Star Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Siddharth Chandekar, Priyanshu Chatterjee
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Synopsis:
MRS DESHPANDE is the story of a serial killer and her copycat. Popular Bollywood actor Virat Malhotra is strangled in his house. Commissioner Arun Khatri (Priyanshu Chatterjee) arrives at the crime scene and the method of murder brings back memories of the case of Seema Deshpande (Madhuri Dixit), who committed 8 serial murders 25 years ago in Pune. She is currently serving her sentence in Hyderabad Central Jail. Meanwhile, Arun realizes that Virat's killer has probably killed two more victims. However, the media and the citizens haven't made the connection yet as the earlier deceased were not as high-profile as Virat. The presence of a serial killer in Mumbai can cause panic and hence, nabbing the culprit is of utmost importance. With no choice, Arun goes for an out-of-the-box strategy. He asks Mrs Deshpande to help him in finding the killer. She agrees and she's transported to Mumbai. ACP Tejas Phadke (Siddharth Chandekar) and a few trusted cops are the only ones who are aware that Arun has taken a dangerous criminal out of a jail. Mrs Deshpande goes through the details of the murders and starts helping the cops. However, she has a sinister plan in mind. What happens next forms the rest of the series.
Mrs Deshpande Story Review:
MRS DESHPANDE is based on the original series 'La Mante' [produced by Jean Nainchrik]. Nagesh Kukunoor and Rohit Banawlikar's story is quite arresting (pun intended). Nagesh Kukunoor and Rohit Banawlikar's screenplay has its share of loose ends but is also engaging. Nagesh Kukunoor and Rohit Banawlikar's dialogues are conversational and sharp in some places.
Nagesh Kukunoor's direction is decent. The idea is promising – the serial killer is a female and she is brought out of her imprisonment to nab someone who’s aping her. She is alien to modern technology, but her mind is still as sharp. This premise sets itself up for drama from the very start and with his execution, Nagesh makes the goings-on watchable. A few moments stand out like Hosh’s (Kavin Dave) meeting with Mrs Deshpande, the killer communicating on the phone or the daring escape by the protagonist at the dead of the night. At the mid-point, the makers drop a shocking suspense that is unpredictable. The identity of the killer, however, might be guessed by viewers before the makers make the revelation. Nevertheless, it adds to the tension. The very last scene of the show is smart.
On the flipside, we don’t ever get to know the details of all the murders committed by Mrs Deshpande, and also a few more details about her adult life. It's also not clear why she’s been in jail for 25 long years. Is she imprisoned for a certain period or for the remainder of her life? As it happens with many crime films and series, even here, the makers falter, as for some reason, the cops don’t check CCTV footage. Going through them would have helped them understand very early about the killer’s identity very early. A few developments are too convenient and hence, too funny. In a crucial scene, the way the culprit escapes under the nose of the cops from a mall will lead to unintentional laughter.
Mrs Deshpande Performances:
Madhuri Dixit absolutely nails it. That disarmingly innocent face makes it almost impossible to imagine her as a dreaded killer. And that’s exactly what makes the performance so effective. Then comes that chilling, sinister smile, adding a whole new edge to her presence and leaving a massive impact. Performance-wise, she’s first-rate. Siddharth Chandekar, who’s created a niche for himself in Marathi cinema, does very well here in what could be called the lead male role. Priyanshu Chatterjee is dependable as always. Diksha Juneja (Tanvi), Nimisha Nair (Divya) and Pradeep Welankar (Ajoba aka grandfather) have crucial roles and they deliver impressive performances. Kavin Dave has limited screen time but leaves a huge mark. The same applies to Vishwas Kini (Alex) and Kenneth Desai (Jehaan Daruwala. Umakant Patil (Omkar; cop), Sulakshana Joglekar (Pallavi Sonawane; cop) and Hardikk Soni (Imran; cop who plays songs on smartphone) are aptly cast. Others also do well.
Mrs Deshpande music and other technical aspects:
There’s only one song in the series, 'Meri Baahon Mein Nikle Dum', by Tapas Relia. It is played during the opening credits and it's catchy. Stray Motion's title sequence is enticing. Tapas Relia's background score adds to the thrill.
Sangram Giri's cinematography is appropriate. Protique Mojoomdar, Somanwita Bhattacharya and Sabrina Singh's production design are realistic. Gopika Gulwadi's costumes are straight out of life. Vicky Arora's action is minimal and without any gore, despite the show being about murders. Tapas Shankar's editing is functional, though the show overall could have been shorter.
Mrs Deshpande Review Conclusion:
On the whole, MRS DESHPANDE is powered by a thrilling premise and a never-before-seen performance by Madhuri Dixit, making it a watchable fare despite its shortcomings.
Rating – 3 stars
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