Cast: Kiara Advani, Akanksha Ranjan Kapoor, Gurfateh Pirzada

Director: Ruchi Narain

Rating: ***1/2

Guilty, the first production venture of Dharmatic, the digital arm of Karan Johar's Dharma Productions is based on the #metoo movement. This Netflix original is almost a masterpiece of the writer and director Ruchi Narain.

The movie begins off with a bunch of "homies" hanging out together and discussing the MeToo Movement being used by opportunistic women to target the powerful and the privileged for their advantage. However, gradually the film starts to habituate how everything is crooked and mucked up, from the system to the society all on the fritz.

The film is woven around Nanki (Kiara Advani) a student of a prestigious college of Delhi and also a lyricist of the famous band of the college 'Doobydoo'. Nanki is desperately looking for the truth after her college heartthrob boyfriend VJ aka Vijay Pratap Singh is accused of rape by a less popular small-town student Tanu (Akanksha Ranjan Kapoor). Everyone in the college is of the opinion that Vijay is innocent and it is Tanu who is at fault here and what follows in the lives of these three, forms the crux of Guilty.

The film is gripping from the very beginning leaving you guessing most of time who is actually guilty here. It is a thought-provoking thriller-drama that keeps your eyes glued to th screen directed methodically and smoothly by Ruchi Narain who has done a remarkably good job here.

The screenplay keeps moving back and forth which raises the curiosity of the viewer and the switch in the perspectives is also well depicted and directed. The film leaves little scope for confusion thanks to the fine direction and screenplay that makes up for an edge of the seat experience.

Kiara Advani has donned the skin of Nanki marvelously. Her portrayal of the character is convincingly good be it her expressions or her appearance, the actress seems to have worked it all together impressively as she shines through the film.

Gurfateh Singh Pirzada as VJ puts up an acceptable performance and Akanksha Ranjan Kapoor as Tanu gives her best too. Taher Shabbir as VJ's upright lawyer does a commendable job and the supporting cast of the film including Dalip Tahil, Kunal Vijaykar, and Manu Rishi Chaddha also deliver praiseworthy performances in their respective characters

The music of the Guilty is average and could have been much better as the story mostly revolves around a band and its members so some great sound was expected here.

Overall, guilty is an intensely gripping and thrilling ride with a message that every one of us is guilty in some or the other way. It is a disturbingly good film with exemplary cinematography and craftsmanship which is going to get the people talking for sure. A must watch!