Dial 100 review: Manoj Bajpayee and Neena Gupta are the soul of this predictable crime thriller
Dial 100 review: Manoj Bajpayee is backed by Neena Gupta and Sakshi Tanwar, who play two distressed mothers whose paths cross under circumstances that lead to an unfortunate encounter at the heart of the film.
Story: The Mumbai Police Emergency Control Room receives a cryptic phone call from a distraught woman who wishes to speak with senior police officer Nikhil Sood (Manoj Bajpai) before committing suicide. Nikhil, on the other hand, has no idea that his efforts to save her will put his own family in danger, as dark secrets from his past threaten to destroy his present. Will he be able to put the caller together, solving the mystery and thus identifying the puzzle pieces?
Watch: 'Dial 100' Senior police officer Nikhil Sood begins his innings at the Mumbai Police Emergency Control Room (Call Centre), just like any other day with a rainy night. Soon after, we learn that his personal life is in ruins as a result of his wife Prerna's (Sakshi Tanwar) troubled relationship with his teenage son Dhruv (Uttar Kamble). While messing with his wife's incessant phone calls, Nikhil receives a distress call from a hysterical woman who wants to end her life due to a personal tragedy. The anonymous caller gets a little too personal, then reveals that Nikhil is racing against the clock to keep the world from learning about a dark secret that could put the lives of his loved ones in peril For.
Rensil D'Silva, who previously starred in 'Qurban' (2009) and '24' (2013-16), among others, has a knack for thrillers. However, to establish the main premise of this film, he relies heavily on the audio of Nikhil's conversation with the caller. When it comes to making a film about the night, the writing has to be sharp-tempered to keep the audience hooked on the screen. Unfortunately, DeSilva's writing disappoints at first and takes too long to even get to the point. Overall, the thrill begins when we see Seema Pallav (Neena Gupta) in action and Nikhil Sood in a 22-catch position, which ends quickly once the layers open. The film's editor, Asif Ali Shaikh, reduces the running time to less than two hours, crediting the story to a story that took place on a fateful night.
Manoj Bajpayee adds depth to his character of a middle-class man who has failed as both a husband and a father. However, as a cop, he is smart and takes quick action to save his family. Playing a cop and dealing with high-pressure situations is nothing new to either Bajpayee or the audience; We've seen him shine in roles like this before in 'The Family Man' and 'Silence... Can You Hear It?
Neena Gupta gives you shivers as Pallava, while still emotionally involving you with her character of a grieving mother seeking vengeance for her son's untimely death. Gupta is excellent at her role, but once her motive is revealed, she maintains a poker face the entire time. Sakshi Tanwar has limited screen time but she steals the show, especially in the scene where she breaks down. Overall, the character is developing, and you'll want to be with them the whole time.
All told, Rensil d'Silva delivers a revenge narrative that primarily relies on performance rather than a promising idea. So, if you are looking for some riveting performances, the trio of Manoj Bajpayee, Neena Gupta, and Sakshi Tanwar is worth your time.
