Title: Kadakh: When a Diwali Party Goes Hilariously, Horribly Wrong
Introduction
Kadakh, which came out in 2019 and was directed by Rajat Kapoor, is one of those movies that sticks with you. I mean, it's technically a dark comedy-drama in Hindi, but it's so much more than that. It gets into how messed up we humans can be when it comes to our love lives and our morals and how quickly things can turn into a total disaster when secrets start popping up. It's basically set at a Diwali party, which is funny because the festive event quickly descends into something totally bizarre and uncomfortable. It's like looking at ourselves in a funhouse mirror; it distorts everything, but you still recognize the basic shape. The movie uses that mirror to poke fun at what we think is normal in society.
The Story
So, it's Diwali night at Sunil and Malti's place in Mumbai. They're getting ready for their party, you know, the usual Diwali scene. Then, out of nowhere, this guy named Raghav shows up at their door. He says he's married to Chhaya, who, uh oh, is having an affair with Sunil. Awkward! Things get super heated between Sunil and Rahgav, and then in an accident, Raghav ends up shooting himself. Can you imagine the panic? Instead of calling the cops and dealing with it, Sunil and Malti decide to hide the body so that their guests don't notice. This is where the night goes from bad to completely insane, with secrets all over the place and everything that could go wrong.
Who's Who: The Characters
Sunil (Ranvir Shorey): This guy is just trying to keep it all together, which, of course, makes it worse. You feel bad for him, but at the same time, you're like, Dude, you did this to yourself.
Malti (Mansi Multani): Sunil's wife. At first, she's totally in the dark about the affair. But, as the night goes on, she starts to put it together, which brings on all sorts of trust and betrayal issues.
Raghav (Chandrachoor Rai): He sets the whole mess in motion. His death is what makes the other characters have to make really difficult choices to keep their secrets safe.
Chhaya (Palomi Ghosh): She is Sunil's mistress. She at the party mixes it all up.
Francoise Marie (Kalki Koechlin): She can read your thoughts. She makes everything more tense and exposes feelings that everyone tried to hide.
Paro (Nupur Asthana): She's a single mom, and she's just being real. She's a breath of fresh air compared to the other characters.
Joshi (Sagar Deshmukh): He is the quieter voice and the observer.
Rahul (Rajat Kapoor): He's Sunil's friend.
Sheetal (Tara Sharma): She is pushing social boundaries.
Yogesh (Cyrus Sahukar) andamp; Alka (Shruti Seth) add to the ensemble.
Malti's Uncle and Aunt (Manoj Pahwa and Yamini Das): Their dropping makes things harder.
samiya hijab
What the Movie is Really About
Kadakh has a lot to say without ever getting preachy.
Nobody's Perfect: Nobody comes out of this film looking like a saint. We're all a little messed up.
Life's Messy: You might think you have everything planned, but life will find a way to throw a wrench in the works. It is how you react that matters.
How They Made It
One Place: Being inside Sunil and Malti's apartment the whole time makes you feel like you're trapped there with them. The space even shows you the tension they are facing.
The Camera Never Stops: The camera is always moving, from each bad decision made by everyone.
Laughing When You Shouldn't: It gets pretty dark, so a little laughter helps to make it easier to comprehend and feel lighter.
What People Thought
People seemed to really like it.
The Hindu called it "the darkness.
Firstpost liked how it mixed dark comedy and thriller elements.
Filmibeat liked the premise but wanted a little more story.
Final Thoughts
Kadakh is one of those movies that gets you thinking. Rajat Kapoor does a superb job taking you through things that are difficult to watch. It shows how love can hurt you and how life isn't always what it seems like. If you are in the mood for something different, give it a watch.
Want to see it?
Kadakh is currently available on SonyLIV.