Director - Vardhan Ketkar
Cast - Aditya Roy Kapur, Mrunal Thakur, Ronit Roy, Vedika Pinto, Keeya Khanna, Mohit Anand, Ivan Rodrigues, Deepak Kalra, Navneet Kaur, Akshay Bhagat, Sachin Khurana, Micky Makhija, Aditya Lal, Tanvie Kishore, Chahat Vig
Rating – 3
 
Gumraah," directed by Vardhan Ketkar, is a compelling crime drama that successfully weaves together twists, turns, suspense, and drama throughout its narrative. A remake of the 2019 Tamil film Thadam, the movie engages the audience right from the opening scene of a murder to the unraveling of the mystery.
 
The screenplay by Aseem Arora and Magizh Thirumeni, coupled with Ketkar's taut direction, ensures a quick and engaging progression of the story. While the film may lose some pace in the first part as the narrative builds up, it swiftly recovers with well-crafted twists. The central mystery revolves around Inspector Shivani Mathur (Mrunal Thakur), tasked with identifying the real killer among two doppelganger suspects, Arjun Saigal and Ronnie (Aditya Roy Kapur). The use of evidence pointing towards both suspects is skillfully executed, avoiding overplayed mistaken identity tropes.
 
The movie's incorporation of real-life incidents adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, even if certain aspects may seem farfetched. The film convincingly ties up loose ends by the end, providing examples that lend credence to the story.
 
Ketan Sodha's background score enhances the thrill, while the soundtrack featuring hummable tunes, including Mithoon’s "Allah De Bande" and Abhijit Vaghani’s title track, stands out.
 
Aditya Roy Kapur delivers a standout performance, portraying two distinctly different characters with finesse. Whether playing the nattily-dressed professional or the street-smart crook Ronnie, Kapur effortlessly transitions between roles. His chemistry with Deepak Kalra's character, Chaddi, adds a comedic element to the film. Mrunal Thakur, as the no-nonsense and diligent cop Shivani Mathur, holds her ground admirably, while Ronit Roy impresses as her conniving boss, ACP Dhiren Yadav. Vedika Pinto, despite limited screen time, delivers a noteworthy performance as Arjun's girlfriend.
 
In summary, "Gumraah" offers an engaging plot, well-executed twists, and compelling storytelling, making it a worthwhile visit to the theater. While the motive behind the murder may not be a big surprise, the suspense keeps the audience intrigued until the end