Here's Why Vidya Balan Starrer Kahaani Is One Of The Finest Thrillers Of Bollywood, Ever!

I was in college pursuing my undergrads when this film called Kahaani was about to release. I had been in Kolkata at that point in time, the city where the film was based and where it was extensively shot. This film had one of the most interesting posters of all times. Throughout the city I saw missing posters of a man called Arnab Bagchi. The brilliance of that poster blew my mind and I knew I had to watch the film. Let me tell you this as well, I wasn't the girl who was an avid movie buff at that point and yet, the simplicity and the brilliance of that poster could move me well enough to go to the theatres.

After I had come out of the theatre, I had the feeling that this is probably one of the best thrillers ever. Years on now, even when I have watched other thrillers and Sujoy Ghosh's other works like Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh and the Contratiempo remake, Badla,I still strongly believe that there would never be another thriller like Kahaani that can ever be made in Bollywood.

This has been one film that has been brilliant in every way possible. Right from the development of even the fringe characters to the performance to how the setting was weaved into the narrative to being a thriller/whodunnit where nothing was clear until the climax- this film had set an example and paved a way for films like Andhadhun and Badla to woo the audiences.

 Most of the factors in the film would be very well etched in all who had seen it and loved it. But one of the characters that had been unparallel was Bob Biswas. The "nomshkar, ek minute" killer is one character I remember even though he was on-screen for just a few scenes only. The brilliance of Bob Biswas shines and so does that of actor Shaswata Chatterjee, one of the finest Bengali actors today. This is also one of the reasons why I am not sure if making a film on Bob Biswas is a great idea. There are some things that should be left as it is, like this character that stole the show even if it had been there for just a few sequences.

The film is also memorable for how it put Kolkata onto the map of Bollywood. Being a person who has spent almost 5 years in the city, the film was like a love-letter to the city. The circular rail and the bylanes of North Kolkata that you see when the cop chases Bob or how the climax went hand in hand with the exuberance of Pujo or even the simplicity in a man referring to Vidya as Bidda are things that gave delight to my naive teenage heart, unlike anything.

The film would also be memorable for giving us Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who could be seen in just special appearances till then. 

I would not go into music. I had seldom seen how brilliantly songs could be merged in a taut film like that of Kahaani so seamlessly. While Kolkata song was another part of the love letter with the city, Piya Tu Kahe Rootha Re still gives me goosebumps. The music is simply outstanding.

All in all, thank you Sujoy Ghosh for a film like Kahaani that would not give even the slightest hint of the climax until the very end. And even though the man has made good films like Kahaani 2 and Badla, and there are other thrillers like Andhadhun as well on the topography on Bollywood now, a film like Kahaani might never ever be possible again! It was not a 2 hour something film, it has been a cinematic journey that will be etched in my mind forever.