PLOT
A serial killer known only as “Common Man” is let go, and he goes on to murder 17 strong, pro-empowerment women. Because he also killed their secret spies, the Special Forces the government hired is in a panic. There is now only one person remaining who must find the murderer. There is no one else but Durga.
Some may argue that the plot is intended to reveal Durga’s (Radhika Apte) undercover agent persona. However, this dramatic tactic needs to be revised with the audience. The concept of a female spy going underground while waiting for her next assignment has been executed more skillfully in recent years. Resonances of Badshaah and a specific Srijit Mukherji film may also cause some viewers to experience a strong sense of deja-vu in particular sequences.
REVIEW
Despite being billed as an action comedy, Mrs Undercover gets off to a somewhat unsettling start. In the first scene, Common Man repeatedly runs over a girl; the sound of crushing bones and the girl’s moans of pain create a frightful aura. After then, a sequence that borders on the bizarre occurs, leaving the audience unsure of the line between truth and fiction. That is the plot of the entire movie, which combines absurdity and reality.
Some would classify this as a step in the filmmaking process. However, in this case, the steps could be more precise. A range of situations is shown to the spectator, from an attempt on a minister’s life to cheating husbands and a child’s unit tests. Throughout the movie, dangers pursue Durga, and there are amusing Bengali accent-related moments and a persistent focus on her routine life as a housewife.
A superb supporting cast saves the movie. Rajesh Sharma makes an effort to mix humour, bad jokes, and philosophical monologues in his performance as chief Rangeela. But it needs a compelling history, which makes it difficult to believe him. While Laboni Sarkar is relatively excellent as Durga’s mother-in-law, Shaheb Chattopadhyay is convincing as Durga’s chauvinist husband, Dev. The antagonist, Common Man, played by Sumeet Vyas, shows a lot of potential early on but manages to lose interest before the conclusion.
Rating: 3/5
There are undoubtedly some funny moments, but they lack compelling backstories. They are primarily mentioned in passing and swiftly discarded. The film is preaching to a pretty antiquated audience, as Radhika Apte is just going through the motions. These factors result in a three-star rating on a scale of five.
Anushree Mehta is the film’s director. The producers are Abir Sengupta, Anushree Mehta, Varun Bajaj, Ishan Saksena, and Sunil Shah. Radhika Apte, Sumeet Vyas, Rajesh Sharma, and the ensemble make up the star cast. ZEE5 is scheduled to host the film’s premiere on April 14, 2023.
