Merry Christmas Movie Review: A film with wicked plot, surprising twists and engaging performances of the cast

Merry Christmas Storyline: Merry Christmas narrates the story of a fateful night on Christmas Eve when Albert (Vijay Sethupathi) has come back to Mumbai from Dubai, and realises that his mother is no more. Taking a stroll in the city of Bombay (now Mumbai), he goes to treat himself at a lavish restaurant. There, his path crosses Maria's(Katrina), who has been stood up by her date because she brought her daughter along. The evening takes an unexpected and dark turn that could land them in trouble.

Review: In Merry Christmas Sriram Raghavan has once again delivered a riveting suspense thriller with unexpected twists and turns. The film opens with Albert (Vijay Sethupathi) returning home to find his mother has passed away. The narrative takes a mysterious turn when he meets an attractive woman, Maria (Katrina Kaif), and the story evolves into a whodunnit, introducing the character Ronnie (Sanjay Kapoor) and adding chaos to the plot.

The film is quintessentially Raghavanesque and neo-noir, maintaining suspense and surprises throughout. While the first half have relatively less happening, the second half picks up the pace and keeps the audience engaged. The Vijay Sethupathi's outstanding performance as Albert, delivering funny lines with a poker face and adding depth to the character. Katrina Kaif's performance is deemed serviceable, with a notable scene where she celebrates Christmas Eve with Albert. Sanjay Kapoor, Tinu Anand, and Vinay Pathak are praised for playing their parts well.

The soundtrack by Pritam, especially songs like "Raat Akeli Thi" and "Nazar Teri Toofan," along with Daniel B George's background score, are commended for enhancing the film's moody atmosphere. The cinematography by Madhu Neelkandan is lauded for recreating Bombay with attention to detail, capturing the era when railway stations had weighing scales with whirring little discs.

The dialogues are highlighted, with a particular quote standing out where Maria questions the authenticity of photos showing a happy couple despite troubles in their relationship. Overall, the film is recommended for its wicked plot, surprising twists, and the engaging performances of the cast, promising the audience a merry time.