Paatki (The Sinner) — starring Gaurav Paswala, Hiten Tejwani, Shraddha Dangar, and Suchita Trivedi, directed by Abhinav Deshmukh and produced by Divyesh Doshi, Aalap Kikani, Nrupal Patel, Raju Raysinghani, and Anand Khamar — is a refreshingly bold experiment in Gujarati cinema.
The story revolves around the relationship of a husband and wife, Manav Mehta and Nitya Mehta. Then there’s Hemlataben Dave, the ever-present neighbour who keeps popping in and out, constantly trying to mark her presence. Her frequent visits become a source of irritation for Nitya.
Manav’s work requires him to travel constantly. To deal with loneliness, and at Manav’s suggestion, Nitya joins a club. From here, Nitya’s life undergoes a complete makeover. She gets drawn into a more modern, high-society lifestyle. Gradually, the relationship dynamics reach a point that’s genuinely difficult to define or label.
Things take a shocking turn when one of Manav’s business trips gets cancelled and he returns home unexpectedly — only to find another man in his house. Even more disturbing, this stranger introduces himself as Manav Mehta. The real Manav is completely shaken.
He confronts Nitya, demanding an explanation. What follows is perhaps the most unsettling part. Without any guilt or remorse, Nitya holds Manav responsible for the circumstances. She tries to brush it off by saying the past is done and cannot be changed. Instead of blaming each other, she suggests they accept the situation and simply move on, letting things be as they are.
This response hits Manav like a punch to the gut. A fierce argument breaks out, and in a fit of uncontrollable rage, Manav ends up killing Nitya.
And this is where the real mystery begins.
Manav voluntarily confesses his crime to the police. But there’s a twist. During his confession, he narrates the entire sequence of events in detail — when, where, and how he committed the murder, and even where he kept the body. Based on this confession, the police conduct a thorough search of the house.
The investigation establishes only one fact: Nitya’s body is found. However, everything else described by Manav turns out to be false. All available evidence points toward Nitya’s death being accidental. Despite Manav repeatedly confessing to murder, Inspector Arjun (played by Hiten Tejwani) advises him not to falsely blame himself for an accidental death. The inspector believes Manav is in severe psychological distress after his wife’s sudden demise and is not mentally stable.
This leaves Manav utterly confused and disturbed. He keeps wondering — if he has clearly explained how and where he committed the murder, why isn’t anyone believing him? And more importantly, who removed the body and all the evidence related to the murder? Because if those things had been found where he claimed, his guilt would have been proven. Instead, the disappearance and relocation of all key evidence turns the case into an accidental death, while Manav is declared mentally unstable.
Inspector Arjun in dilemma- whether to close the case as an accidental death, not a murder.
And that’s where the mystery thickens.
- How much truth is there in Manav’s confession?
- How reliable are the statements of Hemlataben, the rickshaw driver, and the society’s security guard?
- What role does Hemlataben really play in this entire mystery?
- And what exactly was the conversation between Manav and Hemlataben after the inspector left — a conversation that leaves Manav completely shaken?
Layer by layer, the tangled mystery begins to unravel.
Paatki is a visual treat for lovers of mystery and suspense cinema.
However, the slow pacing of the first half may test some viewers’ patience. Post-interval, the film picks up speed and successfully delivers a satisfying experience, leaving suspense fans with a smile of having watched a well-crafted thriller.
+ and – of Paatki
Technically, the cinematography is striking and immersive. The music complements the narrative perfectly and keeps the sense of curiosity alive. Sharp dialogues add to the film’s impact, while the direction manages to hold the audience’s attention from start to finish.
The story touches emotional chords and constantly challenges the audience’s assumptions. With its unconventional narrative and fresh approach, Paatki stands apart from traditional Gujarati films.
Mystery-driven plots like this can bring a much-needed freshness to Gujarati cinema. In fact, the film’s direction carves out a new path altogether for thrillers in the regional space.
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