Theatre review: A perfect murder

Dial ‘P’ for the perfect murder

Play

:

A perfect murder

Written by: Neeraj Shirvaikar

Directed by: Vijay Kenkare

Cast: Pushkar Shrotri, Satish Rajwade, Subodh Pande, Shweta Pendse, Abhijit Kelkar

Genre: Thriller

Time: 160 mins

Language:

Marathi

Rating: 3.5/5

The story of this play may be based on Alfred Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder, but the best part about A Perfect Murder is that it manages to create a suspense of its own.

The curtains open to a murder taking place at a house enshrouded in darkness. Meera (Shweta Pendse) a socialite, seems to be the victim and Karmarkar (Subodh Pande), a small time criminal, the murderer. As the story proceeds, you realise Meera’s husband Niranjan (Pushkar Shrotri), an ex-cricketer, is the mastermind behind this murder, his motive being revenge for Meera’s affair with a mystery writer. An added advantage for Niranjan is his claim to Meera’s property after her death. But will everything go as planned? By the time inspector Gharge (Satish Rajwade), enters the scene, the plot has thickened, and mystery starts unfolding.

Although writer Neeraj Shirvaikar has retained the essence of the Hitchcock’s classic, he has tweaked the story to retain the mystery element. So, even if you have watched Dial M For Murder, the play will surprise you, thanks to Vijay Kenkare’s direction. Complimenting the writing are the dialogues, which bring in humour at the right places to break the monotony whilst retaining the seriousness of the situation. Ajit Parab’s music aids the tale unveil more effectively.

From Satish’s tongue-in-cheek humour, to Shweta’s portrayal of an unassuming wife, the performances by the actors are brilliant. Pushkar, who is known for his comic roles, plays the antagonist with equal ease. Simply put, the play is a must-watch if you are in for an exciting ride.