“Kadak Singh” is a suspense thriller that throws a lot at the wall, but not all of it sticks. This film, directed by Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, boasts a strong cast and a compelling premise, but its execution falters. Let’s cut deeper to see if “Kadak Singh” is worth your watch time.
Story
AK Srivastava (played by the ever-reliable Pankaj Tripathi) is a financial crimes officer struggling with amnesia after a suicide attempt. As he pieces together his fractured memories, he’s bombarded with conflicting narratives from those closest to him. His daughter paints him as a distant and abusive father, while his colleagues see him as a dedicated investigator on the verge of uncovering a major financial scam. Through these contrasting perspectives, we gradually understand the complexities of Srivastava’s life and the potential reasons behind his breakdown.
Cast
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury | Director |
| Pankaj Tripathi | AK Srivastava |
| Parvathy Thiruvothu | Nurse Kannan |
| Sanjana Sanghi | Sakshi (Srivastava’s Daughter) |
| Jaya Ahsan | Naina (Srivastava’s Girlfriend) |
| Jogi Mallang | |
| Dilip Shankar | Mr. Tyagi |
Review
“Kadak Singh” aspires to be a Rashomon-style exploration of subjective truth. However, the film struggles to maintain a suspenseful atmosphere. The narrative feels bloated, and the pacing is agonizingly slow. It takes nearly 40 minutes for the film to reveal its thriller genre, leaving viewers wondering where the story is headed. Even the background score lacks the tension one typically expects from a suspense film.
Despite these shortcomings, the performances deserve praise. Pankaj Tripathi delivers a nuanced portrayal of Srivastava, effortlessly navigating the character’s emotional complexities. Parvathy Thiruvothu is equally impressive as the observant Nurse Kannan, who quietly absorbs the various narratives surrounding Srivastava. Jaya Ahsan leaves a lasting impression with her limited screen time, while Sanjana Sanghi delivers a decent performance, although she falters in certain scenes.
The film finally picks up steam in the last half hour, connecting the dots and revealing the culprits behind the financial scam and Srivastava’s colleague’s suicide. However, by this point, viewers might have already pieced together some of the key elements of the mystery.
Verdict
“Kadak Singh” isn’t a perfect film. The slow pacing and uneven execution might leave some viewers frustrated. However, the strong performances and intriguing premise make it a decent one-time watch, particularly for fans of Pankaj Tripathi and suspenseful narratives.