Merry Christmas review: Killer of a suspense drama wrapped in Vijay Sethupathi's skillful performance

Is it the allure of curious excitement veiled in carefully guarded suspense until the final moments or the gripping edge-of-the-seat experience that leaves the audience longing to know the culprit’s identity?

In certain instances, even if the killer is exposed, the lingering question remains — will the person ever be caught as the police close in, or will the perpetrator escape the clutches of the law?

A good suspense thriller is a bundle of such circumstances. Based on the 1961 novel “Le Monte-Charge” by French writer Frederic Dard, director Sriram Raghavan delivers quite simple yet brilliantly made whodunnit drama.

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Synopsis

Set in Bombay, yet to be known as Mumbai, Merry Christmas unfolds during Christmas Eve through the night and concludes on the following morning.

It opens with Albert (Vijay Sethupathi) walking along with Maria (Katrina Kaif) on Christmas Eve. Cut to Albert’s introduction, he just returned home after seven years.

Meanwhile, his mother passes away. His neighbour, played by Tinnu Anand, greets him with a bottle of homemade wine.

In no time, Albert is seen at a restaurant where he accidentally meets Maria (Katrina Kaif) with her little daughter Annie, who cannot speak.

Soon, Albert gets entangled in a complicated case after the dead body of Maria’s husband Jerome is found at her place.

Who kills Jerome while the two are out and Annie is fast asleep in the house? Watch the film to find out.

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Simple yet effective

What impresses the most is the making of the film, which is simple. The story and screenplay give an impression of the best adaptation of the novel without tampering with many elements of suspense.

Then comes the effective portrayal of two main protagonists — Vijay Sethupathi as Albert and Katrina Kaif as Maria. The brilliant casting works, too.

Thereafter, the one-liner dialogue of Albert that comes with a slice of humour goes well with the typical Hindi accent of Vijay Sethupathi.

Further, no over-the-top or extreme melodramatic scenes are padded to elevate the premise.

It’s a relief as many suspense thrillers come out screaming with little effect in the end.

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The twists

The most vital aspect of any suspense thriller is the right amount of twists in the plot, and the most crucial is the timing of such twists. Director Sriram Raghavan excels perfectly in both aspects.

For instance, Albert’s love story, his place of stay for seven years, and the entry of Ronnie (Sanjay Kapoor) — who gets entangled in the mystery murder — offer enough thinking for the audience.

Eventually, the entry of police and their investigation and the final piece of evidence is packed to good effect.

French writer Frederic Dard would have felt happier after watching Merry Christmas.

Verdict

Merry Christmas is an engaging suspense drama that deserves a watch, especially for Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina and their excellent and unusual onscreen chemistry.