Dixit as Deshpande shows not all irons rust. And she will always be a step ahead of many around, both on and off celluloid
Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Siddharth Chandekar, Kavin Dave
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Language: Hindi
Mrs. Deshpande is a cool title. It has a cooler protagonist (or antagonist?) in the form of Madhuri Dixit. She was a robust performer who ruled the marquee with her shape-shifting style and stunning performances. When she moved and grooved, the nation took a collective gasp. It’s fitting that after years of achieving everything an artist aspires for, she allows to accept roles that merge with her seasoning personality. The director is Nagesh Kukunoor. His remarkably understated and nuanced Iqbal is a spots drama for the ages. He has also attempted farcical comedies like Bombay To Bangkok and trite whodunnits like 8×10 Tasveer. And Mrs Deshpande is the filmmaker’s another attempt in this genre. The show is an official remake of the French series La Mante.
Right from the time when we first see the central character, we are seduced into knowing why would someone like her be a serial killer. But only one line from Mrs Deshpande is enough to establish why she did what she did. At least that’s what we are made to believe initially. She’s more of a vigilante than a villain. She’s John Abraham from
_Satyameva Jayate_ without the horrors of histrionics. And Dixit proves why she’s still as refined as she was back in those good old days. There’s composure in the way she approaches her character and the devilish eyes take care of the demonic creature she could be.
For credit, there’s something unfussy about the world Kukunoor crafts in his new thriller. When two Russian ladies discover a dead body in an actor’s sprawling abode they are too enamoured by, the camera stays on their calm and almost callous reaction. This is refreshing to see, unlike those copious episodes of CID where every shot of a corpse is followed by a screech that reaches right till those officers. There’s a copycat killer on the loose. This is a juicy idea for the Indian template that’s too contagious to turn a blind eye to. But it’s also miles away from being perfect.
There’s a perplexing scene where
Priyanshu Chatterjee, the officer investigating the killings, says he caught Mrs Deshpande ‘by chance’ years ago. Even the thought of involving her in solving the mystery seems bizarre and far-fetched. Kavin Dave has a hard time getting the psychotic demeanor of his twisted character fluidly. This is the actor’s second outing in a wicked series after Andhera. The show also plays along with familiar tropes of deceptiveness. Any serial offender bordering on congeniality will obviously have more than what meets the eye. Remember those drowsing ladoos in Thugs of Hindostan? We get Modaks here. Watch it to believe it!
But the one thing that saves Mrs Deshpande’s boat from sinking is how Kukunoor introduces new suspects and pulls back just when we think we know who the mastermind is. He kind of forces you to reach till the final episode to unveil his cards. It’s only here when the show begins to explode, suddenly possesses the kind of energy the rest of the narrative needed. And the identity of the killer leaves you by surprise. The makers have steered clear of gore. It’s not as visceral as
_Delhi Crime_ nor as sharp as The Family Man. But Dixit as Deshpande shows not all irons rust. And she will always be a step ahead of many around, both on and off celluloid.
Rating: 2.5 (out of 5 stars)
Mrs. Deshpande is now streaming on JioHotstar
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