Judgemental Hai Kya
Year: 2019
Director: Prakash Kovelamudi
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Jimmy Shergill

Changing its title from ‘Mental Hai Kya’ to ‘Judgemental Hai Kya’ under pressure from Indian Psychologists, Kangana Ranaut’s much-hyped film is out to be judged. What’s the judgment?

What’s the plot?

A schizophrenic lady, bruised by traumatic childhood events, keeps seeing red in her mysterious neighbour’s activities. Is he plotting something nasty? Or is she just obsessed with him? What’s the reality? Is it all in the lady’s warped brain or is there something really sinister going on?

What’s hot?

• An intriguing plotline with mystery and dark humor.
• Interesting first half.
• Good performances by the lead pair- Kangana Ranaut (who specializes in playing psychologically flawed characters!) and Rajkummar Rao.

What’s not?

• Indulgent, snail-paced storytelling.
• Too abstract at times.
• Boring second half.
• Half-baked side-characters.

Verdict

Judgmental Hai Kya, despite a solid cast and an interesting premise, leaves much to be desired. It could have been an edgy, psychological thriller if the editing was crisper, the direction more conventional and the storytelling had focused on developing the intrigue. But instead the movie tries to be artsy; spends loads of time just to show how wacky the leading lady is; and finally ends up as an unconvincing, pretentious, wasteful exercise.

Rating

2 stars