Monica, O My Darling
2022 · Directed by Vasan Bala
Original language: Hindi
- crime
- comedy
- drama
- mystery
- thriller
The story
A slick robotics expert joins a murderous plot after a passionate affair takes a sudden turn, but nothing — not even death — is what it seems to be.
What it’s like
Saturated, deliberately artificial colour and jittery, fast-cut framing make this feel like a pop-noir comic strip that never settles, with sharp angles, bold set dressing and a restless camera that favours quick reversals over lingering shots. The sound is peppy and playful, with needle-drop songs and bouncy score cutting against the grim events, so the tone keeps flipping between giddy and dark. It is a loose, zany ride with a sly sense of humour, not a quiet one. Violence comes in bursts, with some blood and a few cruel moments played for shock and laughs, and there is sexual content and a steamy affair early on, but it is not sustained gore or relentless dread. The pacing is brisk and twisty, with the emotional register staying mostly ironic and detached; the central figures are self-absorbed and morally slippery people whose schemes keep unravelling. It suits a late-night watch with friends, a playful double feature after a long week, or anyone who likes thrillers that wink at their own conventions. It is for viewers who enjoy stylish, mischievous crime comedies with a jumpy, knowing energy rather than gentle or earnest drama.
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