A gritty, engaging thriller
Ek Villain starts with a massive plot twist early on. And in the film you’re left wondering, what will he do now Mohit Suri, who has already begun with such a high point just minutes … That’s when its reverse narrative grip comes into play.
When you walk into the theater to watch a thriller, you naturally expect the twists and turns of the story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. But that does not happen in Ek Villain (to determine the most out of it soon). And the interval point, the suspense is for all to see. However, past and present parallel runways are intimately mixed together to keep you glued to the screen.
A guru hardened criminal (Sidharth Malhotra), whose dark past pursues him, the girl falls in love with the sun, Aisha (Shraddha Kapoor), who is suffering from a terminal illness and is eager to fulfill his wish list of desires. Rakesh (Riteish Deshmukh) ruins his perfect little world. And Guru is out of your blood. How the story of revenge between Guru and Rakesh plays is what forms the crux of this film.
Mohit Suri tackles the complexities of all the main characters design. He breaks them down and deep into their minds to suit the audience. Ek Villain can be a thriller but pulls at your heart strings at various points with the way the main characters cling to hope despite their obvious distress and pain.
The account of the pleasant music blends perfectly with the narrative. Pace of the film is fascinating. And the final fight sequence is the high quality drama.
Performance wise, melancholic, painful act of Sidharth Malhotra is a winner. He gets anxiety and nuances of his character makes pictures so well that one wonders why people consider it only as a pretty boy. Shraddha Kapoor is another revelation. She is safe and lovely. Actress Shraddha seems to have finally arrived. And she looks like a dream.
Riteish threatening act sends a shiver down the spine. Besides the fact that Rakesh Ritesh is probably one of the most complex and well-written negative characters Hindi cinema has seen in a long time, evil-actor walking straight face. Yes, this is the funny man we’re talking Riteish.
Although indulgent in parts, in Ek Villain packs a punch. Copy of a Korean movie or not, is “good” paisa Vasool entertainment. Make your weekend watch.