Review by virtuallyBRAINdead

Hemlock Society is a black comedy directed by Srijit Mukherji and is based on an institution teaching people how to commit suicide successfully. The plot opens up with a melodious song being performed in a typical Kolkata pub and captures the essence of the nightlife of city of joy. Plot development is slow but magnetic till the first half of the movie and after that it becomes somewhat predictable. Parambrata Chaterjee has played his part pretty well as the male lead and for some reasons I think Koyel Mullick was not a great choice for the female lead but given the budget constraints it is an acceptable choice and ultimately worked for the movie. Roopali Ganguly and Dipanker Dey have acted well and the well-balanced chemistry between them as a couple is one of the best points of the movie. Background score was well synchronized with the scenes and the integrated emotional elements. The plot became thinner in the second half and it would have been better if the movie was cut short 20 minutes. I would have loved it if they have shown more of Kolkata, its food and the vibrant culture. Some of the scenes in the background are witty (such as a suicide note: Thank you for the fish) and shows the director's attention to detail. It is good to see that Indian directors are attempting seriously to make dark comedies and this film takes us closer to that dream.