Film:
Murder Mubarak
Director– Homi Adajania
Cast – Pankaj Tripathi, Sara Ali Khan, Vijay Varma, Dimple Kapadia, Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, Suhail Nayyar, Priyank Tiwari, Deven Bhojani, Tara Alisha Berry, Aashim Gulati, Brijesh Kala
Platform – On Netflix
Duration – 141 Minutes (2h 21min)
Homi Adajania has once again proved he is he knows his craft like no other. Adajania’s Murder Mubarak is a labyrinth of deceit and danger that originates with the Royal Delhi Club – a club built to honour and worship the British Royal Family. From the get-go – when the search for Prince Harry is on, this murder mystery-thriller will have you on the edge of your seat. Kudos to the director for beautifully bringing to life the adaptation of Anuja Chauhan’s Club You To Death written by Gazal Dhaliwal and Suprotim Sengupta.
Story
‘Murder Mubarak’ is a murder investigation led by Pankaj Tripathi’s ACP Bhavani Singh that will shock views with its ample twists and turns. From shocking secrets being revealed to clandestine motives being unearthed, everyone – right from Sara Ali Khan’s Bambi Todi to Vijay Varma’s Akash Dogra , has some dirty laundry that they want hidden from the clubs members.
What works
Many things work for ‘Murder Mubarak’ starting with top-notch direction by the master that is Homi Adajania. The camera work paired with an eerie background music and an intriguing storyline is what makes this over two-hour-long thriller a watch with no loo breaks. The talented ensemble cast are impressive and no one shines less – a commendable feat for any maker.
What doesn’t work
While the story is intriguing and manages to keep viewers engaged, the shifting from what’s happening to a flashback does get a little confusion.
Script analysis
‘Murder Mubarak’ has a captivating narrative that gives equal importance to every character. The script is crisp with dialogues that will make you laugh and even retrospect its meaning in your life Â
Direction
Homi Adajania deserves a round of applause for bringing to life this story. Audiences have been offered many murder mysteries over the years – where the investigation is the backbone of the story but only a few manage to leave a positive impression – but ‘Murder Mubarak’ ticks all the right boxes. From capturing the elegant corners of the Royal Delhi Club (kudos to Maddock Films for not holding back on creating an amazing set) to showcasing the emotions the characters are going through, the director makes us wish this was a big screen release and not a digital masterpiece.
Music
The music of ‘Murder Mubarak’ – especially its background score, does an amazing job in keeping the tense nature of the film a nail-biting experience. Kudos to Sachin–Jigar for giving the film apt music that doesn’t dilute what’s happening.
Star Performance
Talking about performances, Pankaj Tripathi is a star that shines a little brighter than all the other stars – aka the talented ensemble cast he is surrounded by.  From his expression at the start of the film to his dialogue delivery, Pankaj proves yet again he is in a league where only a few actors may reach.  His nuanced performance as the astute investigator determined to unravel the murder mystery is sure to earn him loads of praise.
Sara Ali Khan Murder Mubarak poster
Sara Ali Khan on the poster of Murder Mubarak
Sara Ali Khan’s mesmerizing performance as the enigmatic Bambi Todi is captivating. Her performances elevate the narrative thanks to her skillfully showcasing her character’s psyche with raw emotions and on-point dialogue delivery. Vijay Varma‘s portrayal of Aakash Dogra is relatable as everyone goes through the situations he’s going through. The chemistry between Sara and Vijay is crackling and will keep you hooked to the very last scene.
The supporting cast of Karisma Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Sanjay Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, and others all do justice to their character. Everyone has a secret and Homi successfully captures each of their emotions as they put up different fronts as the intriguing plot unfolds.
Conclusion
‘Muder Mukarak’ is an intriguing film that needs to be watched if you are a fan of mysteries that are full of twist-and-turns that will keep you biting your nails instead of munching popcorn from its first scene to the last.  Filled with suspenseful, one-sided love and funny moments, this Homi Adajania directorial is a complete package!