There is no saying where a one-night stand can lead you. It could even make you a part of a film that has all the makings of a new kind of erotic thriller. A Sunny Leone film with a heart and some soul.
Debutant director Jasmine Moses D’Souza gives us three main characters. One of them is Urvil (Tanuj Virwani), who has a liason with Celina (Sunny Leone). Newcomer Nyra Banerjee plays Urvil’s wife, Simran.
The plot unfolds partly as a thriller and more prominently as a drama of disintegrating domesticity.
The director keeps a confident hold over her three characters even as two of them lose grip over their emotions. There are some unexpected twists in the second half. Not all of these surprises work.
While Virwani does his greyish role of a man who can’t take no for an answer, sure-handedly, the film clearly belongs to the two women.
Banerjee as a philandering husband’s devoted and innocent wife is a pleasant surprise. She makes her presence felt although the focus is clearly on Leone.
The director avoids the cliches of dramas about extra-marital affairs. The two female protagonists are painted neither black or white. Throughout, the film conveys the feelings of hope and desire in a restrained way. For this, part of the credit must go to cinematographer Rakesh Singh.
One Night Stand is easy on the eyes and not heavy on the heart despite the dramatic potential of the plot. This is an erotic emotional excursion that makes me curious to see what D’Souza will attempt next. Hopefully, a companion film about a female stalker who won’t take no for an answer.
Don’t miss it!
One Night Stand is currently showing in the UAE.
