There are two distinct types of cop films. The first features a protagonist like Dirty Harry, who is trigger-happy, delivers sharp one-liners, and takes down criminals with a carefree attitude. The second type centers on a character who is brooding, intellectually driven, and grapples with personal demons while solving complex cases. Kareena Kapoor embodies the latter in 'The Buckingham Murders,' directed by Hansal Mehta. In both types of films, the journey of the flawed hero, the challenges they face, and their eventual resolution are often predictable. This film follows the same pattern.
Contrary to its title, the story has nothing to do with the British Royal family. Instead, it revolves around murders in Buckinghamshire, a county in South East England. A Sikh boy is found dead, and a Muslim teen becomes the immediate suspect in a town already fraught with communal tensions. Enter British Asian policewoman Jaspreet Bhamra (Kareena Kapoor), who delves deep into the case despite her own grief over the loss of her child in a senseless murder caused by drug abuse. Her path is far from smooth, as she must contend with a cynical colleague, Hardy (Ash Tandon), who harbors past secrets, disgruntled community members, and dysfunctional families. In this town, where calm exteriors often hide deep turmoil, everyone has a motive, with religious identity and the resulting mistrust playing a central role.
'The Buckingham Murders' is not a typical police procedural with a relentless cop methodically conducting her investigation. The script tackles numerous themes—personal loss, grief, disharmony, drugs, misogyny, the British Asian experience in the UK's underbelly, and youth crime. While this seems promising for serious cinema enthusiasts who appreciate raw, unfiltered storytelling, the film fails to engage due to its dreary narrative. To be fair, the plot by Aseem Arrroa, Raghav Raj Kakker, and Kashyap Kapoor has all the ingredients for a gripping watch. Films with serious themes do not need to shout their messages; silence can often convey more than flashy dialogues and action scenes. The issue lies in the screenplay, which fails to evoke any emotional response. The audience does not connect with Jas' grief or the dead child's parents' (Ranveer Brar and Prabhleen Sandhu) anguish. Subplots, including an extramarital affair, feel contrived. When the true murderer's identity is revealed, it lacks the shock it should have.
Watching 'The Buckingham Murders' brought to mind another film that dealt with similar themes of bereavement, crime, and redemption through solving a complex case. The underrated 2012 thriller 'Talaash,' starring Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Rani Mukerji, and directed by Reema Kagti, beautifully integrated disparate themes, offering a layered exploration of human emotions while keeping the viewer engaged throughout. This is not a comparison, but one can't help feeling that 'The Buckingham Murders' had similar potential but failed to capitalize on it. The film oscillates between a sociological drama and a crime thriller, ultimately becoming neither. This is unfortunate, given that the director is Hansal Mehta, who has successfully balanced entertainment, realism, and social messaging in films like 'Shahid' and web series such as 'Scam 92' and 'Scoop'.
On the positive side, the cinematography effectively captures the blue, grey atmosphere of the small British town. It presents a stark contrast to the glossy, colorful, and happy depictions of NRI life often seen in films by directors like Karan Johar. Instead, it is bleak, melancholic, and rather hopeless—much like real life in these areas. The casting is noteworthy. For the first time in a long while, we have a diverse cast with black and white supporting characters, each delivering a strong performance. The filmmakers wisely avoid having everyone speak in Hindi, despite the story being set outside India, which is often the case with Bollywood films. The dialogues are mostly in English, with each character speaking in their own accent, which might alienate a portion of the non-English-speaking audience but adds authenticity to the narrative. Ash Tandon aptly portrays a tormented cop who brings his personal grievances and inherent biases into his investigation. The surprise is Ranveer Brar, the charming celebrity chef turned actor, who effectively portrays the complexity of his character as an angry parent and misogynist.
At the heart of it all is Kareena Kapoor, who shoulders the film with her stunning performance. It's refreshing to see her shed her glamour for a role that demands emotional depth and heft. Kapoor delivers a fine performance, showcasing both the grief of a heartbroken mother, occasionally erupting in anger, and the steely determination of an investigator committed to uncovering the truth in an attempt to find closure for herself. The actor deserved a better, more entertaining film.
