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Freddy movie review: Kartik Aaryan brings his A-game to this spine-chilling thriller

Freddy review: at two hours 13 minutes, the kartik aaryan and alaya f-starrer doesn't look stretched, neither it goes off track. despite the story getting slightly predictable in the second half, the film manages to keep up with its pace..

It's dark, deep, intense and extremely toxic, and I guess that's what works in favour of Freddy, Kartik Aaryan 's latest film that will send chills down your spine. Showing Kartik in a never-seen-before avatar, the film brilliantly encapsulates the complexities and eccentricities of his character. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Freddy terrifies you, scares you and at some places, simply creeps you out. Also read: Kartik Aaryan learns to use dentistry tools, puts on 14 kgs in BTS video from Freddy

The story of a 28-year-old introvert, recluse and loner dentist, Dr Freddy Ginwala (Kartik Aaryan), who has been on a matrimonial website Meri Shaadi.com for five years looking for a 'soulmate', Freddy keeps you hooked without blinking an eyelid. After his failed attempts at finding a suitable match and facing humiliation at the hands of a few prank calls, Freddy falls for a married woman Kainaaz Irani ( Alaya F ), who is stuck in a physically abusive marriage. Their paths cross when she visits his dental clinic for a tooth extraction and then a series of events bring them closer and they fall in love. But there's more to this love story than just happy moments, secret meetings and affection the characters show for each other.

At two hours 13 minutes, Freddy doesn't look stretched neither it goes off track. Despite the story getting slightly predictable in the second half, the film manages to keep up with its pace.

It won't be wrong to say that this is by far the most experimental and challenging role that Kartik has taken on. While last year's Dhamaka did take him out of his comfort zone of doing comedies, with Freddy, he has taken things a notch higher. Unlike Dhamaka, there's no yelling or screaming out loud, neither there's any monologue like his earlier films. Kartik's transformation for Freddy deserves a special applause. From gaining 14 kgs, adapting the mannerisms of an introvert, learning the skills of a dentist to emoting joy, sorrow, love and lust with so much conviction — he is flawless, immerses himself in this character and doesn't leave it for one bit. What I particularly liked about his portrayal onscreen is how he talks more with his expressions, eyes and gestures than actual words. His scenes with his best friend, Hardy, a turtle make for interesting sequences. Though at one point, I actually thought, could Freddy have done without the turtle? Well, definitely yes. He also has a confidante in Persis aunty, who checks on him every moment and guards him from the dark memories.

Alaya F is impressive, and for a second film after her debut Jawaani Deewani (2020), Alaya definitely has picked up the nuances well, and delivers a promising performance. Talking of Kartik and Alaya's onscreen chemistry in whatever scenes they have together, don't expect too many sparks.

While Parveez Sheikh's story is well-equipped with all the elements one would expect in a thriller of this nature, his dialogues fell flat at most places. There are hardly any applause-worthy lines that make you stand up and take notice. That being said, the authentic Parsi flavour comes alive by means of house decor, props, language and words used by the characters and of course their names.

The big reveal at the interval and the climax are undoubtedly the high points of the film and impress you. Freddy definitely makes for a bone-chilling watch with a story that unfolds just like its layered characters. The film is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar .

Movie: Freddy

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Alaya F

Director: Shashanka Ghosh

• Kartik Aaryan

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Freddy movie review: Kartik Aaryan film is predictable with a stretched plot

Freddy movie review: kartik aaryan is getting better in roles where both he, and we, are required to take him seriously, and there are a couple of instances when he does give us the chills..

How a fumbling introvert falls in love with an unsuitable girl, and the things that happen thereafter: this one-line premise, which must have been how millions of movies take birth, is fleshed out with a very Mumbai-Parsi detailing in ‘ Freddy ’. Dental surgeon Freddy Ginwala (Kartik Aaryan) takes one look at the lovely Kainaaz Irani (Alaya F), and is smitten. But the lady is not his to conquer. What happens next takes up two hours of screen time, filled with ambitious women, foolish men, wisdom teeth that belong to the not-very-wise, and dollops of nasty twists.

What’s nice is that the Parsi-ness is not exaggerated, except perhaps one scene in which ‘dhansak’, and ‘lagan nu custard’ and other Parsi delicacies are placed on the table pointedly. In the rest, the Rustoms and Raymonds come and go, setting the table for the main course consisting of near-fatal allergies, accidents, cold-blooded murders and revenge.

Aaryan wields the dentist’s tools well enough. As the young charmer who knows how to reel her fish in, Alaya is to the manner born. The initial attraction between the two feels credible: with Freddy slowly shedding his shyness, and Kainaaz cuddling and confiding in him, they feel right.

Watch Freddy movie traile here:

But this is not a film where all will end well, and you know this at the half-way mark, when things start acquiring a noir-ish hue. Aaryan is getting better in roles where both he, and we, are required to take him seriously, and there are a couple of instances when he does give us the chills. But he can’t get rid of his wholesomeness: his Freddy is not Kruger enough, even while he is playing with sharp implements and perfect teeth and no anaesthesia. It is Alaya who is better at her Janus-faced character, in which she says one thing, and means another.

And once the dark secret of a principal character is out, ‘Freddy’ becomes predictable, and makes us feel each minute of the too-stretched plot.

Freddy movie cast: Kartik Aaryan, Alaya F, Karan A Pandit, Sajjad Delafrooz, Naresh Kumar Freddy movie director: Shashanka Ghosh Freddy movie rating: 2 stars

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Freddy movie review: Kartik Aaryan’s performance is the highlight of this dark twisted thriller

Freddy is dark and twisted. watch it if you want to take a break from the candy floss version of kartik aaryan and see him attempt something different, reads our review..

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• Freddy stars Kartik Aaryan and Alaya F.
• It released on December 2 on Disney+ Hotstar.
• Freddy is directed by Shashanka Ghosh.

Cast & Crew

Kartik Aaryan

Release Date: 2 Dec, 2022

He walks like Norman Bates and has a mind of Dexter, Dr Freddy Ginwala (Kartik Aaryan) is not your ordinary dentist. Extremely awkward, an introvert, low on self-confidence, especially with girls, Freddy is a social outcast. Until the day he meets Kainaaz (Alaya F). That’s when everything changes. Director Shashanka Ghosh uses every shade of grey in his cinematic canvas to paint Freddy’s cryptic world. Right from the opening frame where he gets stood up by a prospective date to the climax, Ghosh creates an eerie atmosphere of uncertainty around every character who crosses his path with Freddy. Things take a sinister path when Freddy starts wooing Kainaaz and plotting ways to prove his love for her. As the narrative weaves its web of intrigue, we realise that Freddy has his mind on more than just extracting teeth. Freddy sets out to be a psychological thriller, and it does have a lot going for it early on. The entire onus of making Freddy this dark, unpredictable character lies on the fragile shoulders of its lead actor - Kartik Aaryan. If Kartik fumbles so does Freddy. Everything from his gaze that makes his first date uncomfortable to his walk to the way he tucks in his shirt is calculated like an algorithm to make Freddy this great seducer who wants all your attention. That’s where Ghosh succeeds the most in making Freddy the centre piece of this loosely put together puzzle. The background score to the peripheral characters who play an important part in Freddy’s life all work in sync to take the story forward.

Freddy’s flaw is that it doesn’t feel dark enough. There are scenes where you feel like the writers held themselves back from going all out. Perhaps the weight of an A-list Bollywood actor put too much pressure on them during the writing sessions, or maybe they didn’t know where to take the story. The climax is predictable and feels a bit lazy and rushed. Despite the hiccups the film works because of its lead actor who makes a brave choice of turning the tables on his lover boy image and take a career risk in the middle of his reign as the box office champ.

Kartik’s belief in going out of the box and pushing the envelope as an actor to try something different is commendable. For most of the film he’s in character, rarely stepping out trying to play the quintessential Kartik Aaryan card where a flash of a smile and grin can dazzle and impress his female fans. Hope that Kartik isn’t swayed by the reviews of Freddy, and he continues to make such odd choices expanding his creative universe. Alaya F balances Freddy’s madness with her charming personality. Her character has more twists and turns than Freddy and that’s what makes Kainaaz so interesting. Freddy is dark and twisted. Watch it if you want to take a break from the candy floss version of Kartik Aaryan and see him attempt something different. You might not like Freddy, but you will still end up discussing it after the end credits. Published By: Grace Cyril Published On: Dec 2, 2022 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ I | Kartik Aaryan introduces Freddy's 'obsession' Alaya F AKA Kainaaz. See pic

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• Freddy Movie Review: Kartik Aaryan Stands Out In This Dark, Intense Thriller | A Must-watch This Weekend

Freddy Movie Review: Kartik Aaryan stands out in this dark, intense thriller | A must-watch this weekend

Freddy movie review: kartik aaryan as dr. ginwala shows conviction in a never-before-seen avatar and gets into the skin of his character in the psychological thriller. alaya f beautifully compliments the lead character..

• Movie Name: Freddy
• Critics Rating: 3 / 5
• Release Date: 2nd December 2022
• Director: Shashanka Ghosh
• Genre: Psychological thriller

Freddy Movie Review: Shashanka Ghosh creates a dark and dramatic world for Dr. Freddy Ginwala (played by Kartik Aaryan). While the trailer hints at Freddy being a shady character, maybe a serial killer of sorts, the film sets on an entirely different journey. Dr. Freddy Ginwala is introduced as a lonely, reserved dentist who resides alone in Mumbai with a pet turtle named Hardy. For the past five years, Freddy has been searching for a 'soulmate' and after several futile tries, he finds love in an already-married woman, Kainaaz Irani (played by Alaya F), who is trapped in an abusive marriage. How their relationship turns out and how the different layers of Freddy come out, make the base of this psychological thriller.

Freddy unfolds at a slower pace in the first half as it lays the foundation for the film. It also gives a lot of attention to the relationship between Freddy and Kainaaz, although one would anticipate a thriller to move along more quickly and provide room for a suspenseful follow-up. The first half may appear a little uneventful at first, but the director deserves praise for using that time to build intrigue, define Dr. Ginwala and his persona, and leave you with many unanswered questions. Kartik Aaryan delivers a standout performance and gets into the skin of the role with his mannerisms. The second half of the movie picks up speed and is compelling after the major revelation at the interval, with the main characters going through a variety of experiences. The film underlines the subject of childhood trauma, which returns to the protagonist, time and again and can be seen reflected in his demeanor.

With the movie, Kartik Aaryan has redefined his acting caliber and destroyed his lover boy image. It is safe to claim that it is among the actor's best performances to date. His transformation is remarkable, and he is undeniably the thriller's backbone. His ability to express himself without using words is impressive. The moments with his one and only closest buddy, Hardy, are fascinating and provide insight into Dr. Ginwala's character.

For her second film after 'Jawaani Deewani' (2020), Alaya F is great and gives a good performance. However, the supporting cast members, such as Alaya's love interest, provide a lackluster performance.

What didn't go well for the film was when the psychological thriller quickly turned into a revenge drama. The film lacks mystery and suspense in its revenge chase and makes the chain of events relatively predictable, which does not land as a wow factor. The supporting performers could have been better, which would have contributed to the film's appeal.

While Freddy has its share of loopholes, the movie is surely enticing and definitely worth watching this weekend. It is undoubtedly something new in the psychological thriller genre in recent times. Kartik Aaryan's performance really sets the film apart. It is available to watch on Disney Plus Hostar.

Watch the review here: 

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An odd and disjointed screenplay that probably caters to hardcore fans but offers not much more.

Five Nights At Freddy's Movie Review: Neither frightening nor funny

• Times of India

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Freddy review: Kartik Aaryan shines in this immersive crime thriller

Aaryan's character seems to have been meticulously fleshed out

What happens when a fumbling introvert in his late 20s, a seemingly naive loner who's been through a tragic childhood, turns spiteful and shockingly revengeful? It results in a gripping and immersive crime thriller, the sort that keeps you hooked right till the end. That's what Freddy , helmed by Kartik Aaryan and Alaya F, is all about.

Out on Disney+Hotstar, at the heart of this film is a successful dentist, Dr Freddy Ginwala (essayed by Aryan) and his deep desire to seek companionship. He is demure, diffident and full of self-doubt when it comes to interacting in social company or asking a woman out but commands a good reputation in the community as an approachable and affable doctor who runs his own clinic. The only three things he does when he's not attending to patients is to check on his aunt, converse with his pet turtle, 'hardy' and paint miniature planes.

One evening at a certain gathering he falls head over heels for Kainaaz Irani (Alaya F, Pooja Bedi's daughter), a married woman who's stuck in an unhappy and abusive relationship. That's when the film takes on the first twist. The film changes gears and moves from a slow and steady pace to a faster rhythmic one. All along till here, both Aryan and Alaya keep one engaged via a crisp but suspenseful storyline. The dialogues throughout the movie are sharp, meaningful and relevant. Background music adds to the drama.

Now, while the two are shown to be desirous of each other, with passionate lovemaking and the works, it turns out that Freddy gets short-changed. With the intention of seeing himself with Kainaaz in their happily ever after, Freddy decides to kill her husband Rustom and he does with immaculate planning. And then when he visits her with the 'good news,' he finds her happily chilling with her boyfriend. Freddy feels used, betrayed, humiliated and shattered. That's when the otherwise, socially awkward and seemingly pigeon-hearted Freddy turns into a witty, intelligent and daring revenger who tricks and traps the duo and eventually murders them both, in cold blood.

This film is very similar to Fida , which was released in 2004, starring Fardeen Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor. In Fida too, a seemingly naive and affable Jai (Shahid) falls in love with Neha (Kareena Kapoor), unaware of her and her boyfriend Vikram's (Fardeen) evil intentions. He easily gets trapped in their conspiracy but decides to exact revenge while being on the run from the police.

Yet, Freddy is different in the characterisation of Aryan, and the eventual climax in the story. Aaryan's character seems to have been meticulously fleshed out and the actor has done justice to his role, in every frame. Alaya has nothing much to add in terms of acting, her emotionless stone-cold face remains the same throughout the film. But her character arc develops beautifully. The film is a good one-time watch.

Film: Freddy

Director: Shashanka Ghosh

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Alaya F, Karan Pandit, Sajjad Delfrooz

Rating: 3.5/5

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• Freddy Movie Review

Freddy Devesh Sharma, April 12, 2023

• Times Of India

critic's rating:  3.5/5 Dr Freddy Ginwala (Kartik Aaryan), is an extremely shy and introverted dentist who has suffered emotional trauma in childhood. He has put up a profile on Meri Shaadi.com for five years but hasn’t been able to find a soulmate so far and has been the butt of jokes because of that. A chance encounter with Kainaaz Irani (Alaya F) changes all that. She’s been caught in an abusive marriage and her fragility draws Freddy to her. She grows from being a patient to a clandestine lover. Freddy has now become obsessed with her and is willing to push any button to get her permanently in his life. He would go as far as murder if need be. But there’s more to her than meets the eye. The love story segues into the thriller category in the second half and soon it becomes a game of wits between the various players and the police as well. The film is a slow burner for sure. A lot of time is spent building up Freddy’s character. He’s shown to be most comfortable around his tools, losing himself in his job and earning the trust of his patients. But he just isn’t a people’s person outside his clinic. He’s socially awkward and can’t seem to have any sort of a relationship, with a man or a woman. His best friend is a turtle named Hardy. Add to that, he’s a hopeless romantic at heart. So when he turns into a stalker, you don’t abhor him. He actually earns your sympathy. You want him to stop what he’s being doing as you feel he’s too naive to know the ways of the world. You want to warn him that he’s walking into a trap. Freddy might be slow but he isn’t daft. He sets about planning his revenge with clinical precision, keeping two steps ahead of everyone else in the film. It’s this Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde dichotomy that’s so interesting to see in the film. From a meek dentist, Freddy slowly turns into Dexter and that transformation is intriguing to watch. There’s a monster hiding behind the skin of every man and left unprovoked, it won’t do any harm. But poke it enough and it’ll come out for sure. That’s the film’s story in a nutshell. The film hinges on Karik Aaryan’s performance and he doesn’t disappoint. He sinks himself deep into his character and makes his good-boy-next-door image work in his favour. The drama comes through his quirks and eccentricities. He slowly breaks apart and it’s when he begins to pick up the pieces and reshapes himself that the movie comes through. The film is his attempt to showcase his versatility and he’s done so admirably. Alaya F has managed to look both vulnerable and cunning in the film. She’s shown here that she has the ability to deliver a performance and isn’t just a pretty face. Shashanka Ghosh is a maverick director who has shown a yen to be different from his first film, Waisa Bhi Hota Hai Part II (2003) itself. He’s in his element here and has borrowed heavily from Hitchcockian tropes and noir elements to mould a tale of muddled desires and edgy characters who look most human when they’re being inhuman.

Trailer : Freddy

Renuka vyavahare, december 2, 2022, 12:40 pm ist.

Synopsis: A twisted take on love, loneliness and revenge. Freddy is a psychological thriller that sees the player and the one who got played indulge in a dangerous cat and mouse game. This race blurs the line between the victim and the villain. Review: Haunted by a childhood trauma, Dr Freddy Ginwala (Kartik Aaryan) lives a fairly monotonous but comfortable life in Mumbai. He is a respected dentist but a lonely guy in his 30’s who has no one to call his own. With no friends except for a tortoise, no lover or parents, he craves companionship. His need borders on desperation as year after year, he gets stood up on dates, mocked and humiliated for his socially awkward existence and shamed for trying his luck with the ladies. Despite his professional success and empathy for those in need, Freddy is perceived as a loser. Things take a drastic turn when he spots Kainaaz (Alaya F) at a wedding. Bitten by the love at first sight bug, Freddy musters up courage and approaches her only to be punched by her husband. The film takes a dramatic turn thereon as a major twist unravels. Freddy’s thoughts can resonate with Arthur Fleck who wondered, “Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?” For director Shashanka Ghosh and writer Parveez Shaikh, Freddy must be Joker (2019) in spirit and Ek Hasina Thi (2004) in execution. You even see Kartik playing the imaginary violin and breaking into Joaquin Phoenix-esque creepy dance moves. The suspense and sinister energy around Freddy is finely mounted, making you immerse in his story. Atmospherics add to the tension established. The latter half however feels sloppy and juvenile. Once the mystery dies down, the psychological thriller turns into a mundane revenge drama that isn’t as gratifying as the initial premise. It’s good to see that Hindi cinema is warming up to psychological-crime thrillers. The highlight of the film is Kartik Aaryan’s terrific unnerving performance. He is an absolute revelation as Freddy, a wronged man obsessed in love, seething rage and yet calm as a cucumber. The actor has altered his weight, body language, gaze and that trademark smile to play Freddy and the efforts pay off. You will think twice before heading to your dentist, thanks to Kartik and his sociopathic portrayal of the lead character. Alaya F does little to make her presence felt. Freddy is fairly engaging and unsettling but it wavers to go all out. The film starts off well but doesn’t reach its full potential. It skims through issues of mental health, childhood trauma and its impact on an individual, something that deserved a deeper understanding. You can watch this for Kartik though and his successful brave attempt.

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Freddy Review: Kartik Aaryan's Innocent Grey Character Meets Phenomenal Screenplay

Attempts to turn ‘freddy’ into a nail-biting thriller fall flat as the climax was somehow predictable. but kartik aaryan's psychopathic depiction will make you gasp..

Shashanka Ghosh

Kartik Aaryan, Alaya F

New Delhi: If you're tired of Kartik Aaryan's standard romantic and comic portrayals, you are in for a pleasant surprise in ‘Freddy’, which premiered last night on Disney+ Hotstar. Shashanka Ghosh's directorial is a psychological thriller which can be touted as the actor's best performance of this year.

Kartik Aaryan is the only one to credit for Freddy's sinister and unpredictable behaviour since he delves beautifully into the character.

Freddy Ginwala played by Karik Aaryan is an awkward, loner dental surgeon. All he does is paint tiny aeroplanes and talk to his pet tortoise Hardy in his spare time. Since he has no other family, his aunt constantly worries about him.

In the opening scene, Freddy is at a restaurant waiting for his date. He has been a member of ‘merishadi.com’ for 5 years but yet no luck in finding a match. Nervous, shaky, hesitant and desperate to find love, Freddy believes that “Ek din mileage soulmate” .

The film moves forward at a very glacial pace but smoothly at the same time as it helps build up the story and describe the characters. Freddy throws no huge blows or scary disclosures at first. But it maintains its momentum and nevertheless succeeds in creating a good thriller, if not the best.

You can actually split the two-hour movie into halves. One concocts a tale in which a stoic dentist has his life turned upside down by falling into fake love, and the other one is where he plans to take revenge for the betrayal by resorting to extreme measures. 

The plot wasn't as interesting as expected, but who doesn't like a narrative in which one lover seeks revenge on the other?

In the beginning, Alaya F's portrayal of Kainaaz Irani is effective, but she quickly loses any semblance of depth. You can witness her develop from an innocent helpless young woman in a violent marriage to a cunning thinker. Kainaaz's appeal lies in the fact that she has a more complex personality than Freddy.  

What Alaya did was a nice effort overall. However, time will tell whether Alaya F is destined to become a classic Bollywood femme fatale. Also, supporting characters don't really make an effort to be noticed.

There is betrayal, then retribution, and the twist will make you gasp. The last sequences set up a satisfying finish and make watching the film worthwhile. Freddy, a shy doctor by day, transforms into a deadly criminal at night. The majority of the plot is made up of the unexpected turns that occur as Freddy and Kainaz strive to outdo one other.

Kartik Aaryan's fantastic unsettling performance is the film's standout. Even with a grey character, he maintains a remarkably childlike demeanour throughout, but the internal conflagration that he experiences is believable enough to carry the story. 

The way Freddy enters Kainaaz's house and sets potholes to fall into - gives Sridevi’s ‘MOM’ vibe. The actor's spiteful and self-centred motivation made him seem like a serial vamp, and the performance fell short of being entertaining or intriguing. Neither his on-screen connection with Alaya F is very convincing.

Though, the actor has put in a lot of work to become Freddy, from changing his appearance to his mannerisms. His psychopathic depiction is a surprise for the fans. Kartik gets a special gold star for taking on a grey role and delivering a satisfactory performance.

Parveez Sheikh, who wrote the script paid greater attention to the detail of Freddy’s past which makes a lot of sense in why he is the way he is. Freddy is unable to have healthy romantic relationships with people of the opposite sex because of the trauma he experienced as a kid. 

When he finally does that with Kainaaz, he does it hesitantly and with as much fear, and the liaison ends in more deceit and shame than he can bear. And it sets in motion a series of circumstances that awakens a dark and potentially deadly part of Freddy's character.

Freddy does not seem to be extended, nor does it veer from the intended path. Attempts to turn ‘Freddy’ into a nail-biting thriller fall flat as the climax was somehow predictable. 

After watching this movie, one can say that there has been a welcome shift in recent Hindi films toward crime thrillers. Watch this film to see Kartik Aaryan in a whole new light!

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Freddy movie review: A mediocre tale of revenge elevated by a terrific Kartik Aaryan

Beyond its artificiality and some confused moral messaging, Kartik Aaryan is both adept and chilling in and as Freddy.

In a scene from Disney+Hotstar’s eponymously titled, Freddy , played by Kartik Aaryan, sits next to his only companion in the world – a tortoise by the name of Hardy. On the footsteps of his dimly lit house, he, contemplatively begins to dance. It’s an awkward mix of movement and gyrations compared to the staid, almost imprisoned quality of the on-looking tortoise. While Hardy watches on, Freddy finds lift-off in the arms of love, the wings of obsession and the bite of purpose. It’s a terrific sequence that though clichéd in some sense brings out the menacing side of a bulky Aaryan. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, Freddy often fumbles for messaging and can seem far too straightforward to thrill, but sells its provocations well. Chief of which is a chilling turn by Kartik Aaryan as a doctor/sociopath.

Aaryan plays Freddy Ginwala, a dentist who also happens to be a man-child of sorts, and the product of a difficult marriage. His grandmother is possibly still his only friend and a tortoise helps him evade the stench of loneliness. He also, by the way, makes model aeroplanes and mumbles lines as most sociopaths in films do. Freddy is routinely turned down by women, stood up and sidestepped by macho men. The film doesn’t offer a deep portrait of fractured masculinity but it does attempt to unpeel a handful of layers. Freddy’s eyes land on the despairing countenance of Kainaz ( Alaya F ), a woman stuck in an abusive marriage. The protagonist possibly sees a fraction of his caged self in this broken woman and in her rescue sets out to carve his own.

The first half of Freddy is a bit of a messy incline, a straight-nosed launch into a love story that simply doesn’t feel authentic. Freddy’s infatuation is understandable, but never quite believable to the limits it is illustrated. It’s when the tables turn on Aaryan’s chubby, but problematic protagonist, that the film really gets going. After having gone to extraordinary lengths to attain her, Freddy is usurped, not by the forces of destiny, but by the very path he chose to walk. Aaryan excels in this part, as a jilted, but spiteful lover who doesn’t quite possess the toxic outlets of say, debauchery or drinking. On the contrary, he retaliates.

The film often lacks coherence in its use of side characters and plot points that could have used a sharper eye. There is hardly any chemistry between Alaya and Aaryan to chew off of, which renders the subsequent jealousy and angst, a tad superficial. Kainaaz’s boyfriend, the police and Freddy’s grandmother, all feel like accessories that are never quite used to eke solid narrative turns. Which makes you think if this could have been a better story had it been a lean battle of wits and all-consuming love between to love hounds. Instead, most of these tools are used to create noise that never quite amounts to a syncretic note of emotion or sensation. Even the tortoise, for that matter, is possibly underused.

What works for this film, however, is Aaryan. Allowed to stretch both literally and metaphorically, the actors is in fine form here. Creepy, unreadable and deliciously wicked at times, Freddy is an interesting concoction of scuppered childhood and scythed manhood. In fact, the film possibly underwrites Freddy, reducing him to provocations rather than intimate, charring contemplation. The character remains a mystery (despite routine backstories) by the end of the film, and while that might work for some, there were possibly layers that could have been written into the film. In a decidedly menacing scene, he tells Kainaaz nonchalantly, that he might have left a snake in her house. It’s creepy, terrifying and brazenly contrasts most roles the actor has attempted in recent times. He may not be the best fit here, but he gives it his all.

Aaryan’s trajectory has not only been staggering, but it has also confounded critics (myself included). His performances are only getting better, but what can no longer be faulted is his desire to do roles that surprise you. Freddy is unlike anything he has done and though it could have used a defter set of hands at the directorial wheel, a better set of co-characters, and a clearer sense of the tone – is it horror, is it noir- it still feels rewarding. Freddy also suffers from a case of confused messaging. Domestic abuse here becomes a ruse and by the climax, it is also idiomatically rationalised. “Women can tolerate pain better”, Freddy says in a rather blunt, and possibly debatable take on the idea of violence. It’s not a great time to be writing glowing reviews about characters that are jilted lovers, but as a frankly artistic pursuit Kartik Aaryan fits the shoes he so audaciously chooses to wear here.

Freddy is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar

Manik Sharma writes on art and culture, cinema, books, and everything in between.

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‘Monkey Man’ pulls no punches in elaborate, entertaining fight scenes

Dev patel stars as a revenge-minded man scheming and jabbing his way through a chaotic, highly charged city in india..

“Monkey Man” director Dev Patel also stars as a driven young man called Kid who’s determined to infiltrate the city’s inner circle.

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Dev Patel comes out swinging in the monumentally entertaining and bare-knuckled revenge flick “Monkey Man,” serving up a series of extended and elaborate fight sequences so bruising and hyper-violent they make the action in the “Road House” reboot seem like a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors.

As director, co-writer, producer and star, Patel has created an homage to Asian martial arts movies and a modern political fable that is infused with Indian culture and folklore, with a core story that plays like “Death Wish” meets “Fight Club” meets Park Chan-wook’s “Oldboy” meets “John Wick.” (How's THAT for a meeting!) It’s a gorgeously photographed, kinetically paced, blood-spattered and visceral gut-punch of a movie.

Fifteen years after Patel’s starmaking turn in “Slumdog Millionaire” and continuing through such works as the “Exotic Marigold Hotel” movies, “Lion,” “The Personal History of David Copperfield” and “The Green Knight,” he delivers arguably the most powerful performance of his career playing a character known only as Kid. When we meet Kid, he’s wearing a gorilla mask and getting the stuffing beaten out of him in an underground fight club where the slimy ring impresario Tiger (a fantastically entertaining Sharlto Copley) amps up the crowd’s lust for violence and pays bonuses to Kid for actual blood spilled.

For reasons explained in flashbacks sprinkled throughout the film, Kid is determined to infiltrate the city’s wealthy, elite and corrupt inner circle. (“Monkey Man” was filmed in Mumbai and Indonesia and set in a fictional Indian city called Yatana, with director Patel and cinematographer Sharone Meir favoring quick-cut closeups and neon colors.)

Kid orchestrates an intricately choreographed pickpocket scam to take possession of a wallet belonging to Queenie (Ashwini Kalsekar), who runs the city’s most exclusive high-end nightclub, and once in her office he talks his way into a job. (The pickpocket sequence is nothing short of exhilarating.) Working his way up from dishwasher to waiter to associate of Queenie’s fixer, Alphonso (Pitobash), Kid becomes a close observer of the goings-on within the club. One regular is the police chief Rana (Sikandar Kher), a vile and powerful and utterly corrupt thug who also appears in those aforementioned flashbacks, and you can probably guess that Kid has a very particular and personal reason for wanting to take out Rana.

After a brutal fight with Rana in which Kid inflicts (and receives) much damage but fails to kill him, Kid has to go on the run and eventually finds safe harbor with a community of hijra, the "third gender" people of South Asia, who nurse him back to health, teach him some valuable lessons and help him work on his fighting skills.

Under the guidance of the temple priestess Alpha (Vipin Sharma), Kid matures into a more disciplined, more determined and more dangerous warrior of the streets. He’s coming for Queenie, he’s coming for Rana, and his quest for vengeance and justice might take him all the way to the lair of the iniquitous candidate for prime minster, one Baba Shakti (Makarand Deshpande is a memorably chilling performance). We’re also hoping Kid will find the opportunity to rescue the beautiful Sita (Sobhita Dhulipala), an escort working under the abusive Queenie.

As a storyteller, Patel does a remarkable job of weaving in commentary on modern-day political and social issues in India, while adhering to a framework based on the Hindu legend of Hanuman, the god of courage and strength and self-discipline and heroic initiative — and oh yes, peppering the film with badass action. There’s even time for some action-movie humor, as when Kid takes a running start and tries to crash through a window — but instead of the usual shower of broken glass accompanying a spectacular, slow-motion flight, let’s just say the window wins this battle.

On a few occasions, “Monkey Man” might be a little too self-indulgent for its own good. The flashback sequences featuring Kid’s mother (Adithi Kalkunte), while effectively rendered, seem almost sadistic in certain lingering depictions. A bit of judicious trimming might have better served this element of the story. On balance, however, this is a well-paced and smartly edited work, with exquisite production design and an immersive shooting style that brings the city to life in all its chaotic and sometimes dangerous energy.

We often talk about how some movies really should be seen in theaters. Comedies. Horror films. Superhero adventures. Historical epics from some of our best directors. Add to that category super-charged action movies on the level of “Monkey Man.” You’ll want to join the applause when Kid springs into action.

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About the Author

The TOI Entertainment Desk is a dynamic and dedicated team of journalists, working tirelessly to bring the pulse of the entertainment world straight to the readers of The Times of India. No red carpet goes unrolled, no stage goes dark - our team spans the globe, bringing you the latest scoops and insider insights from Bollywood to Hollywood, and every entertainment hotspot in between. We don't just report; we tell tales of stardom and stories untold. Whether it's the rise of a new sensation or the seasoned journey of an industry veteran, the TOI Entertainment Desk is your front-row seat to the fascinating narratives that shape the entertainment landscape. Beyond the breaking news, we present a celebration of culture. We explore the intersections of entertainment with society, politics, and everyday life. Read More

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