Farrey

Farrey is the story of Niyati and Akash, two toppers from a poor background. Niyati is living with her foster parents and the foster kids while Akash works as a part time delivery boy. When they get admission at the no.1 college in the city, their world collides with another, the richer kind. What starts of as helping fellow classmates to cheat and pass the term exams, gets bigger as the two get engulfed in the vicious circle, with the offer of big money. Will these kids get back to the world they belong or get torn apart by the new world they got stuck in forms rest of the story.

The beauty of Farrey lies in it's writing and how grounded the scenes remain to reality. With the couple of songs initially feel deliberately added as it is a Bollywood film, I really couldn't find anything else to complain about. The first half goes on smoothly with establishing all the key characters. It is all mostly fun here with the cheating scenes and kids being kids till the interval block. All the heavy duty scenes are left for the second half which is where the film truly wins.

Alizeh as Niyati comes up with a solid performance which can be called as the best debut of the year so far. Another stupendous performance is from Sahil Mehta as Akash, especially in the final act. Ronit Roy stands out and lends superb support, his scenes leave a lasting impact. The supporting cast involving the rich kids are good too in their respective roles though only Zeyn Shaw as Prateek and Prasanna Bisht as Chhavi get better written characters. Arbaaz Khan in his cameo is first rate, for a dad putting unfair pressure on his daughter, it is the smile of his that haunts.

Getting back to the second half, the heavy drama involved here is well handled by the actors and kudos to the director to getting this performance out of each of them. That fine line between rich and poor is much clear here where rich always get away and it is the poor who needs to look for a second chance. It is not how dark the characters get to behave but the stark realization the main lead gets to have while she confesses to her father which comes out perfectly. I am going with an higher writing solely for this take.

The rich-in-content Farrey catches you with complete surprise as it explores the dark side of greed convincingly... Smart storytelling, several nail-biting moments and inspiring performances are its biggest strengths. RECOMMENDED. Before I conclude, I must add, it deserved a catchy, easy-to-comprehend title.

On the whole, Farrey is a well-made and engaging film but if it still does not get the box-office numbers, it will be because of gross lack of promotion of a new star cast film, a difficult title (which is understood mainly in North India only) and a screenplay which leaves some important questions unanswered (as mentioned above).

Director Soumendra Padhi, previously known for his notable work on the Netflix hit series Jamtara - Sabka Number Ayega and the National Award-winning film Budhia Singh - Born to Run, demonstrates his exceptional suitability for this film. His direction is especially commendable with the debutant cast, prominently featuring Alizeh. For those who haven't experienced Bad Genius, Farrey provides a captivating series of twists and turns.

One of the finest movies of 2023. A strong content oriented highly underrated movie. Story revolves around how very privileged students take undue advantage of underprivileged children to make their career. What starts as an average movie takes unexpected turns. Definitely not preachy but story is thought inducing. Alizeh Agnihotri is fantastic! Must watch for younger crowd particularly adolescent n older crowd. Available in Zee5. My ratings 7/10!

One of the finest movies of 2023. A strong content oriented highly underrated movie. Story revolves around how very privileged students take undue advantage of underprivileged children to make their career. What starts as an average movie takes unexpected turns. Definitely not preachy but story is thought inducing. Alizeh Agnihotri is fantastic! Must watch for younger crowd particularly adolescent n older crowd. Available in Zee5. My ratings 7/10!

While the film attempts to capture the essene of the original Thai masterpiece, it falls short in almost every aspect. The narrative feels rushed and underdeveloped, failing to delve into the depths of the characters' motivations and the complexities of the cheating scheme. The adrenaline-fuelled sequences of cheating escapades, which were so captivating in the original film, lack the same intensity and suspense in "Farrey".

Alizeh Agnihotri's character transformation from a reluctant participant to an integral part of the cheating scheme feels unearned, and the audience struggles to connect with her on an emotional level. The stark contrast between Niyati's privileged classmates and her own struggles as an orphan feels forced and fails to resonate with the audience.

Overall, "Farrey" is a disappointing remake that fails to capture the magic of its Thai predecessor. The rushed narrative, underdeveloped characters, and the lack of suspense make it a forgettable cinematic experience. For those seeking a truly captivating tale of academic fraud and moral dilemmas the original Thai film " Bad Genius" remains the superior choice.

Directed by Soumendra Padhi, "Farrey" is a heist-thriller that follows a group of teenagers attempting to cheat on an international entrance test. Led by Niyati Singh (played by Alizeh Agnihotri), the group navigates the complexities of academic pressure and privilege to achieve their goals.

The film's premise, based on the Thai film "Bad Genius," offers promise but ultimately falls short in execution. While the storyline touches on themes of class disparity and the pressure to succeed, it lacks depth in character development and storytelling.

The performances by the cast, including Alizeh Agnihotri, Sahil Mehta, Zeyn Shaw, and Prasanna Bisht, are decent but fail to elevate the material. Despite the potential for emotional resonance, the film's pacing feels rushed, leaving little room for the audience to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

One of the film's major drawbacks is its lack of a compelling soundtrack and sound direction, which contributes to moments of boredom and disengagement. Additionally, the ending feels predictable and anticlimactic, robbing the film of any lasting impact.

Overall, "Farrey" may serve as a passable one-time watch, but it ultimately fails to leave a lasting impression. With its lack of originality and missed opportunities for deeper exploration of its themes, it's a forgettable addition to the genre.