MANORAMA SIX FEET UNDER
MULSUM WINE WITH DAL, BATI AND CHURMA
By Vishal Verma

Rating:- * * *

What is it?
J.J. meets SV in the sands of ghumar, wears sunglasses and rides Hero Honda. He spots a modern day Gulabo clad in black, holding a white mineral bottle in her hand but as soon as our desi version of Jack Nicholson gets closer to the bimbo, she vanishes and our protagonist mummers something which means ‘ Jo Dikhta Hai Who Hota Nahin and Jo Hota Hai who Dikhayee Nahi Deta ”.

This is the way Navdeep Singh starts his tribute to the noir genre in his debut film and chooses Roman Polanski’s (1974) masterpiece ‘ Chinatown’ which walked with 6 Oscars.

The question is does Navdeep’s interpretation of the genius filmmaker’s masterpiece in the form of a dark comedy has some shine?

No need to call our very own gajjar chewing karamchands, the answer is yes!

The movie not only shows light but it also highlights the new age, grace and face of Bollywood Cinema.

Need more Manoramas to hit the Marquee ………… can anybody better this!

The film has only two flaws, its length which is larger than an anaconda and its pace which is slower than ant. But still it continues to spit venoms of thrill, suspense, and bites of sarcasm and satire.

Commendable effort by the director Navdeep Singh equally well supported by his writer Devika Bhagat.

Whats it all about?
SV(Abhay Deol) is a government engineer but, his real ambition has always been writing detective fiction. Unfortunately, his maiden attempt, a novel called ‘Manorama’, sank without a trace and he has been reduced to writing for cheap pulp magazines.

On top of that he is facing an enquiry for allegedly taking bribe and his wife is always ready with satire filled smart ones. Poor detective!, finds himself powerless against his wife’s tongue, he shy’s away from his own creation – his upanyas ‘ Manorama’ who he considers to be his best penned work, but sadly the novel had only 200 takers in the whole universe and last but not the least he daily parks his guilt outside his house – the Hero Honda Motorcycle which was given to him as a gift in order for some personal favors.

Amidst all this, one fine night the door bell rings and a problem clad in a saree enters the writer’s residence.

SV’s life is already stifled by the dreariness of small town existence and frustrations by his failures; SV’s life takes a turn when the woman (Saika) introduces herself as the wife of a powerful local politician (Kulbhushan Kharbanda). The lady has an irresistible offer; the chance for SV to play a real life detective by spying on her husband. Intrigued and tempted by the opportunity to redeem his self worth, SV accepts.

Upon completion of his assignment, things take a turn when SV discovers that the woman is not, who she claims to be. The situation gets further complicated when she is killed in a mysterious accident.

Sensing foul play, SV begins investigating her death only to discover that nothing is what it seems to be and that redemption doesn’t come easy….

One thing leads to another and the other things lead to yet another tangle where SV finds himself chased by goons, sees people dying one by one in his jassosgiri, and is constantly kept annoyed by his wife (Gul Kirat Panag).

Eventually in the end the small fish manages to swallow the big fish though not literally.

What to look out for?
A well narrated dark comedy which has its moments of thrill, suspense, satire and sarcasm.
Arvind Kannabiran camera captures the scorching Rajasthan sands marvelously. Any way he misses the camels in the land of haveli

Talk about performance … well

Abhay Deol emerges as a strong actor doing meaningful roles in sensible films. He carries from what he left in ECKLL.

Gul Kirat Panag is fantastic as the typical kit kit machao dhram patni.

Raima Sen is fabulous.

Vinay Pathak is outstanding as the malpua lover in a typical marwari lingo.   

The two goons are also quite good.

What Not?
The length stretches like never ending elastic. There was no need for songs. Call it a surprise or a shock, seasoned actors like Sarika and Kulbhushan Kharbanda are not in their element.

Conclusion : ‘Manorama: six feet under’ produced by Ketan Maru and directed by debutant Navdeep Singh is meant for the lovers of good cinema especially for those who cherish dark comedies.