Merry Christmas Review: Sriram Raghavan's Film is Exceptional

Rahul Desai

Albert's Enigmatic Return

Vijay Sethupathi's Albert returns to his ancestral home in Bombay, encountering a dreamlike connection with Katrina Kaif's Maria on Christmas Eve. However, subtle hints suggest an underlying mystery and suspense.

Heart as Shield in Romantic Thriller

Merry Christmas redefines the heart's role in Sriram Raghavan's thriller style, transforming love into a shield against conventional themes of revenge and deceit. The film navigates from violence to sacrifice, focusing on a slow-burning romance of empathy and atonement.

Journey from Violence to Sacrifice

Departing from typical Hindi cinema, Merry Christmas takes a narrative journey from violence to sacrifice, balancing its complex plot with scenes unfolding naturally, prioritizing emotions over quick plot progression.

Self-Contained Chemistry

Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif's chemistry encapsulates Albert and Maria's relationship as soulmates in a parallel universe, keeping the audience guessing between genuine and fake, blurring the lines between romance and thriller.

Mastery in Film-Making

Scenes defy traditional editing norms, emphasizing emotions over narrative exaggeration. Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' scores a remarkable climax, creating a simultaneous atmosphere of romance, harrowing suspense, hope, and sadness.

Romance as Profound Reckoning

Breaking from typical thriller escapism, Merry Christmas presents romance as a deep reckoning with truth, fate, and pasts. The characters struggle to escape reality, offering an emotionally affecting thriller that revises the concept of escape.