Pulp Fiction – An approach to storytelling that is fast-paced, a little trashy, with lurid details and overblown emotions, and characters who are not what they seem.
‘Haseen Dillruba’ is set in a three-story house on the banks of the Ganges, in the town of Jwalapur. Jwalapur police officers stand in rapt attention, while Rani Kashyap recounts the details of her short-lived and turbulent marriage. She is being grilled by inspector Kishore Rawat who believes she has murdered her husband in a most brutal manner. Rani is unemotional and dull as if she is in shock. Their story is told in flashbacks.
Rani is a city girl from Delhi. Well educated and modern, she enjoys working as a beauty parlor manager, but she is not fond of cooking or housework. At 28, she has had a few loser boyfriends in the past and is feeling the pressure to marry. Rani often quotes her favorite author on matters of love, pulp fiction writer Dinesh Pandit. She yearns for a bold, passionate romance.
Rishu is a mild-mannered engineer, who often spends his free time repairing his neighbors’ appliances. He also has a broad knowledge of homeopathic medicines. Rishu has very little experience with women. But Rani is beautiful, so it’s love at first sight. When their marriage is arranged, he daydreams about their future and has Rani’s name tattooed on his wrist.
Trouble starts on their first night. Rishu is inept at lovemaking, and Rani is too outspoken. Her pride is hurt as her attempts at seduction fail. He is humiliated when he overhears Rani complaining to her mother. Resentments build up on both sides. Richu’s handsome cousin Neel shows up for a short stay. Neel takes tourists river rafting, and he has the vibe of a physically fit nature boy. Rani suddenly develops an interest in cooking. Flirting leads to a passionate affair, but after she confesses her love to Neel, he runs away.
The story becomes entertainingly twisted from here and the pulp fiction pot begins to boil over. Betrayal, remorse, rage, insanity, compassion, forgiveness, and redemption are added to the mix. Rani struggles to overcome the hurt, confusion, and shame of the affair. Wounded, Rishu goes into a deep depression and plots to avenge his honor.
Vikrant Massey can fit into a wide range of roles because of his everyman persona. Vikrant’s Rishu is naïve, shy, innocent, and vulnerable, as well as, hurt, humiliated, angry, pathetic, spiteful, and totally insane. Taapsee Pannu is also fun to watch as a high-maintenance Rani. She plays Rani as confident, impulsive, outrageously outspoken, jealousy, and eventually, with a core of decency and remorse for her sins.
Other standouts in the cast: Wellbuilt, self-assured Harshvardhan Rane, perfectly cast as the seductive Neel. Yamini Das as Rishu’s mother Lata, is very funny, controlling, and dramatic. Daya Shankar as the Brijraj, Rishu’s father, is a quiet, good-natured man who lets Rani experiment on his hair. Ashish Verma is Afzar, Rishu’s best friend. A bachelor, Afzar does not hesitate to give Rishu marital advice on ‘training’ his wife. Finally, Aditya Srivastava, as Inspector Rawar, who obsessively leads Rani through hours and hours of questioning convinced that she is a murderer.
‘Haseen Dillruba’ is written by Kanika Dhillon and directed by Vinil Mathew. It is a movie that has divided critics into two camps: people who hate this movie vs. people who love this movie. It is primarily a relationship/character study in the guise of a murder mystery. I found it a very entertaining watch.
