What Is the Story About?
The Kasauli town in Himachal Pradesh is shaken when the gruesome murders of girls come to the fore. Soon a newly recruited SI, Arjan Sethi, uncovers that a serial is behind these killings and that they are not independent.
How SI Arjan Sethi finds the serial killer? What is the reason behind the killings forms the movie’s overall plot.
Performances?
Akshay Kumar comes up with another sincere act. He does nothing new here but ensures the proceedings are engaging while excelling in various emotions. Be it the light romance with the heroine or the emotional breakdown, Akshay does them with conviction. There is an undercurrent toning down of ‘heroism’ in the typical sense. It also works well for the character. But, it doubles down on the dullness of the proceedings.
Rakul Preet Singh doesn’t get much to do here but is a welcome presence. She mainly has romantic scenes with the hero, which are done neatly. Apart from that, she is also one of the smaller parts of the movie and doesn’t have anything to stand out in the crowd.
Analysis
Ranjith M Tewari directs Cuttputlli. It is a Hindi adaptation of the classic Tamil psycho-thriller Ratsasan.
As is with remakes, the comparisons are inevitable. More often than not, it is the remake which fails to capture the essence or recreate the impact of the original. We see the routine happen with Cuttputlli, as well.
Before anything else, the first thing that instantly registers in a not-so-flattering way is the background score. There is simply no comparison with the original. Here the BGM feels so generic that we might have heard in many other thrillers.
The hero’s age also feels odd, but it doesn’t matter much as the narrative progresses. The romance portion is where things become that way, but they are few and far between.
The central mystery involving the serial killer is where the real excitement lies. The story remains the same mostly, so one is hooked initially despite the issues like the casting or the BGM. The latter would definitely have elevated the proceedings, but that doesn’t happen here.
There are a few significant changes in the narrative from the original. The female higher official character has been changed. It doesn’t affect the flow much, but the other tinkering involving the core drama dilutes the impact.
The revelation of the killer and the flashback lack the thrill of the original. It is not just the background score; it has to do with how certain aspects of the story and screenplay are altered.
The psychopath’s flashback is too short to be impactful. Agreed, it could be trimmed, but here it is cut short to the extent that it doesn’t register at all. The intensity and drama related to it are absent entirely.
Overall, Cuttputlli is a remake that tinkers with the original. While one of those aspects is fine, the other brings down the overall impact. The new background score is another downgrade. If you haven’t seen Ratsasan, go ahead with Cuttputli. If you have, the remake appears like a generic thriller without any spice.
Other Artists?
Chandrachur Singh plays a critical supporting part in Cuttputlli. His scenes with Akshay Kumar are alright, even though the latter is at the front. The one key sequence has been done decently by the actor.
Sargun Mehta’s character doesn’t look as intimidating as it is supposed to be initially. However, she fits the part well as later we realise it has been changed. Joshua Leclair’s act doesn’t reach the chilling levels of the original. Sujith Shankar is okay. The rest of the cast, which includes Hrishitaa Bhatt and Gurpreet Ghuggi, are adequate.
Music and Other Departments?
Multiple composers, Tanishk Bagchi, Dr Zeus, and Aditya Dev, work on the songs. A couple featured in the movie add to the length and feel unnecessary. The dream song at the party gives a clear idea. Julius Packiam provides the BGM. It lacks the uniqueness, edgy and thrill of the original. Rajeev Ravi’s cinematography and Chandan Arora’s editing are adequate. The writing could also have been better.
Highlights?
Story
Few Thrilling Moments
Drawbacks?
Rushed In Parts
Weak Flashback
Flat Narration
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Reservations
Cuttputlli Movie Review by Binged Bureau
We’re hiring!
We are hiring two full-time junior to mid-level writers with the option to work remotely. You need to work a 5-hour shift and be available to write. Interested candidates should email their sample articles to [email protected]. Applications without a sample article will not be considered.
