Tisca Chopra’s much-talked-about directorial debut, Saali Mohabbat, is finally out on Zee5. Produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Manish Malhotra, the drama-thriller keeps the mystery alive until the very end. The movie seems inspired by Tisca’s 2016 short film, Chutney, and is equally packed with flavour. Starring Radhika Apte, Divyenndu Sharma, Anshumaan Pushkar, Anurag Kashyap, Sauraseni Maitra, and Sharad Saxena, the movie delicately unfolds its twists and turns. You might find it predictable after a point, but will that make you stop watching midway? Read this Saali Mohabbat movie review to find out whether it is worth sitting till the end or not.

Smita and her garden of secrets

The story begins as Kavita (Radhika Apte) starts narrating the tale of Smita (Radhika Apte) from Fursatgarh to her group of friends at a get-together. She quickly gathers everyone’s attention, along with her husband, who has his prying eyes on one of his female friends. Smita, who lives in a small town, is a simple housewife who only cares for and loves her home, her husband, and her plants. Her life revolves around these three, and that is why she doesn’t understand the real world. She keeps her plants close and safe with the help of her father’s gardener (Sharad Saxena), who, in turn, looks after her and her garden.

Her husband, Pankaj (Anshumaan Pushkar), is a big-time gambler who owes a lot of money to Gajendra bhaiyya (Anurag Kashyap), a local bookie. Pankaj keeps forcing Smita to sell off her late father’s home in Moradabad to pay off the loan. But she never agrees, leading to frequent conflicts and arguments.

Soon after, Smita’s cousin, Shalini (Sauraseni Maitra), comes to live with the couple as she gets a job in Fursatgarh. Charming, good-looking, and flirty, Pankaj falls in lust with Shalini, and the two start having an affair. But Smita eventually gets to know about it and cleverly plots her revenge, killing two birds with one stone.

A neatly wrapped thriller that keeps you on the edge

Shalini also has corrupt inspector Ratan Pandit (Divyenndu Sharma) wrapped around her little finger. Right after Pankaj and Shalini’s mysterious murder, Pandit gets involved in the case and blackmails Smita.

Saali Mohabbat explores themes of lust, betrayal and deceit and cleverly packs them in a thrilling tale that keeps you on the edge until the very end. Just when you think the story is becoming predictable, it lets you take the win, only to surprise you with another twist.

A crisp storyline and a solid cast keep you hooked

Tisca quickly comes to the point and doesn’t overstretch the movie. The tight and crisp tale lets you enjoy the solid storytelling that stays subtle and surprising. But that’s not the only appreciable thing about the movie. The cast of Saali Mohabbat is equally engaging and adds the much-needed depth and freshness to the story. Radhika Apte, as a demure housewife, uses her harmless and naive appearance to do the most dangerous and chilling acts. She stays true to her character and delivers a fine performance.

Divyenndu Sharma, as a corrupt officer, adds a flamboyant energy to the story and uses his clever tactics to get what he wants. Anshumaan Pushkar, as Pankaj Tiwari, plays the cheating husband and a drunk gambler with conviction and delivers effortlessly. Sharad Saxena, as the wise gardener, subtly steals the spotlight every time he comes onscreen. Along with the rest, Anurag Kashyap as Gajendra bhaiyya and Sauraseni Maitri as Shalini pack a punch in their respective roles.

Saali Mohabbat is now streaming on Zee5.

Can you watch Saali Mohabbat with your family? Saali Mohabbat features explicit language and sexual scenes, so it is best to avoid streaming it for a family movie night.

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