Showing posts with label Knives Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Knives Out. Show all posts
Heroines go beyond just being accessories in a film, says Neeyat writer Advaita Kala
8:14 AM
Reuniting with Vidya after Kahaani, Neeyat writer thrilled that women-led stories get greenlit more easily than they did a decade ago
Hiren Kotwani (MID-DAY; July 7, 2023)
Murder mystery is a genre that Advaita Kala relishes. So, when the opportunity to write director Anu Menon’s Neeyat came her way, she grabbed it with both hands. The movie marks her maiden collaboration with sister Girvani Dhyani, who is a published author based in New York. “I got my sister on board. We teamed up [to write the film] during the lockdown,” begins Kala.
Starring Vidya Balan, Ram Kapoor, Shahana Goswami, Rahul Bose and Prajakta Koli, Neeyat sees a business tycoon’s birthday bash taking a dark turn when he is found murdered. As soon as the trailer dropped, netizens pointed out that it was strikingly similar to the Knives Out franchise. But Kala defends the murder mystery, which also has Priya Venkataraman as one of the writers, with Kausar Munir penning the dialogues.
“When I first saw the Knives Out trailer, I thought it had an Agatha Christie vibe. While watching Knives Out, I was reminded of Hercule Poirot. Neeyat is an Indian story. Its shoot was wrapped up even before Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery [2022] released. Also, closed-circle mysteries are common in this genre.”
Neeyat not only enabled her to explore her favourite genre, but also boasts of her favourite actor. “Vidya is one of the best actors we have,” says the screenwriter, who had teamed up with her to give us the genre-defining Kahaani (2012).
“Since Kahaani, the industry has changed. OTT platforms have established their audience. Now, there is so much space for female-centric stories. Back then, it was a challenge to get Kahaani made as we not only had a female protagonist, but she was also pregnant. Now, it’s great to see so many stories driven by female protagonists. Heroines go beyond just being accessories in a film.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: KNIVES OUT by FENIL SETA
10:23 PM
Knives Out is a classic whodunit murder mystery but it’s not clichéd or run of the mill. The story is unique, the characters are very interesting and the execution is top class. A few scenes in the first half arrest your attention and how! The film drops very slightly in the second half and one might feel that the climax might disappoint. But thankfully, that doesn’t happen as the film ends on a high! Rian Johnson’s direction ensures that you won’t get confused despite so many characters. The way he goes back and forth in few scenes is seen to be believed. Also, the dialogues are so great and it actually seems like it’s adapted from a murder novel! The performances too add a lot to the film. Daniel Craig is fascinating while Ana de Armas has a major role and rocks the show. Chris Evans has less screen time but as expected, leaves a huge mark. Same goes for Christopher Plummer - he's very endearing and witty! Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield and Katherine Langford also do well. All in all, Knives Out is another fantastic Hollywood film of the year that shouldn’t be missed at any cost!
My rating - **** ½ out of 5!
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