Andhadhun: Accidents That Blind Your Belief

Bhubaneswar: A blind pianist Aakash, in a quaint arena of Pune, witnesses a murder. His conscience urges him to report the crime, but he is blind, so has he really witnessed the murder or there is more to it than what appears?

Andhadhun opens with a farmer chasing a rabbit that has been eating the cabbage in his farm. He shoots it. The scene seems completely irrelevant until an interesting plot twist comes up in the climax. However, this is not the only point that leaves you gasping and mumbling, ‘what just happened’?

Fitting perfectly into the dark humour genre, this movie is a thriller that will have you laughing till the very end of it. Starring Ayushman Khurrana as Aakash, Tabu as Simmi and Radhika Apte as Sophie, in the lead roles, the movie depicts various heart-racing and wrenching events from a blind pianist’s perspective.

Inspired by a French short film ‘L’Accordeur’ or ‘The Piano Tuner’ by Olivier Treiner, Andhadhun not only fills you with rage but also laughter. It plays with your mind, feeding you expectations of what will happen next, however shaking you up with events completely off beat.

The movie also confuses. When you think this is what one must laugh at, you realize what just happened was a crime. The movie, in a very subtle attempt, also speaks about the illegal organ trafficking and how the business thrives in India.

Sriram Raghavan, who has given us movies like ‘Ek Hasina Thi’ and ‘Johny Gaddar’, seemed back in form with his knack for creating unexpected twists and surprising events. This dangerously wicked thriller will question your conscience and intuition to the point of unbelieving every event you come across.

Adept at dark comedy, Raghavan has given the audience an experience to remember with Andhadhun. The first half builds a tension, cracks your nerves and keeps you at the edge with everything happening at a pace you cease to imagine. Aakash witnesses Pramod Sinha’s (Anil Dhawan) being murdered by Simi (Tabu) and Manohar (Manav Vij).

His attempts to file a report fail, while Simi and Manohar doubt his blindness and plots to kill him too. The movie further goes on with Aakash escaping from their clutches, while losing his love interest Sophie (Radhika Apte). Full points to the entire cast for pulling off one of the most difficult genres. While Tabu’s portrayal of a vindictive, evil and vulnerable woman makes you sympathize and yet hate her, Aakash’s chocolate-boyish looks and tension melts your heart. However, his behaviour at the end leaves one perplexed. The second half gets a little chaotic with all the chase, run and escape scenes but does not let you blink an eye.

For a movie like ‘Andhadhun’, music plays a pivotal role in keeping the audience’s interest intact. Amit Trivedi wins the heart with his ‘just right’ music that fits every twist and turns of the plot. It is a roller coaster ride with an unpredictable track, leaving you confused, amazed and quiet.