‘FREDDY’ REVIEW | 2 December, 2022

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Balaji Motion Pictures, NH Studioz and Northern Lights Films’ Freddy is a thriller.

Freddy Ginwala (Kartik Aaryan) is a dentist by profession. He is low on self-confidence because of which he is still single. Even as he is on the hunt for a life partner, he falls in love with a married woman, Kainaz Irani (Alaya F), who is abused mentally and physically by her husband, Rustom (Sajjad Delafroz). Freddy asks Kainaz to walk out on Rustom but when he sees her hesitant, he vows to kill Rustom to set her free from his clutches. Freddy carries out his plan to eliminate Rustom but he gets the shock of his life thereafter.

Freddy now decides to do something which even he had never imagined. Is Freddy successful in his mission? What is it that gives Freddy a shock after he murders Kainaz’s husband? Do Freddy and Kainaz live together happily ever after?

Parveez Shaikh has written a story and screenplay which are not run-of-the mill. The thrill element runs throughout the drama and, therefore, keeps the audience involved in it. The second half, especially, is quite interesting as the viewers want to know what’s going to happen next, and how. However, one obvious question keeps troubling the audience, which question Shaikh has not even addressed. The question that haunts the public is: Why does Freddy decide to murder Rustom instead of asking Kainaz to divorce him? Freddy and Kainaz could’ve legally gotten married after Kainaz and Rustom were granted divorce. What’s more, it isn’t as if Freddy kills Rustom in the heat of the moment; it’s a premeditated and well-planned crime. Since Parveez Shaikh doesn’t even touch upon the point of divorce, this turns out to be the biggest minus point of the drama because it comes in the way of the enjoyment of the drama which follows. Aseem Arora’s dialogues are very real.

Kartik Aaryan does a very fine job in a role that he hasn’t attempted in the past. He performs with panache. But although he plays a Parsi, he doesn’t have any of the typicalities of a Parsi man — neither in his style of talking nor in other attributes. Alaya F is splendid as Kainaz Irani. The confidence with which she plays the character is admirable. Sajjad Delafroz lends decent support as Rustom. Karan Pandit is quite good as Raymond. Naresh Kumar makes his presence amply felt in the role of police inspector Yadav. Ganesh Kumar is superb as senior police inspector Rane. Rajendra Arjun Kamble has his moments as the policeman (Rane’s assistant). Anansuya Chakraborty is impressive as Freddy’s receptionist. Myrna S. Dalal (as Freddy’s aunt) and Fareed Khan (as the caretaker of Freddy’s bungalow) are natural. Others lend the desired support.

Shashanka Ghosh’s direction is very nice. His narration is of the kind that the audience remains interested in the drama throughout. Pritam’s music and Irshad Kamil’s lyrics are in synch with the mood of the film but a couple of haunting melodies would’ve added to the drama. The song in the end rolling titles — ‘Kaala jaadu’ — is tuneful. Its picturisation is appealing. Clinton Cerejo’s background music is wonderful and pretty impactful. Ayananka Bose’s cinematography is of a fantastic standard. Amritpal Singh’s action and stunts are thrilling. Ajay Verekar and Deepa Chaudhary’s art direction is very good. Chandan Arora’s editing is lovely and sharp.

On the whole, Freddy is a good OTT watch. It is nice that it has been premiered on a digital platform as its theatrical business would not have been much.

Released on 2-12-’22 on Disney+ Hotstar.