“Hum tum ek kamre mein band ho… aur chaabi kho jaaye.” Romantic, right? Not quite! This week’s release, ‘Trapped’, is about an unpleasant, rather frightening situation of being stuck inside one’s own house.
Rajkummar Rao’s character, Shaurya, is a quiet, reticent, bespectacled guy, who develops a crush on a female colleague. He finally gathers the courage to confess his feelings for her and is about to embark on his new life when something unusual happens – he’s stuck inside his own damn room!
Vikramaditya Motwane, who made the hugely popular ‘Udaan’ and ‘Lootera’ (that people are still divided over), now confines his cinematic vision to a tiny 1 BHK apartment.
All the action happens here, with Rajkummar occupying every frame. But why couldn’t he just call for help? He does. In fact, Shaurya does everything (both the obvious and the unimaginable) in order to get out!
The tension builds slowly as both, Shaurya and the viewers realise the enormity of the situation. The camera movements become more frenzied, and the dizzying urgency of the shots invoke a sense of claustrophobia among the viewers. And this is the film’s greatest strength as it forces the audience to sit up and be fully invested in the life of the protagonist.
It’s a good thing Trapped’ doesn’t have an interval.
While the storyline of ‘Trapped’ isn’t exceptional, the film rides on the able shoulders of Rajkummar Rao, who brings us a compelling performance that keeps us on the edge of our seats till the very end.
Stuck in that house for days (the exact duration isn’t specified) and pushed to a frightening brink, he finds a way to escape the clutches of the pre-conceived notions and fears that have held him back for so long. There is freedom even in that entrapment.
Is Shauyra more free than the rest of us, who may still be mentally enslaved and cocooned? This is the question viewers will be asking themselves once the film ends.
While the ending may come across as a wee bit underwhelming (for some), this is a film that will stay with you for a long time.
Think about it. What will you do if you get stuck in your room? Personally, I’ve felt more trapped while watching some cringeworthy Bollywood clichés.
‘Trapped’ deserves 4 QUINTS OUT OF 5. Go for it if you can stomach something truly hatke!
Video Editor: Hitesh Singh
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