Before its release, Masterni generated controversy over its promotional song, which was later deleted. Now that the film has arrived in theatres, however, the bigger question is whether the attention surrounding its promotion translates into an equally engaging crime thriller.
Directed by Suuvendu Ghosh, Masterni is a crime thriller drama that follows the story of Ankita, played by Simran Thapa, who accidentally commits a crime. Her mother, Tulsi, played by Priyanka Karki, then tries to save her.
Priyanka Karki’s Tulsi is a science teacher who is introduced from the beginning as an intelligent character capable of handling even complex situations. For instance, in one of the opening scenes, a student is bitten by a scorpion. While everyone else at the school assumes it is a snakebite, Tulsi correctly identifies it as a scorpion sting and begins treating the student before a doctor arrives.
As the story unfolds, it reminds the audience of the Malayalam film Drishyam, directed by Jeethu Joseph, which was later remade in Bollywood as well. Anyone who has watched Drishyam, therefore, may find Masterni somewhat predictable. However, the similarity with Drishyam goes beyond the broad premise of a family trying to conceal a crime. Like Drishyam, Masterni relies on the tension between an ordinary person’s intelligence and the pressure of an investigation.
In such a context, Tulsi’s character should have had greater potential to engage the audience. However, things do not go as expected. At times, she does not come across as smart but rather as oversmart. Yes, she is a teacher and an intelligent person, but the director does not need to prove it repeatedly by exaggerating her character. For instance, every time Ankita shares her problems and fears, Tulsi starts giving lectures and examples as if she were in a classroom. This makes certain moments unintentionally laughable, even when the context is serious.
Talking about Simran, she has done a decent job. She justifies her character through the expressions and dialogue delivery demanded by the role. However, when her character is scared and shares her fears with her mother, she often sounds loud and unconvincing.
Another character, Cecelia, played by Rakshya Thapa, is also impressive. Through her expressions and body language, she creates an intense and suspenseful atmosphere, making her scenes particularly engaging. Her character also reflects what can happen when one does not have a healthy relationship with a parent.
Meanwhile, Durgesh Thapa, a Deputy Superintendent of Police played by Aryan Sigdel, is disappointing. At no point does he make the audience feel that he is a convincing police officer, either through his attitude or body language. He tries to portray a genuine and serious police officer, but there is a scene in which he visits Ankita’s house as part of the investigation and randomly puts his hand on Ankita’s arm. The moment looks awkward and does little to justify his character as a professional police officer.
In any crime thriller, background music plays a crucial role. However, the background score of Masterni is one of its weakest aspects. There is no particularly noticeable BGM that does justice to the crime-thriller genre.
Similarly, the screenplay is also not up to the mark. At least, it does not have the kind of tight screenplay that a crime thriller demands. The film lacks consistency in keeping the plot interesting and instead takes the audience to irrelevant places. For instance, there is a scene in which Ankita, frightened and anxious, shares her problems with Tulsi. In such a serious moment, out of nowhere, Tulsi remembers her wedding and her disputes with her husband, played by Anup Bikram Shahi. There seems to be no logic behind this shift.
As mentioned earlier, Tulsi’s exaggerated intelligence and her habit of randomly giving lectures also make some scenes less engaging. This can be considered another result of the weak screenplay.
Similarly, there are scenes in which the characters talk about a carbonated drink and an airline company. The audience can easily sense that these references are part of product advertising, something the makers should have avoided because both contexts feel irrelevant to the film.
Despite its various flaws, the ending of the film, meanwhile, is engaging. Let us not spoil it here. But judging by the way the film ends, the audience would not be surprised if Masterni returns with a sequel.
With a promising premise and a few effective performances, Masterni struggles to become the gripping crime thriller it aspires to be. The film has the ingredients for suspense, but its weak screenplay, unnecessary diversions and exaggerated portrayal of its central character repeatedly undermine the tension. While some performances and the engaging ending offer moments of promise, they are not enough to hold the film together.
