By Joginder Tuteja
There are two made-for-OTT films that released over the weekend - Ajeeb Daastaans on Netflix and Raat Baaki Hai on ZEE5. Ajeeb Daastaans was much hyped since it's a Karan Johar production and an anthology that boasted of four unique stories featuring an impressive cast. On the other hand Raat Baaki Hai is for the lovers of thrillers and had an interesting promo.
Let's talk about Ajeeb Daastaans first. With four stories that came with an unexpected twist in the end, it had Majnu and Geeli Pucchi work quite well. Jaideep Ahlawat, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Armaan Ralhan come together in Majnu which has Shashank Khaitan [Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Dhadak] director get into a different mould to create part-dark, part-humorous tale that is the most 'commercial' of them all. The cast does quite well in this story that comes straight to the point and then has a double twist that no one saw coming.
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Geeli Pucchi is the longest of them all with a running time of over 40 minutes and it does exhaust from the mid-point to the pre-climax. However, once director Neeraj Ghaywan spins up the climax, it also turns out to be worth it as everything falls in place. Yes, the pace could have been faster in this Konkona Sen Sharma and Aditi Rao Hydari starrer as a running duration of 25-30 minutes could well have been apt. However, it does cover a lot, right from caste divide to same-sex relationship to the ultimate 'badla' which indeed makes it all a 'ajeeb daastaan'.
As for Khilauna and Ankahi, there is a lot left to be desired, especially the latter. Talking about Khilauna, it does have Nushrat Bharucha and Abhishek Banerjee leading the show, with Raj Mehta (the director of Good Newwz) calling the shots. All is well in the film as intrigue builds in this rich-poor tale. However, as the film approaches its pre-climax, the narrative starts turning cold despite all the fire simmering beneath, pun intended. The end is unconvincing out here.
On the other hand Ankahi just meanders where Shefali Shah does what she has done over the years, while Manav Kaul repeats his 'earnest man persona', something that has come to be his identity ever since Tumhari Sulu. This time around there is a handicap angle thrown in and while Kayoze Irani may have attempted to make an emotional tale, the conclusion is just not 'ajeeb' enough and rather feels incomplete.
Coming to Raat Baaki Hai, it gathers a fair start for itself but somehow the climax is practically revealed soon after the interval point itself as a result of which the impact is diluted. Rahul Dev is good again as a cop with a wry sense of humor and it's a pleasure to watch him on screen, especially during his interrogations. However, the core plot that unravels between the key protagonists, Anup Soni and Paoli Dam, is quite talk heavy and later in the proceedings, on your face. For a murder mystery, this one isn't as water-tight as one would have expected.
Coming soon
This week sees the release of two web series - Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu on ZEE5 and ALT Balaji, and Hello Mini 3 on MX Player.
Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu went on floors a while back and since then has been hyped for Parth Samthaan. The actor has gone through a complete image change for this web series that seems to be on the lines of Ekta Kapoor's Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, what with gangsters, their rivalry and an actress in the midst of it all. Patralekha [Citylights, Love Games] is the leading lady in this out and out masala web series with Arslan Goni playing another key protagonist. If you liked Mum Bhai [Angad Bedi, Sikandar Kher] then you are the audience for this one.
On the other hand Hello Mini 3 is for those who dug upon the first two seasons of the web series. As a matter of fact the third season is coming in record time as it was less than a couple of months that the second season had streamed. It had concluded on a cliffhanger and those familiar with the core storyline would know that the identity of the 'stranger' would finally be revealed this time around. The Anuja Joshi starrer started as an erotic thriller in the first season which was played down in the second. Now in the third, the core would be drama and thrills.
Release dates (for next week)
Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu - ALT Balaji and ZEE5 - 20th April
Hello Mini 3 - 23rd April
(Joginder Tuteja is a trade expert and film critic, and loves to talk and write about anything that is related to films. Views are personal)