Common Sense Media Review
By Ishmeet Nagpal
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent scenes in over-the-top entertaining Indian thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Haseen Dillruba
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
HASEEN DILLRUBA finds Rani (Taapsee Pannu) and Rishu (Vikrant Massey) in an arranged marriage. When the police suspect Rani of killing Rishu, lurid and violent details about their complicated marriage emerge.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of raunchy crime thrillers will find plenty to enjoy in this 2021 Indian hit. Haseen Dillruba packs the dramatic and lust-filled feel of Hindi pulp thrillers into a "Bollywood small town" setting. There's a man unsure about his masculinity, a woman who defies gender norms, and parents who can't help being funny. The first half of the movie has great comedic breaks, with the nitty-gritty goriness of the genre coming only toward the end. This is when Kanika Dhillon's script brings the juicy twists and details that border on voyeuristic. Pannu and Massey execute their awkward chemistry with precision, while Harshvardhan Rane is believable as the Delhi playboy who turns to revenge porn as a blackmail strategy when provoked. Just like the thrilling novels it is inspired from, Haseen Dillruba entertains without really asking the audience to invest in or root for any character. The viewer's role is that of someone peeking in through a slit in the door, knowing that they are not supposed to look, but it is so intriguing that they can't look away either. This is a fun watch, miles ahead of its 2024 sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how sex and relationships were portrayed in Haseen Dillruba. Were they affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Discuss the violence and threats in the movie. Was it shocking? Thrilling? How were the scenes involving domestic and custodial violence depicted? Did you find it problematic? Why, or why not? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Talk about the character Rani. How was she portrayed? Did this portrayal surprise you? If so, why? Was she similar to any other female characters you've seen?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 2, 2021
- Cast : Taapsee Pannu , Vikrant Massey , Harshvardhan Rane
- Director : Vinil Mathew
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Thriller
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Run time : 135 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2024
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