Niranjan Nayak

If you wish to get a gripping plot that offers a few intense moments, some goosebumps every now and then and a superb delineation of characters and you leave theatre with lots to think or ponder about then be sure Raazi won't disappoint you. The film adaptation of a novel based on a true story by Harwinder Sikka, Raazi has received ravereviews from critics as the best crime thriller of the year. Set against the background of 1971 Indo pak war, the movie narrates the tale of a supreme act of courage by a young innocent girl, Alia Bhatt who sacrifices her life, love and dreams to fulfill a seemingly impossible mission imposed on her by her dying father. Her love for her father and her country leaves her with no option but to tie the nuptial knot with the son of a pakistani brigedier. But it's not all about marrying someone she does not know or alienating herself from her motherland for ever alone, the plot assumes an ominous intensity when the new bride in an alien household in a country that will never own her starts working as a spy for her country, not caring for the cataclysmic consequences that await her.With deft touches Meghna Gulzar builds up each and every sequence of a subtle cat and mouse game making Raazi a masterpiece with an amazing fusion of all the ingredients that contribute to the success of this avant-garde thriller. She has religiously avoided extravagance in any shape and kept herself focussed on making it a thrilling cinematic experiece, with an ingenious sprinkling of an exotic flavour that a young director can dream of giving. Alia Bhatt steals the show with a sterling performance that makes her a strong contender for a national award. The portrayal of her relationships with her husband and inlaws in a situation that seems more intriguing than any intrigue is appaling. There are moments both poignant and purgatorial. But the narrative holds you in its thrall. The music by Shankar Ehsan and Loy is soothing. One has watch it to feel what differentiates it from the other movies of the same genre.