Watching Qala is wading through lush landscapes, however with the disappointment of a sudden nightfall
Exploring the streams between similar mountains of ambition and skill, with what’s to conform to expectations and what’s to break down as reality-Tripti Dimri and Babil’s Qala is now available on Netflix. It’s a psychological suspense thriller that appeals to individuals who enjoy realistic tales.
However, the subpar writing does veil the rhythmic confusion created by oars cutting across the once-clear water. The grasp on the misty inner world of Qala is thus lost somewhere.
A dark and unsettling story about remorse and jealousy, Tripti Dimri and Babil’s Qala had the potential to set in concrete the mark of its unique concept. But in the end, it turns out to be nothing more than a one-time watch.
The central character of Qala (Tripti Dimri) is a well-known singer who is greatly loved for having a “mesmerizing” voice.
She, however, is unable to breathe heaves of satisfaction in this celebrity status, owing to her past which haunts her constantly. As the plot progresses, we also come across aspects of her tense relationship with her mother (Swastika Mukherjee).
The core plot is really interesting and has a touch of realistic inclinations presented through clever cinematic expressions. However, with a theme as fascinating, there emerges a need for a fascinating execution as well. And this is where Qala lacks.
The protagonist of Qala is first introduced to us in a scene where she speaks to the media after accepting a prestigious honour. Even though the scene is rather ordinary, it does an excellent job of conveying the sense that something is terribly wrong in her life.
Even though the scenes involving Tripti and Swastika are a treat to the eye, they would have been impactful if the screenplay had been more mellow and focused more on “showing” than “telling”. Sadly, the same is apparent in Tripti’s scenes with Babil.
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Some of the subplots also seem a little weak. For instance, consider the track featuring Amit Sial. It had a lot of potential, but after everything is said and done, it kind of becomes an afterthought. The pacing was also an issue that stood out.
Coming to the performances,
Qala mainly focuses on the main character with little diversion. Tripti Dimri looks beautiful in her role. The film gives her plenty of opportunities to showcase her talents, and she rises to the occasion. She does quite a good job of portraying her character’s vulnerabilities.
Babil tries to maintain his performance as authentic as possible. Swastika Mukherjee’s stoic performance adds depth to her character. Amit Sial is underused in a role that is very different from his roles in Maharani and Jamtara. The rest of the performers serve their purpose.
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The music maintains our attention, but they aren’t all that catchy. Qala’s cinematography (Siddharth Diwan) is one of the film’s highlights. The film has a particularly rich appearance and feels to it.
To summarize, Qala is an ambitious and sincere attempt at storytelling that needed a better screenplay and execution.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5
LitGleam rating
