Synopsis
Blackout (2024) is a Hindi crime comedy thriller set in Pune that takes place over the course of a single night. The film starts with a power outage that escalates into chaos as a city-wide blackout occurs.
Lenny D’Souza, portrayed by Vikrant Massey, is a crime journalist with a knack for getting into trouble. During the blackout, Lenny goes out for what seems like a routine night. It’s not until later that he finds himself in a whirlwind of dead bodies, drug lords, corrupt leaders, and embezzled funds. This dive into disorder is only worsened by Lenny’s internal moral struggles, personal histories, and strange interactions.
The story further unfolds while Lenny is driving through the city’s underbelly. Odd characters who later turn out to be helpful jump into his car and change the course of the night with their actions. One of the major twists involves a cash and corpse filled van Lenny unwittingly stumbles upon which deepens his involvement in the criminal conspiracy. What follows next is a night full of absurd misjudgments, and dark comedy.The film’s wild ride is flavored by an ensemble of reduntant characters including, but not limited to, police officers, criminals and street hustlers. Blackout concerns itself with more than just chaos, delving into morality, survival, luck, or the social construct. In a sense, it wonders about the innate human will to endure against all odds. Every subplot is intertwined, culminating into a baffling finale and an even more shocking conclusion while still keeping its unpredictable nature.
Cast & Crew
Main Cast:
Vikrant Massey as Lenny D’Souza: Lenny, a crime reporter, goes through a life-changing struggle during the blackout. Massey captures this contradictory tone of seriousness and comic vulnerability portraying the unpredictability throughout the film.
Sunil Grover as Asgar Don/Bewdya: Grover adds humor and chaos to the film through his double identity character. Bewdy, bewdy, is a role of a drunkard with unexpected connections and wisdom of the streets.
Mouni Roy as Pinky/Shruti Mehra: Her character brings intrigue and flair, portraying a woman who’s not exactly who she claims to be.
Jisshu Sengupta as Detective Arvind Dasgupta: An enigmatic investigator trying to solve the blackout night.
Ruhani Sharma as Roshni D’Souza: Lenny’s emotionally scarred wife who adds depth to an otherwise wild night.
Supporting Cast:
The movie has an amazing cast of actors in unique and colorful roles:
Thik and Thak, the influencers caught in the social media frenzy, are played by Karan Sonawane and Saurabh Ghadge.
Inspector Patil, who plays the role of the unscrupulous policeman, is portrayed by Prasad Oak.
Anita Naik who is an MLA and also an infamous mobster is played by Chhaya Kadam.
Mr. X also known as the Sharpshooter is a malevolent figure with sinister motives, so Kelly Dorjee fills the shoes with an evil agenda.
Bhuvan Arora, Anant Vijay Joshi, and Sooraj Pops fill the balance of the roles in the movie in Punchy performances.
Narration: Stylishly witty framing voice provided by Anil Kapoor as the film narrator.
Director: This genre-switching visual film is by first-time director Devang Shashin Bhavsar, who aims to blend storytelling with visuals in his ambitious debut.
Producers: 11:11 Productions and Jio Studios brought Jyoti Deshpande and Niraj Kothari in the project.
Cinematography: Anubhav Bansal captured the claustrophobic mood of Pune at night using suspenseful dim lighting and long shots.
Music: The film has chaotic undertones and fast pace which is supported by energetic music from Vishal Mishra and John Stewart Eduri.
Editing: The film does has certain redundant parts but has top-notch suspense slicing from Unnikrishnan Payoor Parameswaran.
Dialogue Writers: Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal infused sarcasm, street lingo, and rap with philosophical glimpses.
IMDb Rating, Review, and Reception
Blackout has an IMDb rating of 6.1/10, reflecting a lukewarm reception. The product appears to be divisive amongst critics and the audience, with reactions oscillating from scathing critiques to appreciation for its creativity.
Positive Feedback:
Vikrant Massey has been showered with appreciation for his dedicated performance, which maintained the delicate balance between a comic and sincere delivery.
Numerous reviewers have applauded Sunil Grover’s portrayal for effortless humor and comment his eccentric character as one of the most memorable in the film.
The film’s concept – a single night of madness in the form of unexplained chaos during a blackout in the city – captured the attention of viewers, with many praising the unpredictability and quirkiness of the film’s tone.
The cinematography and music also received praise for setting and developing the right shape.
Negative Feedback:
Some critics have argued that the film attempts to accomplish too much at once, suffering from a lack of balance in narrative focus.
Multiple subplots feel rushed to be introduced or developed, resulting in pacing issues.
The comedy is not always successful and the shifts in tone from thriller to satire and then to drama is jolting.
Conflict, resolution, and character development were noted as uneven, particularly in reference to the women involved.
Despite the backlash it received, Blackout has earned a notable recognition as an attempt to break the conventions of Hindi cinema. Neither a fully mainstream commercial film nor an indie film, it blends crime, satire, and comedy into a narrative that attempted to take a risk in storytelling. While some viewers appreciated the risk taken, not all viewers appreciated the execution of the film.
Final Thoughts
With Blackout, viewers are presented with a daring piece of work that defies Bollywood conventions by placing the entire narrative of the film over a single night of darkness, both literal and metaphorical. The film offers a spectacular ride through the streets of Pune, especially driven by strong performances from Vikrant Massey and Sunil Grover, and an equally strong storyline with relentless twists.
The film suffers from an overpacked plot and inconsistent tone. However, for those who enjoy a combination of genres like dark humor, thriller, and satire, the film indeed stands out. Blackout undoubtedly deserves credit for having the boldness and creativity to take the risks that it did.
The film’s analysis on opportunism, chaos, and primal human behaviors during crises is included in a humorous package that does not take itself too seriously. Blackout may not resonate with everyone, but it is uniquely intriguing—and that is reason enough for the intrepid viewer to appreciate ‘Blackout’—for attempting something new.
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