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It seems that worthy films or shows have not been inspired by Anuja Chauhan's best-selling books. Is it possible that Chauhan's use of Hinglish was lost throughout the screen adaptation process? Or is it that, when developed, her air-light schemes evaporate?
Past adaptations, such Dil Bekaraar (derived from Those Pricey Thakur Girls) and The Zoya Factor (based on Chauhan's debut novel of the same name), went phuss, as one of Chauhan's characters could say. Based on the page-turner Club You to Death from 2021, Murder Mubarak does a little better.
The Netflix adaptation of Homi Adajania's film, which Gazal Dhaliwal and Suprotim Sengupta adapted, largely adheres to Chauhan's witty interpretation of Agatha Christie. The affluent Royal Delhi Club, where Murder Mubarak is situated, has members who are so shallow they would drown in a tea spoon of water.
Both horror and joy are evoked by the murder of attractive Zumba instructor Leo (Aashim Gulati) in the club gym. Among the packed shirts and lustful aunties, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bhavani Singh (Pankaj Tripathi) and sub-inspector Padam (Priyank Tiwari) have an enviable selection of suspects.
These include his childhood sweetheart Bambi (Sara Ali Khan) and the ardent lawyer Akash (Vijay Varma). Sanjay Kapoor's haughty Rannvijay is the one who gives out Rs 20 tips. Dull sculptures made by Cookie (Dimple Kapadia), who drinks a lot. Yash, the drug-addled son of Tisca Chopra's furiously flitty Roshni, is played by Suhail Nayyar. Actor Shehnaz (Karisma Kapoor) is an A-lister in disguise who works in B films. Both Ganga (Tara Alisha Berry) and Guppie Ram (Brijendra Kala), the gardener, exhibit suspicious behavior.
The film's creators appropriately aim for easy targets while depicting the readily disregarded swish set. However, they are compelled to go beyond the surface findings of the Delhi class dimension that Chauhan skewers or investigate the murder mystery itself. The subtitles perfectly characterize Sachin-Jigar's background music, which is overly used in almost every scene and has a "whimsical" flavor.
A group of well-groomed actors show up for evaluation like trinkets at a private sale, but they vanish as soon as Adajania realizes there are still a few crimes unsolved. The well chosen performers, many of whom look perfectly at ease in their opulent surroundings, keep together a jumbled plot that veers between heartfelt jokes and close-up looks at relationships.
Adajania brings out the best and worst in every actor, from Dimple Kapadia to Tisca Chopra and Sanjay Kapoor to Karisma Kapoor. "Young people should die young," says Roshni. There are some beautiful moments between Sara Ali Khan and Vijay Verma, and there seems to be more to their shared passion.
Particularly Khan is in excellent form and is posing a significant threat to Pankaj Tripathi's ever-humorous, astute, and unflappable Bhavani. After a long absence from such a substantial character, Tripathi gives a feast of wan smiles and perceptive observations on the ridiculous habits of the poor little affluent.