Ramgopal Varma’s Darling is an enjoyable blend of an interesting concept (a dead ghost haunts her lover for cheating her) interlaced with good natured wit and also has a haunting appeal due to the ghost like character. The screenplay is engaging and the execution runs smoothly for most part. Performances are positive and enhance the film. The music too is nice and blends well with the film. Darling presents the concept in a different and light manner which makes it entertaining for the viewers. An above average film that is different and manages to entertain for most part.
Darling has been produced under the T.Series banner by Bhushan Kumar and directed by Varma. The story and screenplay has been done by Prawaal and Kusum. It stars Fardeen Khan as Aditya, Esha Deol as Geeta, Isha Koppikar as Ashwini, Zakir Hussain, Upendra Limaye, Nisha Kothari in a special appearance etc. The music of the film has been composed by Pritam& Himesh.
Aditya is a charming playboy who has a loving sweet homely wife Ashwini, and a gorgeous sexy secretary, the wild Geeta who he is having an affair with. One runs his home smoothly while the other runs his office smoothly and he gets to be with both of them. All he has to do is coming up with some convenient lies that he keeps feeding both of them and he manages to run both fronts smoothly. But one fine day things take a new turn when Geeta his secretary gets pregnant and that’s when he knows he can’t lie anymore and has to come clean with her. He tries to break it off with Geeta by telling her the truth.
However what follows is a fight between Aditya and Geeta when the latter finds that he has been lying to her all along, unfortunately the fight takes a turn for the worse when Geeta has an accident and dies at the hands of her lover. Aditya is scared but also relieved, he tries to bury the past and move on with his life, but what follows is a bizarre episode with a dead Geeta making a comeback into his life and turning his routine life upside down. He is also being questioned by cops about his missing secretary but he cannot reveal anything to them as he is scared and his wife too is unaware of his secret affair.
The spooky element is merely in the form of Esha’s penetrating deep dark looks and sudden appearances but Varma also tries to encompass several light and funny moments in the film which are witty and add a rare touch to the film making it extremely enjoyable to watch. Although the concept is not realistic, yet Varma’s execution lends believability and rationality to the film. The horror scenes are not completely nerve shattering but nonetheless they manage to intrigue and jilt audiences. The funny moments are not loud and in your face but subtle wit and humour that is woven deftly into the screenplay. The end is extremely different and quite amusing and interesting.
However there are a few hiccups like the concept caters mainly to a niche multiplex audience and hence may not be viewed by masses. The horror effect seems diluted and could have been enhanced. Also the camera zoom in's and sudden scene shifting is a bit jarring for the viewer as it breaks the flow.
The music of the film is different from Varma’s other films; there are many touching and soulful songs like Tadap by Himesh and others. The songs have good choreography and have also been laced well into the film and do not seem to intrude in the narrative. Cinematography by Amit Roy is different with a bluish tinge seen often but it gets a bit too much at times and dialogues by Kusum Punjabi are witty. Performances are fine with Fardeen Khan giving an average performance at times but he seems to falter while enacting the emotional parts. Esha Deol looks extremely hot and also carries off her role with poise; she gives an extremely competent performance and is the ‘soul’ of the film. Her expressions are penetrating; she delivers the witty dialogues with ease and is brilliant in the emotional scenes. Isha Koppikar is fare in her performance as the scope of her role is limited. And the rest of the cast is funny, quirky and able.
Overall Varma’s Darling has a different concept which has been treated in a new and innovative manner. The script is unusual, screenplay is witty and the film is engaging. At the box-office it should do above average as it is an extremely different film for multiplex audiences. An above average film that is alternatively intriguing and engaging as well.
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| Reviewed By: Rachel Fernandes |
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