A remake of the acclaimed 2016 Kannada film, U-Turn (2023) brings together a cast of talented actors under the direction of Arif Khan. The film enters the landscape of Indian supernatural thrillers with a promising premise, but does it manage to stay the course? Let’s delve deeper into this winding narrative and dissect its various elements.
U-Turn (2023) – Cast
Alaya F as Radhika Bakshi
Priyanshu Painyuli as Arjun Sinha
Aashim Gulati as Aditya
Manu Rishi as Indarjeet Singh Dhillon
Rajesh Sharma as HSP Saxena
U-Turn (2023) – Story and Screenplay
U-Turn’s story, originally penned by Pawan Kumar, cleverly intertwines a message about road safety with a thrilling murder mystery. The premise, focusing on the aftermath of motorists who recklessly move divider blocks to make illegal U-turns, is intriguing and taps into a real-world issue.
The film follows journalist intern Radhika Bakshi, portrayed by Alaya F, who finds herself embroiled in a series of mysterious deaths while investigating this story. This initial set-up promises a suspenseful ride and the narrative progresses well in the first half, keeping viewers engaged with its unique blend of social message and supernatural thrills.
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Unfortunately, the screenplay by Parvez Sheikh and Radhika Anand takes a significant dip in the second half. The writing becomes increasingly unconvincing, with developments that seem to defy logic. The climax, though unpredictable, is baffling and appears to lack coherence, leaving the audience in a state of bewilderment rather than satisfaction. The film’s initial promise is somewhat eclipsed by these narrative inconsistencies, marking a significant drawback in an otherwise engaging premise.
U-Turn (2023) – Direction and Editing
Arif Khan’s direction shines in certain sequences, particularly in the execution of high-stakes moments like Radhika’s police interrogation and the drama at the lawyer’s house. He is able to maintain a decent pace throughout the film, ensuring that it doesn’t outstay its welcome. However, the second half could have been handled with more finesse. Radhika’s spooky encounters come across as clichéd and the narrative seems to drag during these segments.
Editing, handled by Rohit Ajit Makwana, is commendable overall. The film’s pacing is largely well-maintained, except for the mid-second-half slump. A tighter grip on the narrative during this part could have significantly enhanced the viewing experience.
U-Turn – Music and Sound Design
The music for U-Turn has been composed by the talented trio of Jeet Gannguli, Arko Pravo Mukherjee, and Sundeep Gosswami, lending a varied tonal palette to the film’s soundtrack. The lyrics, penned by Kumaar, Rashmi Virag, Sundeep Gosswami, and Kanchhan Srivas, offer a blend of soulful and thought-provoking verses.
The soundtrack comprises six tracks, each carefully crafted to evoke a certain mood. The film opens with “Sajna”, a heartfelt melody composed by Jeet Gannguli and sung by Raj Barman, setting the tone for the emotional journey the film undertakes. The track “Raasta”, composed by Arko Pravo Mukherjee and sung by Asit Tripathi, injects a sense of contemplation and introspection into the narrative.
“Sab Adhura”, with lyrics and music by Sundeep Gosswami & Kanchhan Srivas, adds another layer of depth to the film’s soundscape, with Gosswami himself lending his voice to the track. This is followed by a female version of “Sajna”, offering a fresh take on the opening track. The soundtrack wraps up with two variations of “Raasta”, providing different interpretations of the same melody.
However, despite the efforts put into the soundtrack, the songs seem to exist somewhat independently of the film’s narrative. Although they are beautifully composed and performed, they don’t leave a strong, lasting impression in the context of the film.
Yet, where the film’s songs may falter, the background score, composed by Ketan Sodha, picks up the slack. The score serves as an effective tool to amplify the tension and suspense throughout the film. It complements the narrative well, adding an extra layer of thrill to the overall cinematic experience. Despite the soundtrack’s potential shortcomings, the background score stands as a highlight in U-Turn’s sonic design.
U-Turn – Cinematography
Anubhav Bansal’s cinematography plays a crucial role in establishing the film’s moody, atmospheric aesthetic. The use of lighting and camera angles enhances the narrative’s sense of suspense, and the flyover – a key location in the film – is captured well in all its eeriness.
U-Turn – Performances
The performances in U-Turn are one of its strongest aspects. Alaya F, in the lead role of Radhika Bakshi, delivers a confident and striking performance. Her growth as an actor is evident, and she carries the film firmly on her shoulders.
Priyanshu Painyuli as Inspector Arjun Sinha is dependable, providing a solid counterpoint to Alaya’s Radhika.
Supporting actors, such as Ashim Gulati in the role of Aditya Iyer and Manurishi Chadha as Inderjeet Singh Dhillon, also shine in their respective roles. Rajesh Sharma lends able support, and Shreed Sharma lends able support, and Shreedhar Dubey’s memorable turn as Surinder Kumar Yadav, the cop, adds another layer to the film’s ensemble cast. The performances are uniformly committed, and even in moments where the script falters, the actors manage to hold the audience’s attention.
Action and Choreography
Although U-Turn is not an action-heavy film, the few action sequences it does feature are deftly handled by Moses Fernandes. These scenes serve to enhance the thrill and suspense of the narrative, without overshadowing the plot’s central focus. The choreography of these scenes is realistic, contributing to the film’s overall gritty and grounded aesthetic.
Costume Design and Art Direction
The costumes, designed by Sanam Ratansi for Alaya F and Bhumi Shah for the rest of the cast, are fitting and add to the realism of the characters. Alaya F’s costumes, in particular, are appealing and suit her journalist character well.
Somanwita Bhattacharya and Protiqe Mojoomdar’s production design is commendable for its authenticity. The settings, especially the NTPC Flyover which is a central character in itself, are designed realistically, enhancing the film’s atmosphere.
Conclusion
U-Turn sets out with a unique and engaging premise, and for the most part, manages to sustain interest. The performances, led by an increasingly confident Alaya F, are a treat to watch, and the film’s technical aspects – including its atmospheric cinematography and thrilling background score – enhance the viewing experience.
However, the film ultimately stumbles due to its inconsistent screenplay, particularly in the second half. The narrative loses its way, resulting in a climax that, while unpredictable, lacks the necessary logical coherence to satisfy. Despite its commendable efforts to blend social commentary with supernatural thrills, the execution of these elements is inconsistent, which weighs down the film’s overall impact.
In conclusion, U-Turn is a mixed bag. While it does offer some thrilling moments and strong performances, its narrative inconsistencies prevent it from achieving its full potential. For its commendable performances and initial promise, the film earns a rating of 2.5 out of 5. While it could be an interesting watch for fans of the genre and those interested in the film’s unique premise, others might find themselves disappointed by the film’s inability to maintain its initial momentum.
Why U-Turn (2023) deserve 2.5 rating?
Story and Screenplay: The film starts with a promising and unique premise, offering an intriguing blend of supernatural elements and social commentary. However, inconsistencies and a lack of logical coherence in the screenplay, particularly in the second half and the climax, prevent the narrative from reaching its full potential.
Direction and Editing: While director Arif Khan handles some scenes deftly, there’s a noticeable drop in the film’s pacing and narrative focus in the second half. The editing could have been tighter, especially in the film’s latter part, to maintain the suspense and keep the audience engaged.
Performances: Alaya F delivers a striking and committed performance, effectively carrying the film on her shoulders. The supporting cast also performs well, but the overall impact is weighed down by the script’s shortcomings.
Music and Sound Design: The film’s music, despite being composed by talented musicians, doesn’t leave a lasting impact, and seems detached from the narrative. However, the background score by Ketan Sodha stands out, effectively enhancing the film’s suspenseful tone.
Technical Aspects: On the technical front, the film delivers well, with atmospheric cinematography and realistic production design. However, these aspects alone aren’t sufficient to elevate the film beyond its narrative limitations.
Thus, while U-Turn has several commendable elements, including strong performances and an initially intriguing premise, its narrative inconsistencies and underwhelming climax result in a mixed viewing experience, justifying the moderate rating of 2.5 out of 5. It’s a film that shows potential but falls short of fully realizing it.
