After delivering a cult hit in Delhi Belly, Abhinay Deo returns to direct another black comedy in Blackmail (or is it Blackmale…nope, that sounds racist). Irrfan Khan plays the main lead, while the movie also stars Kirti Kulhari, Arunoday Singh, Divya Dutta, Gajraj Rao and Omi Vaidya. Blackmail is quite special, since it might be some time we might get to see Irrfan back on the big screen (he is undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour). Thankfully, the movie is good. Here's our review of Blackmail,

You know the premise from the trailer. Dev (Irrfan Khan), who usually works late at his toilet-paper making company, decides to surprise his wife (Kirti Kulhari) one day by reaching home early. However, he gets surprised in place when he gets a peek of her in bed with her lover (Arunoday Singh). Instead of confronting them, he decides to blackmail the lover through anonymous messages so that he can use the ransom to pay off his EMI's. But what was supposed to be a simple ransom plan in turn leads to a series of further blackmails with more players wanting their piece of pie. Dev finds himself to be a pawn in the game he started himself.

Blackmail is that kind of the movie that we never expect our usual superstars to be a part of. Our heroes usually go all white or black. They never go murky, like the lead of the movie. Dev may be the so-called protagonist and we do root for him to come out trumps in the mess he has himself created. But even when his initial situation makes him a victim of infidelity, he is no angel. In fact, he is as morally corrupt as his cheating wife, her married lover and even his sleazy colleague. But Blackmail doesn't make him apologetic or heroic; and that's why it is so different from the movies we usually see in Bollywood.

Make it understood that Blackmail is not for the purists who get easily offended by anything. We have a hero here who masturbates to the photos of his colleagues' wives (there are some very suggestive pictures of taps to give you an insight). His sleazy colleague utters non-veg jokes and even plans a date to get action, that Dev reminds him is 'rape'.  But if you love getting on a twisty ride, Blackmail serves a deliciously wicked saga with so many twists and turns that you won't feel bored for a minute. Not to spoil things for you, but the screenplay is filled with some really unpredictable surprises and some delectable black comedy. The movie is all about revenge and some of the characters get some very interesting comeuppances either through their karma or Dev's malicious mind.

Is it me or the movie has flashes of Coen Brothers' underrated Burn After Reading? The Hollywood movie, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt, is about a series of blackmails going wrong. Unlike that movie, the humour in Blackmail is easily able to connect with the audiences.

From Dev trying to steal roses from a graveyard to the lover negotiating a gun purchase (featuring the best Mohabbatein joke, I heard), there are ample moments to keep you amused. Abhinay Deo also managed to use some real smart imagery to show some of the characters' emotions, like a pressure cooker blowing off its whistle when Dev finds out about the affair. Seeti baj gayi, paaji! Amit Trivedi's electrifying score helps in accentuating the thrills in some of the sequences.

Deo is also helped by a talented cast who shine as the murky players of the murky game. Irrfan Khan is completely in his elements as the man so caught in his game, that he could turn out to be the serial killer his colleague jokes about. Does he? You have to watch out the movie to find out. Every expression that appears on his harried face is a delight to watch and we really hope he gets well soon so that we can get more such deliciously wicked performances from him. Yes, I am selfish in my prayer that way.

Arunoday Singh as the dimwitted, hen-pecked lover is a revelation. I have seen flashes of his comic talent in Mirch and Main Tera Hero, but it is in Blackmail that his talent to tickle our funny bones is in full display. Kirti Kulhari gives a good account of herself, while Divya Dutta is terrific as the the lover's abusive wife. Gajraj Rao, Anuja Sathe and Omi Vaidya play well in their respective roles.

While Blackmail is an enjoyably twisty ride throughout, you do come across some bumps on the way. While it is always welcome to see Urmila Matondkar back on screen, her dance number comes off as a distraction. Omi Vaidya's subplot about marketing toilet paper isn't as amusing as the movie wants it to be, though it does lead to a good payout later. There are some big loopholes too in the script, like why does the manager, whose wife's pic goes 'missing' frequently, not check with the security guard as to who stays late at office. There is a track of a police officer who finds a link between Dev and a crime that is never explored later. Some of the scenes get repetitive, especially Dev's frequent forays into toilet to errr...you know...

Yay!

- A twisty tale that will keep you hooked.

- Deo's handling of the black humour

- Irrfan Khan's terrific performance

- A fantastic ensemble act, including Arunoday Singh's scene-stealing act

- How things are tied up

- Amit Trivedi's electrifying score

Nay!

- Not for the purists

- A couple of large loopholes

- Some unwanted distractions

Final thoughts

If you love twisted entertainers that are smart, well-directed and keep you chuckling throughout, then Blackmail should be on your weekend watchlist. Led by Irrfan Khan's charmingly wicked performance, this is one ransom call you should be a part of.

Rating:
4 out of 5

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 05, 2018 11:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).