Lord Curzon Ki Haveli review: Rasika Duggal's film is full of suspense and dark comedy, read the review:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Love, Sex, and Dhokha fame actor Anshuman Jha has made his directorial debut with the film Lord Curzon's Haveli. Through the story of one night, he attempts to highlight issues such as illegal immigration, racial discrimination, marital discord, patriarchy, and the obsession of Indian immigrants with marrying Indian women. These themes are certainly interesting, but they don't delve into depth.

The story is set on the outskirts of London. Ira (Rasika Duggal) goes to the house of her actress friend Sanya (Zoha Rehman) with her husband, Dr. Basukinath (Paresh Pahuja). Sanya is accompanied by her boyfriend, Rohit (Arjun Mathur). Rohan spikes Ira's juice with alcohol. Rohan jokes with Basuki about a box in the room, claiming it contains the body of a British man. Basuki takes the joke seriously, hearing a knocking sound from the box. Eventually, he manages to open it, but his method seems strange. Upon opening, they find no body. Then, they all play a game together. From there, layers of their lives begin to unravel. During this time, alcohol has already taken its toll on Ira, revealing her suppressed desires and resentments. But what's the secret behind Rohan's joke? The story revolves around how their lives change overnight.

After being screened at several film festivals, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli has been released in theaters. The title mentions Lord Curzon. Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India during British rule, was an autocratic ruler and a staunch racist. The film uses this name symbolically to portray the British mentality towards Indians. However, writer Vikas Mishra takes considerable time to establish the story, testing your patience.

After the interval, layers of the characters' lives and inner turmoil are revealed. Along with the mystery surrounding Lord Curzon's body, the writer also addresses the identity issues that immigrants grapple with and the insecurities they experience. Written as a closed-door mystery, the film fails to fully grasp the underlying anger of its central characters. Basuki takes pride in being British, yet desires a homely, traditional Indian wife from Punjab. The reasons remain unclear. The entire film is shot in a single house, so the cinematography doesn't add much. The music also doesn't play a significant role in deepening the mystery.

However, the film's highlight is Rasika Duggal. Her comic timing, especially her one-liners, is impeccable. Her dialogues, such as the "Indian Idol audition" for prospective brides or the hypocrisy of drinking, are witty. Paresh Pahuja captures Dr. Basuki's quirky behavior and eccentricity perfectly, but his character is poorly written. Arjun Mathur's performance is also noteworthy. He conveys Rohan's anger and struggle with restraint and poise. Zoha is charming in her role. Tanmay Dhanania impresses in a brief role as a Bangladeshi pizza delivery boy.

Overall, Lord Curzon's mansion, while attractive from the outside, fails to live up to that charm once inside. It feels emotionally empty.