Dec. 18, 2020|India|138 Min.|PG
Genre: Romance;South;Indian;Thriller
Description: “Dirty Hari 2020,” directed by MS Raju, is an unconventional film that oscillates between intrigue and disappointment. It serves as a cautionary tale but leaves viewers questioning its execution. While the clever use of literary devices like Chekhov’s gun is noteworthy, the film’s flawed casting and treatment detract from its potential. Erotic thrillers are a challenging genre, and while Raju nearly loses control, he manages to salvage the story in the final moments.
The plot follows Hari (Shravan Reddy), a chess player who relocates to Hyderabad with dreams of success. His character is marked by greed—for money, women, and status. He obsessively pursues two women: his wife Vasudha (Ruhani Sharma), a kind-hearted painter desperate for motherhood, and Jasmine (Simrat Kaur), a bold aspiring actress. Hari’s manipulative actions, particularly his affair with Jasmine, lead to chaos.
The film spends considerable time establishing Hari’s insatiable desires, often portrayed through a male gaze that makes the narrative tiresome. The dialogue, delivered with little emotion, includes lines like, “She loves someone, she got involved with someone else,” or “I crave a full meal followed by dessert.” Such moments make the viewing experience perplexing and unengaging.
Despite its flaws, *Dirty Hari* remains a curious attempt at exploring ambition and its consequences in the framework of an erotic thriller.
Cast director: M. S. Raju
Cast actor: Ruhani Sharma, Shravan Reddy, Simrat Kaur, Surekha Vani, Darbha Appaji Ambarisha, Ajay, Mahesh Achanta, Keshav Deepak
Original name: Dirty Hari