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Merry Christmas backdrop

Merry Christmas

12 January 2024Hindi2h 23m

What critics are saying

Merry Christmas has been received positively by critics, who largely praise Sriram Raghavan's skilled direction and his ability to craft an engaging slow-burn thriller with satisfying twists.

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A Christmas Eve encounter between two enigmatic strangers sparks a poignant connection - but a dark turn of events threatens to expose their murky past.

Critic Consensus

Merry Christmas has been received positively by critics, who largely praise Sriram Raghavan's skilled direction and his ability to craft an engaging slow-burn thriller with satisfying twists. The lead performances of Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi are widely commended, with critics noting their effective on-screen chemistry and Kaif's strong dramatic turn. Some critics note the film is lighter and quieter in tone compared to Raghavan's previous work Andhadhun, with at least one reviewer feeling it leaves 'plenty of soot behind' as the slow burn unravels. Overall, the consensus positions it as a well-crafted, entertaining thriller that rewards patience.

10 reviews · 4 positive · 1 mixed

Praised: Raghavan's direction and writingCriticised: Slower, lighter tone than Andhadhun

AI-generated summary of 10 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (10)

Updated
Saibal ChatterjeeTop Critic· NDTV
7.0
"Merry Christmas bewitches even when it baffles. Katrina Kaif conveys confusion and vulnerability cloaked in occasional flashes of steely determination, and is helped a great deal by the contrast that Vijay Sethupathi represents."
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Shubhra GuptaTop Critic· Indian Express
5.5
"Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi make for an unlikely pair, but they make it work, and she again proves that she can be an actor underneath all that pancake and bump-and-grind."
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Umesh Punwani· KoiMoi
8.0
"Sriram Raghavan surprises once again & nothing less than this was anyway expected from him after Badlapur & Andhadhun. The way Raghavan has treated this as an 'entertaining film' rather than being all about thrills makes this stand out from the crowd. If you're able to keep Andhadhun aside for this one & watch this for the movie it is, you'll have more fun."
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Bollywood Hungama News Network· Bollywood Hungama
7.0
"MERRY CHRISTMAS is well made and laced with a fine performance."
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The Times Of India· Times Of India
7.0
"Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif work well together in a film that plays out in a quieter, lighter fashion"
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IANS· Outlook
Not rated
"If you want to watch a thriller with a twist, go for it! Director Sriram Raghavan's mastery of several twists and turns comes to the fore as we see characters and a dead body making the happy ambience turn ominous."
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Angel Rani· Deccan Herald
Not rated
"'Merry Christmas' may not be as dark as 'Andhadhun', one of Raghavan's finest works. But then, the carols here are not about care and compassion alone. You see, sometimes violence is better than sacrifice."
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Monika Rawal Kukreja· Hindustan Times
Not rated
"Writer-director Sriram Raghavan, five years since his last directorial Andhadhun, once again displays a spectacular example of what brilliant writing looks like. The film goes far and beyond, entering unchartered territories and immerses you in a world of deception, death and darkness."
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Anuj Kumar· The Hindu
Not rated
"Sriram Raghavan mounts yet another delectable tale of a charming woman accosted by a stranger. The slow-burn gradually combusts our attention leaving plenty of soot behind."
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Meeta Kabra· Wogma
Not rated
"I was on the edge of my seat for all but the first minute of the film. Everything in the film comes together towards that end—keeping you on the edge. Will not ask for more from a thriller!"
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Cast & Crew

Cast

Details

Release Date
12 January 2024
Runtime
2h 23m
Language
Hindi

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