This is a little gem of a movie, with pitch perfect casting, excellent pacing and very competent direction.

The movie takes you to a world of languid indolence as an extended family vacations at a once grand but now somewhat derelict Anglo-Indian hamlet. There are little stories within, mostly pivoting around Kalki as the coquette - glimpses of illicit lust; and unrequited longing.

But in the middle of this happy dysfunction, there are jarring moments that tighten the little knot of dread-filled anticipation at the bottom of your heart. The title promised you a death and the opening scene reinforced that promise. You don't know who and you don't know why, you only know it's coming.

So this was movie that was recommend by most of the "best in decade " lists, and I had to watch it. First thoughts: melonchaly, second these tragedies can be avoided , if only we are more sensitive to others especially the ones that are vunreable. Shutu is the guy we all know and its so easy to believe him, Vikrant Massey is unbelievabley good , he brings the vunrebility and a sense of helplessness. This movie is a great depiction of someone going through depression, he's able to bring the guilt he feels for failing his mom and exams and how it leads to him digging deeper in his sadness, perhaps he wanted to go to that vacation to freshen up his mind and take a break. Instead the behavior of his family was to make him retreat even further within himself and towards self-loathing and shame. The scene where he comes back from the ditch and sees everyone having a great time, makes seeting impact, it shows he's neither wanted nor loved and despensible. Kalki's character further pushes him, since for her he is just a distraction and a way to even score with her ex-boyfriend who she still feels for. Each character fails Shutu and the hurt and anguish keeps gaining momentum. The last straw is when the little girl who is his only companion and whom he loves also spurns him. The movie has the mood, the time and place act like a glue and keeps you in that space and very slowly, in fact creepingly you start seeing the journey of Shutu to his last action. Konkana has kept her lens slow and focused because she wants you to see the pattern and slow march towards self-destruction and meaninglessness. Its not impulsive but gradual and a week is what it takes to push someone to the precipice.

I'm saddened but at the same time sensitive to inintended consequences of our harmless actions can sometimes bring, perhaps thats the message, also the garb of masuline ans macho as the only yardstick to judge a man on-why a sensitive man cannot be also be desirable? And lastly, tragedies can be avoided if only we are empathetic towards others and especially vunreable ones who need more love.

Femme fatale and a sensitive young man. The story of my life.

In a resort town in 1970s India a sensitive young man, Shutu, is recovering from a series of traumas. He runs into the wrong family and the wrong woman. Even more unfortunate for him, spirits from the past inhabit people and take care of unfinished business.

India isn't all Bollywood. There is much more to the country and to its film industry. This film dares to think outside the box. I love how it weaves nature, color, song, spirits, eclectic people, and foreign myths into a compelling story. It is based on a true short story by Mukul Sharma.