Yahoo Movies Review: Main Aur Charles
Cast: Randeep Hooda, Richa Chadda, Adil Hussain, Vipin Sharma
Direction: Prawaal Raman
Rating: ***½
‘Main Aur Charles’ is dark and delicious. Prawaal Raman crafts a compelling story around a most mesmeric personality.
Charles Sobhraj’s real life story is an intriguing tale about a serial killer who was known to have a hypnotic effect on his victims, whom he swindled and allegedly murdered. What drew women to his “enigmatic” personality? Did he know the law as well as others claimed he did? Or was he just an exceptional “con artist”?
Randeep Hooda’s Charles is evil and charming. This suave villain exudes an understated sex appeal that is so alluring. He speaks with an adorable French accent. And every time he bares his well-chiseled torso it is impossible that our women viewers won’t pause a second to catch their breath. There’s a certain ambiguity about Hooda’s portrayal that leaves you confused as well as fascinated by our protagonist.
Top cop Amod Kant (Adil Hussain) is the complete anti-thesis – upright and straightforward he abhors Charles’ guts. He is also repelled by the mystery that this mere “crook” has managed to spin around his character. Hussain aces his act with a fitting counter to Hooda’s disarming charm.
I wasn’t too impressed with the usually dependable Richa Chadda – she’s a little rough around the edges and somehow her chemistry with Charles doesn’t seem to work. She seems a little too unpolished to match his charisma.
Raman’s storytelling is reminiscent of RGV’s early flourish – tight close-ups, sharp edits, a credible canvas – a cohesive plot that seems confusing at first but comes together seamlessly at the end.
There could have been a lot of things that could have gone wrong – there was enough scope for cheap titillation as we witness a lot of undergarments get unhooked and untied but our director steers clear of vulgarity, staying true to his plot and exhibiting rare restraint.
‘Main Aur Charles’ is an intriguing tale, neatly stitched together – it seemingly reconstructs a single incident (the jailbreak) and the subsequent events. However it provides an ambiguous insight into one of history’s most astute “criminal” mind.
Did you like the film? Share your views/comments with us on Facebook and Twitter. You can also connect with me on Twitter.
