Review of Johnny Gaddaar (2007) by Sushant T — 24 Oct 2008

Its a rare thriller in Indian Hindi Cinema with more than a dash of panache, and the slightest of chuckle. One of the greatest films, and entertainers to come out of Indian cinema. And that it has been underappreciated to the point of sin in favor of more standard fare is more tragic than the ending at hand. This lad, Neil Mukesh is dynamite and I just cannot get enough of that Sanjeev Kumar imitation. Dead on.

I sincerely believe Sriram Raghavanâ??s Johnny Gaddaar will attain the highly influential status in years to come â?? a film that will be run unendingly in cinema schools all over the country to carefully peel over the brilliant clarity of its narrative and its almost uncanny knack of pulling off the Hitchcock-ian trick.

Johnny Gaddaar isnâ??t mere thrilling escapist fare, there is that moral struggle of a mole that doesnâ??t beat its chest and shout but remains where it belongs, internally. And I canâ??t remember even a single sequence out of place. Quentin Tarantino once said that he wants to make movies for Friday nights, for audiences to have an absolute blast. This is one such film, a film that besides its central strength of the thrills and chills has plenty much to offer for the cinema lover, a hell of a lot of garnish.