Entertainment

The Buckingham Murders Review: Kareena Kapoor Shines in Hansal Mehta’s Gripping Tale of Grief and Grit

The lament of a mother has, over the years, become one-dimensional in Indian cinema-she is oft-represented as an eternally sobbing, white-attired figure.

But in The Buckingham Murders, Kareena Kapoor Khan elevates this grief into a positive driving force in Jasmeet Bhamra rather than a setback.

Detective Jasmeet Bhamra moves to Buckinghamshire after her son’s tragic death in a shooting and lands with the case, which immediately opens her old emotional wounds.

The murder of a young Sikh boy with a Muslim boy hooked on drugs as the prime suspect sets the scene for this tense murder mystery. But with any great whodunit, the case offers more than it lets on.

Setting it in a quiet and sleepy little town that hides darker secrets, The Buckingham Murders deals with high concepts like communal violence, discrimination, and homophobia.

As Jasmeet starts investigating, the ostensibly peaceful, serene exterior of the town begins to tear apart and exposes terrors beneath.

There are several aspects to this movie, and the direction of Hansal Mehta has shone through in the manner in which he has drawn emotions as a tool of motivation towards criminal behavior.

At times, the film forgets about the investigation of murder at its core and heeds the immigrant emotions instead. The film really works as a slow-burn police procedural; Kareena Kapoor Khan gives an outstanding performance.

Meanwhile, Kapoor brings life to the film with her performance of unresolved grief and quiet defiance. Subtle pain and determination provide an experience through which viewers stay glued, particularly when she experiences her hurt through her father’s eyes in this movie.

The transformation is so remarkable-from inside and outside-that to hold viewers’ attention to that extent may be termed fabulously adorable.

The ensemble cast is just as great: Ranveer Brar as Daljeet Kohli, a man weighed down by personal loss, brings in layers; Ash Tandon and Kapil Redekar also play their characters convincingly.

Of the female cast, Prabhleen Sandhu as Preeti Kohli steals the thunder; her performance lends depth to the theme of maternal grief.

Behind the camera is the genius of the director, Hansal Mehta. Most of Jasmeet’s attire in the film consists of dark shades-a reflection of her sorrow.

Bright color is only offered through the blood-soaked yellow T-shirt of her son, which is a simile of her hope and happiness that she holds onto. Jasmeet’s final transition into brighter attire is indicative of her acceptance of her past.

Mehta and editor Amitesh Mukherjee create a great deal of the film’s dire atmosphere visually. The Director of Photography, Emma Dalesman, works magic in capturing the naturalistic environment, thus making the environment feel like an extension of the characters themselves.

Sound within the film connects through general themes of being Indian in a foreign land with great selection in music by Karan Kulkarni.

The Buckingham Murders, while totally predictable, might be a decent watch in itself for its powerhouse performances and visual storytelling.

The murder mystery, while not quite high on tension moments, the strength of the film lies in how the plot gets across with its seamless portrayal of grief and isolation.