Hisaab Barabar OTT review: A Disappointing Satirical Thriller Despite a Strong Premise
Hisaab Barabar, starring R Madhavan, has recently premiered on Zee5, offering Hindi viewers a satirical thriller with Telugu dubbing. While the film aims to explore relatable middle-class struggles through an intriguing concept, it falters in execution. Story Overview R Madhavan plays Radha Krishna Mohan, an honest TTE and chartered accountant who discovers Rs. 27.50 missing from his Do Daily Bank account. His curiosity unravels a shocking Rs. 2000-crore scam orchestrated by the bank's CEO, Mickey Mehta, portrayed by Neil Nitin Mukesh. The film follows Radha’s journey to expose the fraud, diving into the motivations of the corrupt CEO and the ultimate resolution of the case. What Works Madhavan delivers a solid performance as the earnest and relatable Radha Krishna Mohan. His portrayal of a meticulous government officer struggling against systemic corruption resonates with middle-class audiences. The film effectively highlights the frustrations and mindset of ordinary individuals facing financial exploitation. Kirti Kulhari, in her limited role, manages to leave an impression despite her character being underdeveloped. The premise itself, focusing on a small discrepancy that leads to the exposure of large-scale corruption, is intriguing and relatable. Where It Falls Short The promising concept is undermined by a lackluster screenplay and inconsistent tone. The narrative struggles to maintain its satirical edge, often resorting to random humor that disrupts the flow of the story. The confrontation between Madhavan’s character and Neil Nitin Mukesh’s Mickey Mehta lacks intensity, diminishing the impact of their rivalry. Neil Nitin Mukesh’s portrayal of a corrupt CEO feels superficial, as the character comes off more like a social media influencer than a serious antagonist. The film fails to explore his motivations deeply, which could have added more weight to the story. The Telugu dubbing feels rushed, with awkward phrasing that unintentionally adds humor to otherwise serious moments. Additionally, the music and editing fail to enhance the film's emotional or narrative depth. Technical Aspects Director Ashwni Dhir struggles to craft a compelling narrative, as the writing lacks depth and urgency. The cinematography is adequate but fails to elevate the film, while the editing makes the short runtime of under 90 minutes feel unnecessarily stretched. Verdict Hisaab Barabar is a missed opportunity that fails to deliver on its satirical thriller premise. While Madhavan's performance and the relatable premise are commendable, the weak screenplay, underwhelming character development, and lack of engaging moments make the film a dull experience. Even with a brief runtime, it drags and struggles to hold the audience's attention. Unless you’re a devoted Madhavan fan, this one is better skipped.
Hisaab Barabar, starring R Madhavan, has recently premiered on Zee5, offering Hindi viewers a satirical thriller with Telugu dubbing. While the film aims to explore relatable middle-class struggles through an intriguing concept, it falters in execution.
Story Overview
R Madhavan plays Radha Krishna Mohan, an honest TTE and chartered accountant who discovers Rs. 27.50 missing from his Do Daily Bank account. His curiosity unravels a shocking Rs. 2000-crore scam orchestrated by the bank's CEO, Mickey Mehta, portrayed by Neil Nitin Mukesh. The film follows Radha’s journey to expose the fraud, diving into the motivations of the corrupt CEO and the ultimate resolution of the case.
What Works
Madhavan delivers a solid performance as the earnest and relatable Radha Krishna Mohan. His portrayal of a meticulous government officer struggling against systemic corruption resonates with middle-class audiences. The film effectively highlights the frustrations and mindset of ordinary individuals facing financial exploitation.
Kirti Kulhari, in her limited role, manages to leave an impression despite her character being underdeveloped. The premise itself, focusing on a small discrepancy that leads to the exposure of large-scale corruption, is intriguing and relatable.
Where It Falls Short
The promising concept is undermined by a lackluster screenplay and inconsistent tone. The narrative struggles to maintain its satirical edge, often resorting to random humor that disrupts the flow of the story. The confrontation between Madhavan’s character and Neil Nitin Mukesh’s Mickey Mehta lacks intensity, diminishing the impact of their rivalry.
Neil Nitin Mukesh’s portrayal of a corrupt CEO feels superficial, as the character comes off more like a social media influencer than a serious antagonist. The film fails to explore his motivations deeply, which could have added more weight to the story.
The Telugu dubbing feels rushed, with awkward phrasing that unintentionally adds humor to otherwise serious moments. Additionally, the music and editing fail to enhance the film's emotional or narrative depth.
Technical Aspects
Director Ashwni Dhir struggles to craft a compelling narrative, as the writing lacks depth and urgency. The cinematography is adequate but fails to elevate the film, while the editing makes the short runtime of under 90 minutes feel unnecessarily stretched.
Verdict
Hisaab Barabar is a missed opportunity that fails to deliver on its satirical thriller premise. While Madhavan's performance and the relatable premise are commendable, the weak screenplay, underwhelming character development, and lack of engaging moments make the film a dull experience. Even with a brief runtime, it drags and struggles to hold the audience's attention. Unless you’re a devoted Madhavan fan, this one is better skipped.
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