Crazxy Movie Review: A Thrilling Ride with Sohum Shah

 Crazxy Movie Review: Sohum Shah's Gripping Solo Act Engrosses Audiences

Crazxy, a new thriller movie that was released on February 28, 2025, is an adrenaline-fueled 90-minute experience that has audiences glued to their seats. Directed by debutant Girish Kohli, the film features Sohum Shah, best known for his performances in Tumbbad. The movie is about a surgeon who is running against time to rescue his kidnapped daughter while he is facing his own professional and personal crisis. The speciality of this film is that Shah is present in nearly every frame while other actors have a voice contribution only. The movie combines suspenseful car chases, sentimental family drama, and unforeseen turns to produce a welcome addition to Bollywood's thriller genre, garnering appreciation for its crisp direction and strong performance in spite of some plot frailty.

The Story Behind Crazxy

The film is about Abhimanyu Sood, a surgeon portrayed by Sohum Shah. He begins the movie driving to settle with a family whose teenage son had died in surgery because of his supposed negligence1. Abhimanyu is carrying a bag containing five crore rupees in black money to settle the family and avoid jail3. His plans are thwarted abruptly when he receives a call informing him that his 16-year-old daughter Vedica has been kidnapped1. The abductor desires the same five crore rupees that he intended to utilize for his settlement3. This leaves Abhimanyu in a dilemma - he has to decide between saving himself from prison or saving his daughter.

The narrative gets more heart-wrenching when we find out that Vedica suffers from Down Syndrome and was left behind by Abhimanyu years ago1. She resides with his former wife, which adds further emotional significance to his plight3. Initially, Abhimanyu believes that the call is a prank, but once he views a video of his unconscious and tied-up daughter, he knows it's real3. Then follows a countdown as Abhimanyu attempts to rescue his daughter while driving his vehicle. The majority of the movie takes place within this automobile, giving one the sensation of being trapped in addition to the protagonist.

The story goes through a few surprising twists and turns that keep the audience guessing what will happen next1. Director Girish Kohli has made a non-predictable story, which is necessary for any good thriller1. The film maintains its pace throughout most of its length, although some audiences may become bored after the kidnapper's identity and motivations are disclosed1. But the thrilling car chases and Sohum's excellent acting keep individuals interested until the very end.

Standout Performances

Sohum Shah gives a fantastic performance as Abhimanyu Sood, shouldering the whole film on his own. He is in nearly every scene and convincingly portrays a complicated character who is "a good surgeon, a terrible father and a questionable human being". His performance exhibits numerous emotions as he transforms from a cold father to a man confronting his past errors and attempting to rectify them. Shah's skill at engaging the audience throughout the whole 90 minutes demonstrates how good he is.

What is unique about the Crazxy film is that supporting actors never even appear on screen but make their contribution by voice alone3. Shilpa Shukla is Abhimanyu's girlfriend, Tinnu Anand is the abductor, Nimisha Sajayan is his ex-girlfriend, and Piyush Mishra his boss. Although we don't see them, these actors contribute significantly to the narrative. This innovative casting style makes the movie distinctly different from others.

One of the most impressive scenes demonstrates Shah's versatility as an actor – Abhimanyu performs a surgery via video call, negotiates with the kidnapper, and gets a flat tire changed all simultaneously3. The scene perfectly demonstrates the character's shifting emotions, from helplessness to confidence, within a few seconds3. Such demanding scenes prove Shah's commitment to acting and make the movie more than a regular thriller.

Direction and Technical Aspects

Debut director Girish Kohli demonstrates immense skill in keeping the story going without extraneous distractions. The tight 90-minute runtime of the movie is utilized effectively to build and sustain tension throughout. Kohli must be commended for adopting an adventurous storytelling method, presenting something new in Bollywood where remakes and formula storytelling have become all too prevalent1. This dedication to originality needs to be commended, particularly from a newcomer to film-making.

The technicalities of Crazxy serve its narrative purposes well. The crisp editing by Sanyukta Kaza and Rythem Lath provides a tight, no-nonsense handling that keeps the narrative moving fast. The cinematography is decent for a mid-budget film, covering the cramped interior of the car without making it visually dull1. The background score adds to the tense mood of the film, although it becomes too loud in some sections.

The music in the movie offers a welcome respite from the tension that is built up continuously. Numbers such as "Goli Maar Bheje Mein" and "Abhimanyu" are memorable and catchy. Kishore Kumar's "Abhimanyu Chakravuyh Mein Phas Gaya Hai" is used effectively to bring out the predicament of the lead character. Vishal Bhardwaj's music offers relief from the intense mood of the movie without breaking the flow overall. These music selections demonstrate careful incorporation of soundtrack features into the thriller genre.

The Strong Points of Crazxy

Crazxy works largely due to Sohum Shah's strong screen presence and good performance. The unpredictable plot, though not flawless, manages to keep the audience interested for much of its length. The film's different style of telling a story distinguishes it from run-of-the-mill Bollywood thrillers, providing a welcome respite to audiences fed up with similar formulas and remakes of South Indian movies1. The choice to have most of the action take place within a car establishes a sense of confinement that amplifies the thriller elements of the story.

The film should be applauded for bringing to the forefront Down Syndrome as well, a condition that does not normally make it to the limelight of mainstream Indian films. The portrayal, though not central, brings depth to the emotional content of the story and raises awareness sensitively. The producers have taken a courageous step in backing this offbeat piece of cinema, indicating a desire to experiment with alternative stories instead of going down the tried-and-tested commercial routes.

Technically, the movie demonstrates efficiency in its delivery. The 90-minute duration avoids making the story feel stretched or dull, maintaining interest throughout. The camera work effectively utilizes minimal settings, while background music and songs contribute to the viewing experience without distracting from it. These all combine to make a unified thriller that achieves most of what it intends to do.

The Weak Points of Crazxy

While strong, Crazxy is not perfect and has some flaws which impact the general viewing experience. The movie could lose some pace following the kidnapper's motive and identity revelation, maybe dampening interest in the subsequent parts. Even though the conclusion has the same "crazy" idea as the rest of the movie, it could fall short for some viewers, with some feeling that the conclusion does not live up to the promise in the preceding scenes. This imbalance in narrative tension is a lost chance for an otherwise compelling thriller.

The social commentary added to the film, although well-meaning, at times comes across as artificially added instead of organically woven into the narrative. This makes for a slightly disjointed experience where thematic aspects do not always merge with the thriller aspects1. Some may wonder if innovative, out-of-the-box stories are always fun, especially when novelty is given precedence over narrative sense.

A small but significant problem is Sohum Shah's dialogue - some dialogue is unclear, which sometimes affects comprehension of key plot points. This technical point, although not destroying the movie, does detract somewhat from the viewing experience for some viewers3. Such nuances are important in a movie that depends so much on dialogue to move its plot and construct character motives.

Final Thoughts on Crazxy

Crazxy is a courageous foray in the Hindi thriller genre, along the lines of Hollywood movies such as "Buried," "All Is Lost," "Locke," and "127 Hours" that deal with a solitary character in unusual situations. The movie thrives thanks to Sohum Shah's brilliant acting and director Girish Kohli's tight grip on the narrative. For Shah's fans or for those who want something more different than usual in a Bollywood film, Crazxy provides an engaging 90-minute experience that never wastes time.

The movie demonstrates how a good script and a robust central performance can overcome budget constraints and traditional storytelling expectations. Both Sohum Shah and Girish Kohli are to be commended for attempting something new to Hindi cinema, and for taking risks which many veteran filmmakers may shun. Not flawless, Crazxy deserves praise for its ambition and achievement, as it demonstrates that original ideas do find a space in modern Indian cinema.

For cinemagoers considering whether to see Crazxy on the big screen or wait for its inevitable streaming debut, the choice is ultimately up to individual taste1. The film's visceral atmosphere and Shah's authoritative performance, though, make a compelling argument for seeing it in cinemas. With its gripping plot, unvarnished emotional scenes, and suspenseful rhythm, Crazxy deserves a respectable three out of five stars for its valiant effort at bringing something new to the thriller genre