Badla (बदला)

"Badla (बदला)"

Watched Hindi movie "Badla (बदला)". This film is directed by Sujoy Ghosh. Screenplay by Sujoy Ghosh. Produced by  Gouri Khan, Sunil Khetrapal and Akshay Puri. Music by Amaal Mallik, Anupam Roy and Clinton Cerejo. Score Clinton Cerejo. Cinematography Avik Mukhopadhyay. The film stars Tapasee Pannu, Amitabh Bacchan, Tony Luke, Amrita Singh, Tanveer Ghani and Manav Kaul. The film runs for about 2 hours and it released in Mar 2019. I watched it on Netflix on 10th Apr 2020 with Aditi and Mihika.

Tapasee, a successful business woman, is having an affair with Tony. One day a blackmailer invites them to a remote hotel. Tapasee is found unconscious and Tony murdered in a room locked from inside. Tapasee's only hope of avoiding arrest is Amithabh, a lawyer who hasn't lost a single case in his entire career. 

Who is the murderer?  What is the story behind the murder? Can Amitabh defend Tapasee and avoid arrest?

Most of the movie happens in one room with a few scenes outdoor shots. Director has done a commendable job by ensuring that the audience remain rooted to the chair despite it not being a fast story. There is a web of lies in this movie but director doesn't get entangled in his own web. The movie has all ingredients in measured quantity to ensure that the balance is maintained, audience remains interested, 'what next' always remains on the mind and the overall effect is more than sum of it's parts. 

Amitabh and Tapasee are accomplished actors and they do complete justice to their roles. Probably the roles are made for them. Tapasee plays an innocent accused who had made a mistake of having extra marital affair. Amitabh plays a supremely confident lawyer who sifts through lies to find truth and has attention to detail. Amrita Singh plays role of a bereaved but determined mother. Tony is the only character who appears inadequate when pitched against likes of Tapasee and Amitabh.

Cinematography is good. Story happens in UK, there are many scenic locations. I especially liked the hotel. Although there are music directors, there is no song in the movie. 

The story of this movie is based on 'The invisible guest' by Oriol Paulo. In this movie the genders of all protagonists is changed as compared to the original Spanish movie. 

A very good movie. Recommend to watch.