Sriram Raghavan has developed a cult following over the years with movies like Johnny Gaddar, Badlapur, and Andhadhun. His films are not the usual box office blockbusters but they eventually turn out to be very successful films and spark a lot of discussion on and off social media about the movies’ content.
His last film Andhadhun was also remade in Telugu as Maestro with Nithiin and Tamannaaah.
His latest movie, Merry Christmas, starring Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif was released this week. The film opened on a slow note as expected but couldn’t grow much on Saturday. The film’s fate hinges on Sunday’s performance as it aims for a broader audience and, crucially, Monday’s outcome, requiring collections similar to or near the Friday figures for a sustained run. The first-weekend projections hover around 9-10 crores.
Coming to the movie, “Merry Christmas” is a film that gradually immerses viewers in its world, saving surprises mainly for the interval and the earlier segments of the second half. Sriram Raghavan remains faithful to his style, prioritizing mood-building and the love story, only unraveling the twists and turns later on. However, the film’s slow pace and open ending will not impress the audience much.
The performances of Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, combined with dark comedy, an engaging love story, and thrilling moments in the second half, salvage “Merry Christmas” as a decent watch.
The film would have fared much better at the box office if there had been no competition from Hanu Man. The target audience of Merry Christmas is the elite multiplex audience but even they are opting to go for a devotional punch in the form of Hanu Man.
The usual online discussion about the plot points in a Sriram Raghavan is also missing this time because Hanu Man fever has gripped the nation and Merry Christmas becomes another victim of it.
