Review: Masoom (2022)
Directed by Mihir Desai, Masoom is a slow-burn psychological thriller that subtly brings forth the concept of Indian fatherhood - to nurture at the cost of love, or to control at the cost of trust.
Set in a small village in rural Punjab, where reputation precedes moral judgment, the show sets an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue right from the start. The background music spells the misty hues of Punjab. A beautiful poem by Ginny Diwan accompanies several visuals throughout the film, and the performances by Boman Irani and Samara Tijori, are what make the show a compelling watch.
Masoom is a tale of a women’s quest to uncover the dark pasts of her family. It is also about a complex father-daughter relationship, where a daughter pursues justice for her deceased mother, fighting her father to reveal some of the dark secrets that can impair her relationship with her family. Writer Satyam Tripathy has brought out the dysfunctional family aspect in very nuanced characterization. For instance, the majority of the confrontations in the family happen at a dining table - the ultimate showcase of the power imbalance in Indian households.
This reminded me of a beautiful montage sequence at the dining table in Orson Welle’s Citizen Kane. Welles has used the dining table to beautifully construct the decay in the marriage between two of his primary characters. You can watch that scene here.
Masoom also marks the web debut of actor Boman Irani, who portrays his character of Dr. Balraj Kapoor, an intense father. He is a typically entitled male who harnesses guilt and sympathy. His incredible screen bond with his daughter Sana (played by Samara Tijori), brings out the flawed physicality in his character. Most of the show is told from Sana’s perspective - narratively and stylistically. She is convinced that, while she was away, her father’s toxicity went unchecked.
Another thing about a show like Masoom is the way scenes are constructed within spaces. Each character is doing some action - eating, driving, working - while they are talking. Through this, the show is also able to bring out subtle integrities of its characters, most prominently, the perfect harmony between moving on and letting go through Sana’s character.
At its heart, the show brings out the grey part of black and white family relationships. It also shows how families can form bonds of trauma, secrets, and lies. The show uses a slow burn style, which after a point tends to be slightly one-sided. However, what truly makes the show different is the approach to the mystery. The approach is told in a circular fashion, which is not as intense as other mysteries such as Haseen Dilrubba or Raat Akeli Hai. Family equations and skirmishes come to the fore, which form a perfect setting for the psychological thriller.
You can watch Masoom on Disney + Hotstar.