Badla is Borrowed yet Brilliant! Here's Why?

I largely concur to the interminable illness plaguing Bollywood in the form of a continual content crisis. If BEG BORROW STEAL is what it takes to serve a wholesome dose of entertainment, I don’t mind.

Badla, which is an official remake of the Spanish film “The Invisible guest” has been helmed by Sujoy Ghosh who is masterfully acquainted with the invincible art of keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The compelling narrative will dominate your attention span for the total runtime of the film. 

The filmmakers definitely cannot take any credit for the gripping plotline because apart from the  Desi-fication of the characters, the story is devoid of any considerably vital alternation. As a standalone film, Badla unequivocally stands out for it deeply engrosses the viewers keeping them guessing till the very end.

The climax although was a bit underwhelming, but as they say, it is the journey and not the culmination of it that matters. So if you’ve enjoyed the ride,  a bit of a bump, in the end, shouldn't be bothersome.

The cinematography is top-notch and besides capturing Scotland in all its winter gloom, the indoor shots look quotidian as if they’re of a real-life setting. The background music builds on the palpable tension and adds significantly to the enigma that the narrative persistently establishes.

There has been enough said about the importance of a good script and Badla although borrowed indeed had one. However, it was the top-notch performances of the lead cast that made the first rate execution plausible.

Watching Amitabh Bacchan on the screen doing what he does the best after a very long time, was both comforting and overwhelming. Taapsee Pannu is on a roll with the diverse variety of roles she’s been taking up off late and slaying them each time. Her performance in Badla if not career-best definitely ranks high up in her filmography. Amrita Singh in a screen outing after quite a while seemed pretty much at ease. Her character was an anti-thesis of what middle aged actresses in Hindi Films are known for, which was indeed a welcome change. 

There’s so much more that can be spoken about the specific nuances of the film, Unfortunately, that is not my domain. I appreciated the intent of keeping the focus intact on strong female characters giving them ample layers which peel off as we move deeper into their worlds. I also failed to decipher the intent of the makers in justifying the title Badla, meaning revenge drawing analogies to the Hindu Epic Mahabharata. The references appeared forcefully inserted and not wholly incontestable. 

Overall, trying to reconcile so many convolutions can be messy, but Sujay Ghosh’s master craft keeps the audiences unwavering. Even with the storyline progressing in parallel flashbacks, at no point in time do you feel the need to go back and reconnect contrasting threads. The screenplay makes it for a fairly amicable viewing experience which is a rarity for most thrillers and that’s what makes Badla a winner.