Archana 31 Not Out

But there are places in this film where Akhil adds a few neat flourishes, like showing how the environment interacts with Archana when negative news hits her. You see how every sound affects her. You see her imagining alternate scenarios -- another trademark of Akhil -- that effectively diffuses the overwhelming anxiety caused by that last phone call. One recurring visual trick involves the electricity going off during crucial moments. She also perceives some 'signs' from her neighbourhood to be good or bad when she is preparing for one of the most important events of her life. But these 'extraordinary' influences look awkward in other places. It seems as though the film is in two minds about what it wants to be, or it's probably trying to be two things simultaneously. The overall energy left me feeling confused.