Starring:  Saiyami Kher, Roshan Mathew, Amruta Subhash, Rajshri Deshpande

Directed By: Anurag Kashyap

Anurag Kashyap is known for his social relevant themes inducing to his films. His previous films had many real life-based themes blend into a genre. His latest venture Choked on Netflix has demonetization has a backdrop.

The story is about bank cashier Sarita who discovers a stash of cash hidden in her kitchen sink. The premise is interesting but the director got carried away by his style and it harmed the story of the film.

Showing the past of Sarita how she choked on a singing reality show through magic-realism, tracking shots, and one-take laced with real-life incidents, all Anurag Kashyap troupes he is in the film but director delivers a weak screenplay. Though this might be his only film with a happy ending.

Kashyap displays an unusually restrained visual approach. In a lot of the film’s early bits, cinematographer Sylvester Fonseca’s camera seems to have been inspired by David Fincher’s sleek work in Panic Room — gliding across kitchen counters and asserting omnipotence over the action. 

Choked doesn’t have the slapdash appearance of a lot of Kashyap’s earlier work; instead, it feels positively meticulous in its structure. The importance of music, however, is just as pronounced here as it has ever been in any film that the director has made. Karsh Kale’s jazzy, percussion-driven score is sublime. 

Saiyami Kher gives an impactful performance her angst and frustration is justifiable through expressions and dialogue delivery. Roshan Mathew has given a decent performance though his characterization was weak. Still confused is he Malayali or Tamilian in the film. Amrita Subash hams a lot, didn't understand why she was behaving in a certain way. 

Anurag Kashyap could have made a fine thriller but gave mediocre stuff that you can skip.