Neeyat opens with an extremely impressive and refreshing visuals of chilled crispiness of Scottish woods, grandeur of a well maintained vast estate house while introducing the characters. Aashish Kapoor (Ram Kapoor) has invited his close friends and family for celebrating his birthday in a low key private gathering (unlike the grand birthday parties of past) in his castle in Scotland.
In the short list of about a dozen invitees, probably less, this billionaire has invited his ex-flame, his tarot card reader cum guide, his close Doctor friend and his wife who was close to him in the days gone by. Till the reception of guests and the display of Scottish landscape, Neeyat keeps you engrossed in the hope of experiencing something awesome like Agatha Christie mysteries that are usually unfolded on a grand scale.
As the story proceeds, you see that the service staff of the castle has been relieved due to storm as per the broadcast. What is peculiar is that the billionaire hasn’t opted to have access to (or deliberately has chosen not to have) Wi-Fi or Television broadband connection in this huge castle. Beginning to add confusion in your mind is that this billionaire watches on his mobile phone some private Television channel breaking news about him labeled as a fugitive who has supposedly scammed the Indian government to the tune of 20,000 crores. But the vicinity was supposedly not having any access to internet or television!
This angle has similarities of fugitive billionaire Indians like Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi and Mehul Choksey.
There are several moments just before the interval and during the second half, that the story tries to draw your attention, and then again towards the end there are some throwbacks and their explanation. For the aam Junta it is a story beyond their understanding and logic.
Instead of building up the suspense, Neeyat ultimately ends up as a CLOSED DOOR MYSTERY with twists and turns that keeps you confused more and as the story proceeds till the ending.
Merely having a talented protagonist like Vidya Balan who carries a stony expression throughout who often mumbles some Chemistry or Scientific explanation of her deductions doesn’t impress the viewer at all. It puts you off.
Seasoned actors like Vidya Balan, Ram Kapoor and particularly Rahul Bose who is portrayed as a typical gay character are just wasted in this whodunit which could have otherwise been a slick edge of the seat thriller.
Instead the characters played by Dipannita Sharma, Sahana Goswami and Neeraj Kabi appear interesting and convincing as ‘leeches’ as referred by the owner of vast estate.
What is disappointing about the film is that Neeyat ends up as Dhobi ka kutta….. Na Ghar Ka Na Ghat Ka. It is not a pure Indian version of a closed door mystery nor the firangi one.
Theatrical release
Running time: 130 minutes
Cast of Neeyat:
Vidya Balan as CBI officer Mira Rao
Ram Kapoor as Ashish Kapoor
Rahul Bose as Jimmy Mistry
Dipannita Sharma as Noor Suri
Shashank Arora as Rayan Kapoor
Shahana Goswami as Lisa
Neeraj Kabi as Sanjay Suri
Amrita Puri as Kay Patel
Prajakta Koli as Gigi
Niki Aneja Walia as Zara
Danesh Razvi as Tanveer
Credits of Neeyat:
Production companies: Abundanta Entertainment, Amazon Prime
Produced by Vikram Malhotra
Directed by Anu Menon
Written by Anu Menon, Girvani Dhyani, Advaita Kala
Cinematography Andreas Neo
Edited by Adam Moss
Music by Mickey McCleary