Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar Review : When suspended Haryanvi police officer Pinky (Arjun Kapoor) intervenes to save successful banker Sandeep Walia (Parineeti Chopra) from her own boss’s deadly intentions, their vastly different worlds collide. Will they manage to evade the powerful and malevolent forces hunting them down?
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 19 March 2021 |
|---|---|
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Crime, Mystery, Romance |
| Duration | 2h 6min |
| Cast | Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Dinker Sharma, Daljeet Singh, Jaipreet Singh, Rahul Kumar, Dev Chauhan, Abhishek Yadav, Suruchi Aulakmore… |
| Director | Dibakar Banerjee |
| Writer | Dibakar Banerjee, Varun Grover |
| Cinematography | Anil Mehta |
| Music | Anu Malik, Dibakar Banerjee, Narendra Chandra, Kamlesh Haripuri |
| Producer | Aditya Chopra |
| Production | Dibakar Banerjee Productions, Skywalk Films, Yash Raj Films |
| Certificate | 18+ |
Just as the title suggests, the tale of Sandeep and Pinky is intricate, cunning, and marked by the stark class division between its protagonists. These elements hold promise for a suspenseful dark comedy, yet the film only intermittently delivers on this potential. The opening scene immediately grabs attention, and director Dibakar Banerjee’s buildup of intrigue in the first half is noteworthy. However, as the second act unfolds, the not-so-shocking suspense is unveiled, leaving viewers with repetitive and painfully slow interactions between the characters. Banerjee attempts to incorporate various underlying themes representing the diverse facets of Indian society, from bloodsucking bank scams targeting the poor to privileged and educated corporate individuals who view people as mere numbers. While Banerjee skillfully connects the massive bank scam to an elderly rural couple, the film’s sluggish pace and inconsistent writing detract from its impact, despite the visually Anil Mehta beautifully captures the scenic charm of a quaint town situated along the Indo-Nepal border.
In terms of performances, the spotlight is firmly on Parineeti Chopra. She skillfully navigates Sandy’s complex character, portraying her as strong yet vulnerable and insecure. Parineeti’s compelling performance is one of the few elements that hold the film’s uneven narrative together. Unfortunately, Arjun Kapoor’s character lacks depth, leaving him with little to work with. He does manage to step out of his comfort zone, particularly in his final scene. Among the supporting cast, Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta deliver endearing and effortless portrayals of the typical Indian couple grappling with patriarchy. Jaideep Ahlawat’s portrayal of the scheming top cop fails to leave a lasting impression. With only one song (an unmelodious title track by Anu Malik), the film’s melancholic and surreal background score fails to compensate for the overall lack of substance in its narrative.
“Sandeep and Pinky Faraar” sets out as a neo-noir film with the promise of engaging, entertaining, and educating audiences through its layered subtext. However, its flawed execution and frustratingly slow pace may prompt viewers to escape long before Sandeep and Pinky do.
