Chhipkali

Story: A private investigator pays a visit to the home of an author to investigate a double murder case that the author was previously acquitted of in court. As the two engage in conversation, a clash of ideas emerges between realism and romanticism.

Review: “Chhipkali” can be considered an esoteric film due to its unique storyline that delves into different concepts about life. The film explores what occurs when two completely divergent and obstinate perspectives clash, questioning societal conventions and challenging viewers' perceptions. The film also challenges our limited understanding of the world. Although “Chhipkali” is a decent drama thriller, its erudite tone may only attract a particular segment of the audience.

This thrilling tale commences with the arrival of Rudraksh Roy, a private investigator, at the home of Aloke Chaturvedi, an author, who had previously been acquitted by the court in a case involving the suspected murders of his wife and son. The investigator believes that there may be more to the case than meets the eye and seeks to uncover the truth. The author, who lives alone in his spacious residence, often envisions the characters from his novels as his companions. The ensuing discourse between the two individuals is a battle of wits and intellect as they each attempt to outmanoeuvre the other. The climax of the story is best left undisclosed to allow the audience to enjoy the thrill of the journey.

The crux of the film revolves around just two characters, portrayed with great spirit by Yashpal Sharma as author Aloke Chaturvedi and Yogesh Bhardwaj as private investigator Rudraksh Roy. While both actors give strong performances, Sharma is particularly noteworthy as he fully immerses himself in his character and appears comfortable in the theatrical atmosphere of the film. Although the film delivers impressive performances and a well-crafted score, its abstruse plot and overly theatrical setting hinder its success. Furthermore, the dialogues are punctuated with words that may prove challenging for the average viewer to grasp.

The film bears some similarities to the 2012 movie “Ruby Sparks,” starring Paul Dano, in which a struggling writer creates a character who comes to life, and the author realizes that he can control her actions in his writing. Debutante Koushik Kar's direction in “Chhipkali” is commendable, and it clearly is a kind subject that could potentially be lapped up by audiences at film festivals. For the broader audience, the premise is rather complex, but that’s not to say that it's not enjoyable. So, if you are in the mood for some head-spinning, mind-twisting thriller, dig into this one.