Certain
cases
remain
unsolved.
Period.
Years
later,
a
film-maker
dons
the
robe
of
a
detective
and
starts
investigating
the
truth,
digging
deep
into
files
and
newspapers.
The
West
has
often
produced
films
that
do
their
own
investigation.
Now
this
trend
seems
to
be
catching
up
in
India
as
well.
Last
year,
Neeraj
Pandey
presented
a
piece
of
fiction
in
A
WEDNESDAY;
a
case
that
never
came
out
of
the
police
headquarters.
This
week,
writer-director
Manish
Gupta
picks
up
a
startling,
true-to-life
story
of
a
serial
killer,
merges
fact
and
fiction
and
comes
up
with
his
take
on
what
must've
actually
transpired
almost
three
decades
ago.
The
serial
killings
that
hit
headlines
in
1983
are
depicted
with
utmost
realism,
but
Manish
Gupta
avoids
the
blood
and
gore
that
come
along
with
such
themes.
The
Stoneman
Murders
is
engaging,
more
so
towards
the
second
half,
although
there're
a
few
discrepancies
in
the
screenplay.
The
conclusion
to
the
tale
is
debatable,
but
at
the
same
time
you
can't
turn
a
blind
eye
to
the
fact
that
the
orthodox
and
superstitious
types
still
give
in
to
the
demands
of
the
tantriks
to
this
date.
Final
word?
The
Stoneman
Murders
is
a
refreshing
change
from
the
crass
and
vulgar
films
churned
out
in
the
name
of
middle-of-the-road
cinema.
Watch
it!
After
the
serial
killer,
aptly
dubbed
'Stoneman'
by
the
media,
has
just
claimed
his
fifth
victim,
suspended
sub-inspector
Sanjay
[Kay
Kay
Menon]
decides
to
investigate
the
case.
Sanjay
hopes
to
track
this
killer
down
and
thus,
possibly
find
an
entry
back
into
the
police
force.
With
the
secret
aid
of
his
patronizing
superior
Satam
[Vikram
Gokhale],
Sanjay
takes
up
the
arduous
process
of
tracking
this
killer
down.
But
the
official
investigator
of
the
case,
Inspector
Kedar
[Arbaaz
Khan],
clashes
incessantly
with
Sanjay
as
both
of
them,
separately,
delve
deeper
into
the
case.
Even
as
the
police
jostle
for
leads
and
clues,
the
'Stoneman'
stalks
the
streets
unabated,
claiming
victim
after
victim...
Although
the
serial
killings
occurred
almost
three
decades
ago,
not
once
do
you
feel
you're
watching
an
outdated
story
that
holds
little
significance
today.
The
execution
of
the
subject
is
interesting
and
a
few
sequences
are
remarkably
told.
Note
the
sequence
when
Kay
Kay
almost
nabs
the
murderer
in
the
subway
and
the
chase
that
ensues
on
a
railway
platform.
Even
the
identity
of
the
killer
comes
as
a
surprise.
But
the
film
has
its
share
of
hiccups.
To
start
with,
the
sequence
in
the
hospital
towards
the
end,
when
the
police
nab
the
'Stoneman',
looks
weird
because
minutes
before
this
sequence,
the
police
was
absolutely
sure
that
someone
else
had
committed
those
heinous
murders.
Also,
the
sequences
between
the
husband
and
wife
[Kay
Kay,
Rukhsaar]
are
plain
average.
And
what
was
the
need
for
that
bit
of
titillation,
showing
Rukhsar
backless
in
a
sequence?
As
for
the
end,
it's
debatable.
There're
bound
to
be
discussions.
Some
would
agree
with
the
conclusion,
some
wouldn't.
Manish
Gupta
does
a
commendable
job,
as
the
writer
as
also
the
director
of
the
enterprise.
The
background
score
is
appropriate.
Cinematography
is
consistent.
Since
the
film
has
been
filmed
mostly
in
the
nights,
the
lighting
is
perfect.
Kay
Kay
is
a
competent
actor,
no
two
opinions
on
that,
and
he
delivers
yet
another
sparkling
performance.
Arbaaz
is
getting
better
with
every
film.
Vikram
Gokhale
is
flawless
yet
again.
Rukhsaar
is
a
complete
natural.
Virendra
Saxena
is
first-rate.
On
the
whole,
The
Stoneman
Murders
is
an
engrossing
fare
that
would
appeal
more
to
the
multiplex
junta
of
big
centres.