Dark Comedy has been a great way to poke fun at subjects that are usually to be treaded upon lightly. Not many people understand the imagery and symbolism behind it which is why you won’t find the masses raving about it. This is another reason why Bollywood has tried to steer clear of films with such themes, but we give you a few that are worth a watch if you call yourself a fan of the genre.
Maharathi
This is one of the most relatively unknown of the lot as it was released in the early 2000s and though it comprised of an ensemble cast with an engaging storyline. The likes of Paresh Rawal as the opportunist and Naseeruddin shah as the drunk once-famous guy have put praiseworthy performances.
Though some of the scenes in this movie may seem a bit quirky and make you cringe you should also remember that it was created at a time when people weren’t very receptive of such material, and thus filmmakers never had the guts to go all in.
7 Khoon Maaf
7 Khoon Maaf is a film based on the novel written by Ruskin Bond ‘Susanna’s Seven Wives ‘. It is the tale of how a woman goes through a good collection of men trying who find her true love but alas she only gets heartbreak after heartbreak at every corner.
Priyanka Chopra nails the role of the femme fatale who becomes lethal when she realises that her man is trying to use her for ulterior motives. All of her seven husbands have a unique trait which showcases the vices inherent in society as well as toxic masculinity.
Blackmail
Irfan Khan steals the limelight with this movie as he is shown as a middle-class man who is trying to make ends meet with a dead-end job. Things take a turn when he realises that his wife is having an affair with someone else but rather than confronting her, he tries to extort money from her boyfriend unanimously.
This little decision sets into motion a series of events that will take you on a roller coaster ride of how several characters react to the sudden predicament that they are placed in.
Kaalakaandi
Kaalakaandi is another risk taken by the supremely talented Saif Ali Khan with other renowned actors like Deepak Dobriyal and Vijay Raaz doing what they do best. (Putting praiseworthy performances)
Kaalakaadi explores love, greed, betrayal and mortality through its impressive imagery and storyline. Kaalakkandi is the brainchild of Akshat Verma who has written as well as directed the film not to mention that he is also an executive producer.
Ghanchakkar
This crazy story revolves around how a robber forgets where he has kept the money, and his accomplices are breathing down his neck because they worked so very hard for the money. Will they get their money or no?
It is an enthralling watch, especially with the dark and melancholic background that mirrors the Comedy of errors that takes place on the screen. Emran Hashmi puts in a praiseworthy performance as the robber who doesn’t seem to have any clue about what is going on around him.
While we may not have a truckload of films in this genre, one should try and appreciate the fact that the Indian cinema is trying to create films and stories that come from a new genre. These films may be far from perfect, but I hope that you can give them a try because of the sheer will that they have shown to create a cinematic experience on such off-beat subjects.
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