Movie Review Ek Villain
Ek Villain begins with a massive plot twist right at the beginning. And just minutes into the film you’re left wondering, what will Mohit Suri do now, since he’s started with such a high point… That’s when his gripping reverse narrative comes into play.
When you walk into the theatre to watch a thriller, you naturally expect the twists and turns in the tale to keep you at the edge of your seat. But that doesn’t happen in Ek Villain (you figure most of it out pretty soon). And by interval point, the suspense is out for all to see. However, the parallel past and present tracks blend intricately together to keep you glued to the screen.
A hardened criminal Guru (Sidharth Malhotra), whose dark past haunts him, falls in love with sunshine girl, Aisha (Shraddha Kapoor), who’s suffering from some terminal disease and is eager to fulfil her bucket list of wishes. Rakesh (Riteish Deshmukh) ruins their perfect little, world. And Guru is out for his blood. How the revenge story between Guru and Rakesh plays out is what forms the crux of this film.
Mohit Suri tackles the complexities of all his lead characters beautifully. He breaks them down and delves deep into their minds to gratify the audience. Ek Villain may be a thriller but it tugs at your heart strings at various points with the way the main characters hold on to hope despite their obvious anguish and pain.
The likeable music score merges perfectly with the narrative. The film’s pace is riveting. And the final fight sequence is high quality drama.
Performance wise, Sidharth Malhotra’s brooding, painful act is a winner. He gets the angst and he gets the nuances of his chequered character so well that you wonder why people consider him as just a pretty boy. Shraddha Kapoor is another revelation. She’s confident and she’s charming. The actress in Shraddha seems to have finally arrived. And she also looks like a dream.
Riteish’s menacing act sends a shiver down your spine. Besides the fact that Ritesh’s Rakesh is probably one of the most complex and well-written negative characters Hindi cinema has seen in a while, the actor’s straight-faced wickedness is haunting. Yes, this is funny man Riteish we’re talking about.
Though indulgent in parts, Ek Villain packs in a punch. Copy of a Korean film or not, it’s ‘good’ paisa vasool entertainment. Make it your weekend watch.
