Dhokha

After watching this movie "Dokha" (2022) I am not totally sure who did the killing.  None of the four main characters are entirely trustworthy. 

 Films love to present more than one perspective on an event and this one has 4 perspectives.  The best example from Japan by the master Akiro Kurosawa example  "Roshomon" (1950) offered 7 different perspectives on a murder.  

One of the characters is delusional and we are never quite sure how much is real, how much fake and how much might be induced.  A cheating husband or is he?  A terrorist who claims he is not.  A cop who might be corrupt or incompetent.

What makes this one work is the cast and crew.

Dharmendra Sharma was one of the producers and also editor.  As editor he had done "Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge" (2010), "Shivaay" (2016) and "The Big Bull" (2021).

Kookie Gulati was director and writer.  He started with music videos

Amar Mohile, composed the music.  Like others he was a musician for many of his early movies, including "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" (1994) and "Mohabbatein"(2000).  He went on to compose for 128 films including "Shaitan" (2011) and "Jolly LLB" (2017).

Amit Roy was the cinematographer.  His film credits include "Nishabd" (2007), "Sarkar Raj" (2008) and "She" (2020-22).

Madhavan plays Yathaarth the husband who is accused of having an affair with his wife's psychiatrist.-- At age 18 his college entrusted him to as cultural ambassador to Canada representing India.  He had won national public speaking awards and is fluent in English, Hindi and Tamil.  He has appeared in such other films as "Rang de Basanti" (2006), "Guru" (2007) and "3 Idiots" (2009) which were all exceptional movies.   Another film was the American, "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" (2012).  My first awareness of him was with "Kannathil Mutthamthal" (A Peck on the Cheek) (2002), but I assumed it was a Bollywood film and much later learned it was a Tamil film, opening another door for me.           

Khushali Kumar played Saanichi.  She was portrayed as delusional and she certainly was pretty flighty.  She grew up in a Bollywood music family and got her beginning with music videos.  She graduated from  NIFT as a fashion designer and has created designs for the likes of Shakira and Justin Bieber.

Aparshakti Khurana plays an escaped terrorist.  Did not realize my most blogged Bollywood star, Ayushmann Khurana had a brother.  But Aparshakti stands on his own.  Early films include "Dangal" (2016) and "Stree" (2018).

Darshan Kumaar plays a cop who may be incompetent or corrupt.  Has appeared in "Ashoka" (2001) "Mary Kom" (2014), and "NH 10" (2015).

It is very hard to be truly unique as most of the twists have been tried.  This film is well directed, written, edited and acted.  If you like thrillers you will enjoy this one.

I have bolded films I have seen for the first mention.