I sat down to watch #FootFairy on #Netflix and found all the trappings of a classic whodunit thriller. I loved the way it keeps you engaged all through the investigation but what I wasn't prepared for was the sheer unconventional ending. #GulshanDevaiah is superb as always but Director #KanishkVerma’s new film is not for everyone. I must say that I felt very let down with the ending or should we say, the lack of one?
With a cast that includes besides #Devaiah, #SagarikaGhatge (after a long while), #KunaalRoyKapur, #AshishPathode and #KaranArvindBandre, this film is a neo-noir. Full marks for trying something new but I wish the ending could have been more impactful. In many ways, it reminded me of the Malayalam film that i reviewed last week #KuttavumSikshayum.
The plot has it all. Mumbai. Local trains. A serial killer who identifies and murders young women who have pretty looking feet. The killer cuts off the feet and keeps them as mementos! CBI Officer Vivaan Deshmukh (#Devaiah) is mandated to investigate this case and he puts his heart and soul into the investigation. He trusts his gut instincts and leads his team on the case. But to no avail as the killer gives them the slip. The frustration of the cops increases and they land up with the wrong suspect, leading to a lot of angst.
Along the way, Vivaan meets up with pediatrician Devika (#SagarikaGhatge) and love blossoms. But her character is ill-defined and lacks dimensions. Her jokes are a tad bizarre and her questions are very obvious red herrings. And #Kunaal plays Joshua Mathews, the suspect in a role that is as confused as it gets. #Devaiah is the saving grace of the film, earnest and lives his role perfectly. His character is referred to as CBI’s very own Sherlock Holmes and he lives up to it in a charisma filled portrayal. #AshishPathode is competent as the subordinate and shines in parts.
The problem with #FootFairy is not just the ending alone. The script lacks punch, the dialogues are not great and the production design could have been more empathic as befits a noir category. For fans of murder mysteries there are some obvious gaffes - there is one scene in particular where the cops are discussing the case in an open cafe where anyone can hear their deliberaitons. #FootFairy is an & Pictures production and #KanishkVerma looks to “not fit in”, rather than staying true to a genre!
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