Ek Hasina Thi (2004)

Trigger warning for rats. Lots of rats. (I feel triggered just writing that word, so you can guess how traumatised I am). 

Man, I just wanna kiss Sriram Raghavan. On the forehead, because that's where his brain is. WHAT A BRAIN. How did he come up with this? I mean, I know this movie is an adaptation of many different things, including Sidney Sheldon's 1985 novel If Tomorrow Comes, which I read way back in school (for the others, check Wikipedia, I haven't got all day); but the way Sriram directs, the way he assembles everything, it's beyond me. Jai Sriram TO ONE MAN ONLY (sorry bhakts, but it is what it is *middle finger emoji*). 

Ek Hasina Thi was co-written by Sriram and Pooja Ladha Surti, which is probably why it is the feminist masterpiece that it is. Sarika Vartak (Urmila Matondkar) is just another ordinary working gal in Mumbai, living alone, dealing with creepy neighbours, consuming an unhealthy amount of Maggi. But all hell breaks loose when grade A asshole Karan Singh Rathod (Saif Ali Khan) appears in her life, leading to her eventual wrongful incarceration. She finds sisterhood in prison, escapes, and tracks Karan down. Sounds simple and overdone when I put it like that, but you just gotta trust the genius of Sriram and Urmila. I cannot believe that I have been sleeping on this haseena for decades now- she is so terrifyingly good that while watching it, I commented to a friend that if I ever see her somewhere, I'll probably start screaming. Like I've said before, Indian cinema rests on the shoulders of its actresses, and it's time they start getting their due. 

Also, this is one of those few movies that do justice to the beauty of Delhi. I absolutely loved the song sequence that takes place in the city, and found myself missing it even more. Can't wait to be out and about in my favourite hellhole again *cries in mc-bc* (if you know, you know).

In conclusion, I am pleased to announce that Urmila Matondkar just might be the latest entry in the list of middle-aged actresses I'm obsessed with #noragrets. Kinda sad though, since there is only one other Sriram Raghavan movie left for me to watch, till the time he makes a new one of course. God, no wonder Tabu was dying to work with him, and Ayushmann Khurana lowkey stalked him to get cast in Andhadhun  (2018)- this man is a certified genius. Inshallah, we shall be blessed with a new movie soon. *duayein hands emoji* 

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