A key problem with Rajkummar Rao films of late has been that the quality of the screenplay never quite matches up to the quality of Rajkummar's performance in the film. I have always felt that Rajkummar pays more attention to how well his role has been written, the main storyline of the film has never really concerned him that much, which often leads to disappointment because he is such a good actor but hasn't made it big yet because his movies rarely receive appreciation from the audience. Thankfully, "Monica, O My Darling" does not fall under that category, as this time Rajkummar decided to go for a movie that has such a good screenplay, that even his performance couldn't match up to its quality.

Vasan Bala gave us a pleasant surprise with Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota (2018), a movie that was genuinely different and with this film he has proven that it wasn't a fluke, he truly has the potential to do wonders in the Indian Film Industry. Vasan Bala deserves appreciation for touching a genre that rarely interests Indian filmmakers, dark comedy. Suspense thrillers and murder mysteries have completely disappeared from the Indian movie scenario, thanks to the absence of Abbas - Mastan and rise in popularity of television shows like Crime Patrol; so to see a movie like this felt like experiencing a breath of fresh air and meeting a long lost friend.

The first twist did not surprise me as it was quite evident, but this movie has so many twists up it's sleeve that quite a few of them are guaranteed to catch you off guard. The runtime of the film is just over two hours, but you don't feel it as the screenplay remains exciting and entertaining throughout the film. This is not the kind of film where the protagonists are the good guys or heroic figures with the potential to inspire a generation; this movie lets you know right at the beginning that a moral compass does not exist in the life of these characters. We are used to watching movies with heroes and villains, but this film only has grey characters; a bold and admirable move because of the rarity and unpredictability associated with it.

This movie has a strong ensemble cast where almost every single actor and actress has performed brilliantly. Rajkummar Rao was as usual fantastic in his role of Jayant, but it would be extremely unfair to call his performance as the best one of the film. Every time I see Huma Qureshi in a film, I can't help but think that the film industry could not fully utilize her potential as an actress. It may come across as harsh, but it is the truth that overweight actresses always find it difficult to get work. Huma completely owned the role of Monica and nailed every single scene perfectly. Sukant Goel is such an underrated actor and I really hope he gets more opportunities, because his YouTube videos indicate that he is capable of doing much more than the kind of roles he is being offered. Bagavathi Perumal was fantastic as Arvind; he may have had a small supporting role but just by watching his expressions one could tell that he is an exceptional talent. Despite being the son of two prolific actors, Sikander Kher has never really been considered a good actor, but he has had a complete transformation in the last few years, and now he ensures that you remember his performance after finishing the film. Radhika Apte to this film is what Gulshan Devaiah was to ; it's an absolute knockout of a performance. Every single scene of hers put a smile on my face.

Achint Thakkar has made a fabulous debut in movies with this film. The music of the film is similar to the kind of songs heard in the 1970's and 80's, but every single one of them is an original. 'Yeh Ek Zindagi' feels like an Asha Bhosle song and 'Farsh Pe Khade' will make you feel as if you are watching a Farooq Shaikh film from the 80's. Music has been used very creatively in the film and it adds a unique flavour to every single scene.

Since it's a fictional film made purely for entertainment, the viewer must be prepared to suspend their disbelief in a few scenes and if you manage to do that, this movie will take you on a delightful journey filled with unexpected surprises. This one's not to be missed!