What Is the Story About?
ZEE5 original Hindi film ‘Forensic’ is a loose remake of the Malayalam thriller of the same name. The film is set in the backdrop of the twin hill stations of Mussoorie and Dehradun. Megha Sharma (Radhika Apte) is handed the case of a young girl whose dead body is found at the local dump yard. A series of murders follows, with all murders happening on the birthdays of the victims. Forensic expert Johnny Khanna (Vikrant Massey) is called in to help with the case. Will the two be able to crack the identity of the ‘Birthday Killer’?
Performances?
Forensic might be the first time in the stellar careers of Vikrant Massey and Radhika Apte that both these accomplished actors fail to make even an iota of impact on the viewer. Not because the duo has suddenly lost touch with their acting skills. It is because both have been saddled with underdeveloped, caricaturish, ill-conceived roles – a waste of good talent.
Prachi Desai is woefully miscast in Forensic, though her performance is impeccable. Vindu Dara Singh is cute and entertaining as Megha Sharma’s subordinate police officer, Rawat. Rohit Roy is the only actor in the film who is reasonably well cast.
Analysis
Forensic is a remake that had no business getting made. Not only does it mar our memories of the original, but also leaves us gobsmacked with the inanity of the plot and direction. From the first scene onwards, one is painfully aware of the shoddiness of the product before us. The backstory of the villain, coupled with the way it is executed, sets up the stage for the absurdities that follow.
Several kidnappings and murders take place in quick succession in the first half of the story. But not once does the plot chill enough to send a frisson of fear down the viewer’s spine. On the contrary, we feel a curious detachment with the proceedings on screen. The murders are hardly grim or gruesome, but more grating to one’s intelligence.
The characters are insipid enough that we never get invested in them, or what they go through and why. Forensic expert Johnny Khanna (Vikrant Khanna) is a particularly weird character. Even when he’s investigating the most brutal of murders, he is flippant to the point of disdain and disrespect. It’s quite irritating. But even more irritating are the silly takeoffs on his name – each starting with that nursery rhyme – “Johnny Johnny”. Just shows the juvenility of the writers.
The narrative takes great pains to show off the forensic investigations in the film. However, even those fall flat in the face. At a time when the streaming era is at its peak and audiences are exposed to the brilliant forensics of shows such as Sherlock and Bones, Forensic seems like a babe in the woods before them.
The narrative goes through several twists and turns in its seemingly extra-long runtime – but most are amateurish and downright laughable. First the hunt for an eyewitness called ‘Pahadi’, who’s on the run for nothing. Then, a silly run-in with all the dwarfs of Dehradun. The final twist, however, takes the cake in absurdity. It is the final nail in the coffin of the essence of the original film. Not that the Malayalam original was a particularly outstanding film. But the Hindi remake is an abomination. The writers try to go all ‘Raatchasan’ on us at the end, but fail miserably to evoke the same shock and horror.
All said and done, Forensic is a shoddily made film, with a sloppy script, weak narration and characters that do nothing for the viewer.
Music and Other Departments?
Adrija Gupta’s background score in Forensic is as frivolous as its plot and characters. It rarely matches notes with the gravity, or lack thereof, of the proceedings on screen. Anshul Chobey’s cinematography fails to capture the quirks or essence of pristine Dehradun or Mussoorie.
Highlights?
None
Drawbacks?
Everything about the movie is a drawback – the screenplay, dialogue, characters, narration, direction, the twists, the climax – nothing is worth one’s while.
Did I Enjoy It?
No
Will You Recommend It?
No
Forensic Hindi Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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