequences were out of place and it appears as though Chopra just put them in for the sake of thrills. One such example is the scene where Shabana finds a drenched in blood dead chicken in her bed. It's also very easy to figure out that the lead suspects were not the actual murderers and after some time one can easily figure out who it is. Plot holes are also apparent. For example, why would Shabana go to the houseboat all by herself at night when there's a murderer on the loose?

At the same time, it's great to watch such an excellent group of actors work together and I was interested in how the director would choose to conclude the film. Pankaj Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Amol Palekar are first rate. Azmi plays the Hitchcockian heroine with class and poise. Shah does a fine job as the fiery detective determined to solve the case. Palekar is cast against type and he is superb even though he has limited screen time. Soni Razdan does a decent job while the rest of the cast range from average to bad.

Overall, 'Khamosh' may not be an out and about thriller it tries to be but it's entertaining nonetheless and I think it even has good repeat value.

What worked: One of the aspects of the movie that stood out was the very balanced and thrilling screenplay that stayed up to its mark making it a very fine murder mystery. Also, the mood and the climate of the movie is preserved by the satisfying execution so the whole team needs the praise. The ensemble casts appealed the movie lovers as this movie included many veteran actors with their respective roles. The movie was able to capture the attention with its interesting plot twists multiple times but also keeping the balance with the thrills and multiple possibilities. Another exciting aspect of the movie is the atmosphere the movie created with a narrative depicting a movie within a movie. Overall, a very satisfying watch.

What did not work: One of the weak aspects of the movie has to be the technical aspect involving the sound mixing and cinematography. This movie is a very fine piece of work and it would have been a even finer movie if the movie had exceeded the technical aspect, which is to say this movie could have been presented very beautifully if done today Final verdict: recommended