A Thursday Story :-
Naina Jaiswal, a seemingly ordinary preschool teacher in her thirties, unexpectedly captures the attention of both the Mumbai Police and the media when she declares that she has taken 16 children from her nursery hostage. With a chilling warning, she demands that super cop Javed Khan meets her list of demands, threatening the lives of each child if her conditions are not met. Thus begins Naina’s day-long standoff with the authorities, forming the crux of the narrative.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 17 February 2022 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Duration | 2h 8min |
| Cast | Yami Gautam Dhar, Dimple Kapadia, Atul Kulkarni, Neha Dhupia, Karanvir Sharma, Maya Sarao |
| Director | Behzad Khambata |
| Writer | Behzad Khambata, Ashley Lobo |
| Music | Kaizad Gherda |
| Producer | Ronnie Screwvala |
| Production | Blue Monkey Films, RSVP Movies |
| Certificate | 13+ |
The landscape of women in cinema is evolving, with female characters no longer relegated to mere adornments or damsels in distress. Stories now delve deeper, exploring the complexities of women’s lives. Director Behzad Khambata entrusts Yami Gautam Dhar with a substantial, character-driven role, marking a significant milestone in her career. As her character demands a balance of cold calculation and fiery resolve, Yami navigates this terrain, gradually ramping up the intensity as the narrative unfolds. Dimple Kapadia and Neha Dhupia deliver compelling performances in significant roles, while Atul Kulkarni’s seasoned talent shines through in his portrayal of super cop Javed Khan.
Presenting itself as a spiritual successor to Neeraj Pandey’s gripping thriller ‘A Wednesday’, Behzad Khambata’s hostage drama boasts an intriguing premise but falters in execution, veering into the realm of implausibility. While it captures the essence of emotional depth, the film falls short in technical finesse, with jarring background scores and dated cinematic techniques detracting from its impact. The attempt to engage the audience feels forced at times, lacking the subtlety needed to convey emotions effectively.
Despite its somewhat predictable backstory, ‘A Thursday’ redeems itself with a poignant emotional journey and incisive social commentary in its latter half. Touching upon a relevant issue that resonates with women worldwide, the film transcends its genre, aiming to make a thought-provoking statement rather than induce fear or paranoia. Khambata adeptly integrates social media into the narrative, driving the plot forward while offering astute observations on clickbait journalism and the sensationalism of ‘breaking news’.
In conclusion, ‘A Thursday’ may not deliver the heart-pounding thrills of a suspenseful thriller, but its willingness to tackle important themes and spark meaningful discourse marks it as a noteworthy achievement.
