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Crazxy, helmed by the phenomenal yet underrated Girish Kohli, is a gripping psychological thriller that shook me by the shoulder and refused to release its hold until the last shot. Starring a showstopping performance by Sohum Shah, this movie heads straight into the dark waters of fatherhood, guilt, and redemption through a plot that had me nervously biting my nails from start to finish. The clever mix of heart-in-your-throat suspense, unflinching emotional drama, and truly jaw-dropping twists makes this a must-watch for anyone who enjoys character-based thrillers with depth.
Storyline: An Emotional Rollercoaster
The film begins with Dr. Abhimanyu Sood (excellently played by Sohum Shah), a well-respected doctor whose confident façade hides inner personal conflict. We first see him driving to resolve a legal battle regarding suspected medical negligence—a subplot that skillfully prefigures the moral dilemmas. His life takes a tragic turn when he gets the call every parent fears—his daughter Vedika, who has Down Syndrome, has been kidnapped.
What takes this out of the usual thriller territory is the kidnapper’s request: the precise sum of money Dr. Sood had on him to finalize the claim. This is an impossible moral calculus—does he value his professional duty or his daughter’s life? As a person who has always struggled with work vs. family life, I found this predicament agonizingly familiar, even in its extreme.
While Dr. Sood is stuck on a deserted roadside with a flat tire—a symbolic but never heavy-handed metaphor for his helplessness—the film turns up the psychological squeeze. He juggling more and more frantic phone calls from his estranged wife (whose voice shakes with anger and fear), his uncaring boss (urging him to report to the hospital), a love interest (whose concern gradually discloses their complicated past), and even a flustered junior doctor seeking advice during a life-or-death operation.
The masterstroke of the film comes with the twist that the abductor is no less than Vedika’s school teacher, Prasad (played with cold restraint by veteran actor Tinu Anand). Their confrontation scene, which takes place in a rain-drenched playground that exactly replicates the emotional storm between them, has dialogue so real it was like listening in on someone’s therapy session.
Performances: Acting That Deserves Award
Sohum Shah gives what can only be called a tour de force performance. Having been watching him since his breakthrough in “Ship of Theseus,” I was still not prepared for the emotional wells he mines here. His performance of Dr. Sood’s breakdown from elegant professional to crazed father unfolds so slowly and naturally that it’s as if you are seeing an actual person break down before your eyes. The moment when he gets emotional listening to a voice recording from Vedika left me with a lump in my throat that didn’t disappear for hours.
What is even more technically remarkable about the film is the way it develops fully fleshed-out characters using voiceovers alone. Nimisha Sajayan as his wife, Shilpa Shukla as his co-worker, and Piyush Mishra as his guru never actually appear on screen for the majority of the duration, but their voices are so emotionally charged that they seem palpably present. It’s a tribute to the actors’ vocal work as well as Kohli’s creative direction.
Direction and Screenplay
Girish Kohli’s direction reveals a director who knows that suspense derives from emotional engagement, not merely plot devices. His choice to limit most of the action to Dr. Sood’s car provides a claustrophobic tension that reflects the protagonist’s inner prison. The script, written by Kohli and Aruna Bhatia, skillfully drip-feeds information to the viewer, with each piece of information being earned, not manufactured.
All that said, the movie is not flawless. Having built so much magnificent tension over two hours, the payoff at the end feels a bit rushed, with questions raised that it does not completely answer. One plot point concerning an earlier patient of Dr. Sood’s is introduced but never conclusively tied up. These are not serious missteps, but they are noticeable only because the rest of the movie raises such a high standard.
Technical Excellence That Supports the Storytelling
Technically, Crazxy overachieves on its low budget. Sunita Kaja and Rithem Lath’s editing is disorienting in its rhythm and exactly conveys the fragmented mind of Dr. Sood. Most effective is their application of jarring cuts between peaceful flashbacks of Vedika and the harried present, which resulted in an emotional whiplash that left me dizzy.
Sunil Ramkrishna Borkar’s and Kuldeep Mamania’s cinematography, though not formally innovative, also deserves praise. They turn run-of-the-mill settings—a car interior, a roadside, a playground—into visually charged areas full of psychological meaning. They are masterful with the light; just as Dr. Sood’s plight grows dark, so too does the light on screen, as daylight turns gradually into gloom that consumes him whole.
The music composition by Vishal Bhardwaj (lyrics by the iconic Gulzar) eschews the bombastic admonishments that are the hallmark of the genre. It uses instead dainty, dissonant tunes that worm their way under your skin. The title song of the film, “Kho Gaya,” used in a pivotal discovery sequence, left me struggling to hold back tears with its melancholic tune and heart-wrenching lyrics about lost innocence.
Thematic Depth: A Film That Stays With You
What makes Crazxy more than just a form of entertainment is that it thoughtfully explores rich themes. The movie presents a sensitive presentation of disability, presenting Vedika not as a device but as a real character whose Down Syndrome is only one part of her. In flashbacks that present her happiness, obstinacy, and creativity, the movie subverts common perceptions without ever being preachy.
The film also gives a damning critique of the health system, highlighting how both patients and physicians can be victims of a system that prioritizes efficiency over compassion. As someone who has relatives working in the medical field, I found its description of the pressures on health workers uncomfortably real.
Most powerfully, Crazxy probes the idea of moral injury—the emotional harm that happens when an individual does something against their fundamental values. Dr. Sood’s decisions throughout the film leave us squirming in our seats: What sacrifices would any of us make in the face of impossible decisions? The film does not provide simple answers, rather challenging viewers to remain with this unease long after the credits have rolled.
Final Thoughts: Imperfect But Unforgettable
While Crazxy doesn’t quite stick the landing with its somewhat hurried conclusion, it remains one of the most thought-provoking and emotionally resonant thrillers I’ve seen in years. Its willingness to tackle complex moral questions while delivering genuine suspense makes it stand out in a genre often content with surface-level thrills.
Days after viewing, I find myself still rummaging over its scenes in my head, wondering what I would have done if I were in Dr. Sood’s shoes—which is precisely what great film should do.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½ (3.5/5)
Who to Watch: Anyone who enjoys thrillers with psychological depth, strong performances, and moral nuance will find Crazxy stuck in their heads long after they’ve watched it. Just don’t anticipate simple answers or a tidy, bow-tied resolution—this film is messy in all the best, most human ways.
Where to Watch: Now playing in limited release theaters across the country and slated for streaming release next month on Prime Video.
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