What Is the Story About?
Prime Video original film ‘Dry Day’ centres on a good-for-nothing alcoholic, Gannu (Jitendra Kumar), who suddenly discovers a mission in life due to the impending arrival of his baby with wife Nirmala (Shriya Pilgaonkar). Events unfold in a way that make Gannu determined to get alcohol banned from his town of Jagodhar. Will Gannu face up to his political mentor, Dauji (Annu Kapoor), and stand his ground against his goons?
Performances?
Jitendra Kumar is earnest and watchable as Gannu. The poor writing lets him down, but he manages to rise above the mediocre characterisation, but only just. Shriya Pilgaonkar is efficient as his wife Nirmala. Annu Kapoor is wasted in an unimpactful role. The rest of the cast is adequate.
Analysis
Prime Video’s Dry Day is the classic example of a story with tall ambitions, but execution that simply does not measure up. The script is boring as hell; the characters that populate it, even more so. The political drama at the core of the narrative is tedious and contrived. Even the message that the makers want to drive home with their laboured storytelling is uninteresting and done to death.
Jitendra Kumar’s Gannu is one of the most unpleasant lead characters of recent times. You just want to slap him into silence each time he opens his mouth, which most times he does only to spew profanities or demand alcohol. Even Gannu’s redemption arc is so forced and inorganic that you wonder whether he’s really had a change of heart; or will he go back to his rotten ways as soon as his political ambitions are fulfilled.
The movie starts off on a shaky note, with a less than interesting core conflict and silly plot points. The start sets up the characters and their particular traits in a boring and contrived manner. The story ticks all the boxes of uninspired writing. The characterizations are as cardboard as they come. The comic sequences reek of artifice and contrivance, and are as unfunny as a jaded clown in a rundown circus.
Throughout the runtime, the writer tries hard to drive home a meaningful message, but only succeeds in stitching together a jarringly inorganic narrative that is barely any fun to watch. The climax is predictable enough. It’s quite obvious that the entire movie is inching towards that one intended end, and one end alone – Gannu’s David beating Dauji’s Goliath; which is why the ultimate climax of the film feels false and flat. It’s as if the screenplay is only interested in ticking off the boxes as regards the basic requirements of a social drama. If only the writer had given it a compelling treatment, the movie would at least be watchable.
To sum it up, Dry Day is a waste of talent and resources. Watch it only if you have ample free time to kill, and nothing else to do.
Music and Other Departments?
Pratijyoti Ghosh’s music for the film is average – nothing memorable or worth writing home about. Adri Thakur’s cinematography is passable. Kunal Walve’s editing does its job
Highlights?
None
Drawbacks?
Did I Enjoy It?
No
Will You Recommend It?
No
Dry Day 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.
