NH10 MOVIE REVIEW

 

The plot is about a husband-wife pair (Arjun and Meera) who set out from Delhi for a weekend getaway, coinciding with the lady's birthday. Meera is already traumatized after a little incident of harassment and this trip is one where Arjun plans to distract his lady and bring her back to normalcy. But on the way, they encounter a violent, casteist group who are about to carry out a couple of honor killings. Arjun is a man of pride and high morals, and he takes it upon himself to raise his voice and somehow stop this group. But that is where things start going horribly wrong for the pair and soon they are literally trapped in the lion's den. Whether they manage to escape in one piece is the rest of the tale.

 

Anushka is initially the typical 'scared to death' wife who is dependent on her husband to protect her. But grave circumstances bring out the Goddess Kali in her and she takes on her enemies with courage.

 

The film is definitely violent and warrants the 'A' certificate with all its intense blood-splashed visuals. The inherent messages about female sexual harassment, honor killing, the caste system and the male chauvinist ways of the lower strata of society, earn more brownie points for the team.

 

There are plenty of memorable sequences where Anushka helplessly but hopefully runs, climbs, squeezes and crawls her way out of danger. This is what you would call an author-backed role and the beauty grabs the part with both hands and owns it. This sure is a landmark moment in her career, producing the film and enacting the lead role with such distinction. And the way she lights up a cigarette in the climax and coldly goes about completing her mission with a rod in hand, is a 'seeti bajake' moment.

 

Upcoming actor Neil Bhoopalam exudes good energy on screen and sharing the screen space with an actress like Anushka and still coming out with confidence, is no mean feat. His chemistry with Anushka is palpable and the moments when she romantically talks in Tamil are cutesy. Darshan Kumaar (last seen in Mary Kom) as the lead antagonist is menacing till his final moments.

 

Most of the film happens in the eerie moments of twilight or at night, and the work done by the cinematographer and the DI team is praiseworthy. The visuals are clear and the action is engrossing. The background score ups the tension and gives the right impetus to the action-packed moments. The songs are all montages and are in the film just to present a few scenes in a different dimension. Technically top-notch, NH10 definitely is.

 

So this weekend, get ready to experience a gripping survival drama which builds up well towards a hard-hitting finale, where Anushka emerges as the face and voice of female power. Book your ticket and fasten your seat belts for a gritty ride.