• Menu
  • Menu
  • Entertainment
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print subscription Print+Digital (Bundle)
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print subscription
Print+Digital (Bundle)
Trending
UAE holidays 2022 Golf in UAE Gratuity Calculator Mind Your Migraine
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Government
      • Sheikh Khalifa passes away
    • Health
      • Why Worry
    • Transport
    • Science
    • Weather
    • Ask the Law
    • Reader Complaint
    • UAE's Hope Probe
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Ask Us
    • Safety+Security
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Business
    • Banking
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Energy
    • Analysis
    • Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Corporate News
  • Best Buys
    • Electronics
    • Home and Kitchen
    • Offers
    • Consumables
    • Lifestyle
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Spell It
    • Play
  • Play Games
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • Discounts
  • Magical Dubai
    • Dubai Life
    • Live the Luxury
    • Culture and History
    • Adventure
    • Staying Connected
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
      • Games
    • Mena
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Oceania
    • Offbeat
    • Coronavirus
    • Infographics
    • Special Reports
    • Games
    • Corrections
  • Special Reports
  • Photos
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Eds
    • Letters
    • Off the Cuff
    • From the Editors
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Horse Racing
      • Dubai World Cup
    • Cricket
      • IPL
        • Chennai
        • Delhi
        • Punjab
        • Kolkata
        • Mumbai
        • Rajasthan
        • Bangalore
        • Hyderabad
        • Gujarat
        • Lucknow
        • Live Scores
        • Point Table
        • Top Scorers
      • ICC
    • Motorsport
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Rugby
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Eagle Eye
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • Pakistani Cinema
    • South Indian
    • Arab Celebs
    • Music
    • TV
    • Books
    • Theatre
    • Arts+Culture
  • Expo 2020
    • News
    • Photos
    • Pavilions
    • Visit the Expo
    • Experience the UAE
    • Entertainment
    • Videos
  • Going Out
  • Auto
    • News
    • Test Drives
    • Car Culture
    • Auto Care
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
    • Community
    • Fashion
  • GN Reach
  • Jobs
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • How-To
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
    • Technology
  • Travel
  • GN Focus
    • Special Features
  • Mind Your Migraine
  • 50 MENA Leaders
  • The Kurator
    • Share
    • Dare
    • Flair
  • Bayat Chapters
  • Gold-Forex
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • Cinema Listing
  • Newsletters
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Gulf News store
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    Review: Kiara Advani’s ‘Guilty’ falters, but finds its feet

    Photos

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Thursday, May 26, 2022
    Gold / Forex

    Photos Entertainment

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Readers' Photos
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Sports
    All Sections

    Review: Kiara Advani’s ‘Guilty’ falters, but finds its feet

    Director Ruchi Narai explores the subject of campus rape and assault in Netflix film


    Published:  March 09, 2020 17:54 Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Assistant Editor - Features
    tabloid!

    1 of 5
    GUILTY_Unit_04976RC-1583746741203
    The plot: College sweetheart VJ (Singh Pirzada) seems to have everything going for him. He’s the lead singer of a rock band and is dating the prettiest and wackiest girl Nanki Gupta (Kiara Advani). He’s widely adored in his Delhi college campus, but his social-climber college mate Tanu (Akansha Ranjan) accuses him of rape and sexual assault and his life unravels. The procedural, directed by Ruchi Narain, plays out in a clinical way at first through Nanki’s gaze. Should she believe her boyfriend or take note of the horrifying claims made by another woman whom she detests as a person? A battery of lawyers hired by VJ’s powerful politican father tries to resurrect VJ’s tainted reputation. The film cruises into a he-said, she-said murky zone, before reaching some kind of conclusion at the climax. Image Credit: Avantika Meattle/Netflix
    2 of 5
    GUILTY_Unit_01943RC-1583746731397
    What we loved about the film: Kiara Advani, who rattles off Virginia Woolf and Franz Kafka quotes, is effective as the troubled wild-child. Initially, she comes across as pretentious and cerebral, but her ‘girl-interrupted’ vibe grows on you. She brings alive the conflict of being that girlfriend of a rape accused. Her struggle about who she should place her trust on and whether she should trust her instincts form the spin of this film. It’s a cracking start and we have to laud the makers for this novel idea. It’s Nanki’s show all the way and though Tanu is the actual casualty, the focus is mostly on Advani’s troubled character. Director Ruchi Narain does a neat job of starting off on a cracking pace. The film never gives its proverbial farm away and is designed to keep the viewers guessing. It succeeds to a large extent, but fails to keep up the brisk momentum. Image Credit: Joseph D'Souza/Netflix
    3 of 5
    Guilty still
    Actress Akansha Ranjan does well in her limited role as the uncouth Tanu who accuses the popular, privileged boy of sexual assault. She’s also a flirtatious social climber, which makes her an interesting character, but we wish the spotlight on the alleged rape survivor stayed longer. Taher Shabbir as the strapping, sensible lawyer does justice to his part, whereas VJ isn’t given a chance to leave any kind of imprint. The issue of mental health is grazed upon, but it’s too erratic in its treatment. The toxic locker room talk that college boys indulge in to protect their own tribe is interesting to watch. And the speed with which rape survivors are shamed is a searing commentary on how sexual assault victims are treated at large. Image Credit: Netflix
    4 of 5
    Guilty still
    What we disliked about the film: The climax was convoluted and melodramatic. The unnecessary drama with Kiara Advani’s character Nanki taking charge and having her own agency seemed abrupt and out-of-character. The movie would have benefitted hugely from a realistic treatment rather than utopian, neat endings. Advani’s monologue about her life, her troubled past and her dialogue on sexual misconduct seems contrived. The focus should ideally have remained on male privilege, class divides and entitlement, but descends into multiple commentaries on social topics. Bad call. Image Credit: Netflix
    5 of 5
    Guilty still
    The verdict: While we hail director Narain and its writers for tackling an interesting subject, there’s no getting past the heaving climax. But that isn’t a deal breaker. Watch it for Advani’s cracking performance and a subject that’s rarely touched upon in Bollywood. Stars: 3 out of 5. Available on Netflix streaming platform. Image Credit: Netflix

    Trending

    • Photos: Aftermath of the Texas school massacre

      Photos: Aftermath of the Texas school massacre

    Latest In

    • Senegal: 11 babies killed in hospital fire

      1 hour ago

    • Tunisia: President decrees new constitution referendum

      1 hour ago

    • Boeing Starliner completes key test mission to ISS

      1 hour ago

    • Zaniolo fires Roma to Europa Conference League triumph


    • UAE offers condolences over India, Bangladesh floods


    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • Friday
    • Inside Out
    • Watch Time
    • getthat
    • Jobs
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Gulf News store
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2022. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks
    Continue reading Gulf News
    Dear Reader, please register to read gulfnews.com

    Dear Reader,

    This section is about Living in UAE and essential information you cannot live without.

    Register to read and get full access to gulfnews.com

    Create your account
    or login if you already have one
    First name is required.
    Last name is required.
    Please enter a valid email address.
    Password should have minimum 7 characters with at least one letter and number
    Passwords do not match

    By clicking below to sign up, you're agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

    Login your account
    New to Gulf News? Sign up now
    Please enter your email address.
    Please enter your password.

    Forgot password

    or