Spoilers ahead…
You could see this stylish, irreverent, noir-like film as the bastard child of Thiagarajan Kumararaja and Harmesh Malhotra, who made ‘Nagina’. Snakes play an important role here…
The colour red is everywhere in Vasan Bala’s Monica, O My Darling. It’s in the neon lights in a factory. It’s in the paint, in the colour of a scooter. It’s in the super-sultry Huma Qureshi’s seductive costumes. (She’s the Monica of the title.) It’s in the blood in this story littered with murdered people. And it’s in the anger, where people “see red” – like this person in the opening scene. This opening bit is about a love story gone wrong, and the result is red. A few months later, a robotics specialist named Jayant (Rajkummar Rao) is named the “future” of a tech-company called Unicorn. Jayant was born poor, and he rose to the top on the basis of his genius. This does not sit well with nepo-kid Nishikant (Sikandar Kher), who’s the boss’ son and has been passed over. Apparently, Unicorn is totally unlike Bollywood. Talented outsiders are taken in and provided the facilities to make it all the way to the top. Now, Karan Johar is seeing red.
You can read the rest of the review here:
https://www.galatta.com/hindi/movie/review/monica-o-my-darling/
And you can watch the video review here:
Copyright ©2022 GALATTA.
Baradwaj Rangan 
ravenus1
November 11, 2022
I tried hard to like MKDNH, but around halfway I just gave up. For me it was a jumble of references that never coalesced into a movie.
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Enna koduka sir pera
November 11, 2022
‘But yes, for Tamil-film lovers, this is a noir-update of a Ramanarayanan movie, and if that doesn’t make you want to watch it, I don’t know what will.’
Who is Ramanarayanan? 😬
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Rocky
November 11, 2022
Kashyap and his gang……
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
MKDNH was one of the very few movies I could not complete.
I even finished watching Farz aur Kanoon .
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Rocky
November 11, 2022
BR, are you planning to review Uunchai ?
It is getting superb reviews from all. It may be a sleeper hit.
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Anu Warrier
November 11, 2022
I loved MKDNH. It was so tongue in cheek and the sly references were great. My husband and I were playing ‘Spot the reference’ each time. 🙂 Looking forward to Monica, O My Darling. The star cast is stellar anyway.
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Anu Warrier
November 11, 2022
@Enigma, my last comment went pouf! No need for apologies. We elocutioners and debaters pride ourselves on our diction, so the ‘wannabe Brit’ comment struck too close to home. 😀
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rsylviana
November 11, 2022
@Enna koduka sir pera – I had the same question and I still don’t know which movie was BR hinting at. Looks like he is going to ban quite a few of us after this.
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hari prasad
November 11, 2022
He’s a guy who’s notorious for directing Amman movies in Tamil..
He’s basically Tamil Cinema’s Kodi Ramakrishna and Vittalacharya
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Kay
November 12, 2022
Loved Monica! I was laughing out loud in most of the scenes, especially the one where the two people try to kill each other (trying to avoid spoilers). I think the last movie I enjoyed so much was Soodhu kavvum. No wonder Radhika described the movie as bonkers.
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Rocky
November 12, 2022
Uunchai is getting universal Prem, however as expected Anna Vetticonda found Brahmin Names problematic and the Real Reptile found lack of goat/ mutton/ non veg a big issue.
Yeh Jeevan hai, iss Jeevan ka yahee hai, yahee hai, yaheee hai – rang roop.
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Rahul
November 12, 2022
I liked the film but not a lot. In this kind of vibe film, I would prefer more madcap characters, like in MKDNH. Here, it seems like in a T20 match. Rajkumar Rao is playing with a straight bat. I considered the idea that even in T20, you need an anchor so that everyone can go crazy around him, but even that anchor has to be aware that it is a T20 game. Here, Raj Kumar Rao did not seem to be in on the joke. By the way, in MKDNH all characters were madcap.
Compared to this, I liked Blackmail more, which BR did not like much. This is just an observation, not a grievance or something. I know it’s just a matter of preference.
An afterthought. If you’re going to cast 90s icon Shiva Rindani, why hide him behind a bad wig and a moth-eaten moustache? Allow him to shine in his baldness.
Another stray thought. What did the My Cousin Vinny “joke” mean? It’s not funny just because you have a cousin named Vinny.
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jimmy
November 12, 2022
I liked the inclusion of ‘Captain Attack’ Shiva Rindani, but it was kind of deflating to see him underused. Would’ve preferred more screen time for him than the retro score (which even though was pretty snazzy kept drawing too much attention to itself and took me out of the proceedings at times). Still a very enjoyable fun watch.
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Pirhaksar
November 12, 2022
Sorry what’s MKDNH? I liked Monica.. was an easy watch although Radhikas role/character felt very forced to me.
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Madan
November 12, 2022
pirahaksar: I had the same doubt. It is the director’s previous film Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.
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pirhaksar
November 12, 2022
Thanks Madan. I did see that one, although I don’t recall the exact plot etc…but remember enjoying it very much -:)
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JPhil
November 13, 2022
Netflix is raining Higashino authored works clearly,what with ‘Suspect X’ also being made by Sujay Ghosh for NF.
The original telefilm brutus no shinzo ( on you tube ) based on the novel is quite poor quality and has no subtitles , but reportedly makes a comment on society/elitism etc which luckily this film doesn’t try too hard to do. It appears just to want to be it’s own self .This film had so many cheeky references to other films , I wasn’t sure what to make of some( Like My Cousin Vinny as@Rahul mentioned ). Or the end credits nod to VB’s last movie’s baddie ,Gulshan Deviah- was he in it ?
A very distinct flavour of Adhadhun. Don’t know if it is homage ,or that Yogesh Chandekar (who co-wrote Andhadhun) also worked on this .
Lots to enjoy , batty , fun film . Somewhat liked the chutzpah of ‘ Mard ko ..’ better but Vasan Bala clearly is one to watch for .
And while I m at it , glad it’s a set of people who have the courage to work on a new screenplay and not remake some Mallu movie,and also glad the majority of performers are non nepo kids ! It shows in the performances .
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KP
November 13, 2022
I think it’s a Muktha Srinivasan directed movie not Ramanarayan?
-KP
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Rahul
November 13, 2022
“the majority of performers are non nepo kids”
True, though Sikander Kher is a nepo kid and he also plays one in the film. The girl who plays Raj Kumar Rao’s sister is Aamir Khan’s niece.
Here is a thread on twitter documenting the references in the film.
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JPhil
November 13, 2022
@Rahul, thanks for sharing that. Lots of homage there. And yes, the qualifying word was ‘majority’ 🙂 Zayn is Mansoor ‘QSQT’ Khan’s daughter and Akansha is from a film family, and their work is great.
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Honest Raj
November 13, 2022
Is it Kanne Radha – the RN film?
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S K
November 13, 2022
I don’t understand these positive reviews for this film. Just go rewatch Johnny Gaddaar. Does everything that MOMD is going for but better.
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Empty Musings
November 14, 2022
Slight spoiler warning. Quite liked the film, but would have liked it more had the film not confused poison and venom. You don’t die from ingesting venom, unless you have internal injuries. Granted, Monica might have had some form of internal injury from the struggle earlier, but the killer had no way of knowing it.
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KayKay
November 14, 2022
“It is the director’s previous film Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota.”
Thanks for the clarification, Madan bro!
Pirhaksar, am with you. As someone who watches a fraction of the Indian movies discussed here, the wanton abbreviations drive me up the wall, like there’s a word count limitation on the comment box.
Type out the full titles, you lazy bums! 🙂
And don’t try to convince me MKDNH is as instantly recognizable as KKHH, K3G or KANK 🙂
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Bala
November 14, 2022
Yeah, cant understand the positive reviews for this movie.
The robot doesn’t seem to be capable of killing anyone outside the cage. So why will anyone go inside the cage. its not like they are entering to fix anything. they just go inside just for expressing confusion. What was that robot meant to do anyway. if it is so easy to take manual control and edit the audit log to show the entry, then in deed the “security officer” needs to be fired.
why does an accounts guy think he is close to getting the biggest ever share in board history..
Why does monica threaten 3 men at the same time, or did she threaten 4 at the same time? it will only create more trouble for her.
and why is radhika acting soo cool.. what did she figure out .
and the “scent” scene reminded me of surya vamsam where sarathkumar figures out the villain by “marikozhundhu scent” smell.
why is there a “my cousin vinnie” reference..
i dont know if i am missing something because of language on why this is getting good reviews.
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Faroo
November 15, 2022
The Karan Johar reference in the review was a scream!
This was a fun watch – although not quite as clever as Johnny Gaddar or Andhadun, and not quite as madcap as Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota. The early “Thanks to Sriram Raghavan” got my expectations up.
There were early “tells” – like the one where Monica gives someone medication. Low point for me was the “explaining” one of the characters does. Minor quibbles though.
The retro soundtrack, the dialogues and dark humour the were more than enough to make an enjoyable Hindi movie in a while.
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Enigma
November 15, 2022
They should have probably gone in for a darker treatment for this material. Positioning this as a pure thriller, instead of dark comedy, would have been more effective.
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bart
November 16, 2022
I liked the movie and the KJ reference in your review 🙂
Lost steam as the movie went on to the last quarter but finished before it turned cold.
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Madan
November 20, 2022
Rocky : I just came back from Uunchai and really liked it. I guess some critics just found the idea that Barjatya made such an authentic film (in terms of the emotions) too much to digest. Not quite Charlie777, but certainly something Bollywood could take a leaf out of. I would say whether intentionally or not, this is one of the few films that captures the post covid moment where some of the biggest hits have generally tries to help the audience escape that reality.
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hari
November 20, 2022
I loved when Radhika hums this song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=075Z7tJC_-I&ab_channel=ThinkMusicIndia
and you understand the reference at the end.
What a movie. Vasan Bala vaazhthukkal
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hari
November 20, 2022
Why Bhaja Govindam and the Vittal Abhang? What is the reference?
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Anu Warrier
November 20, 2022
Watched the film yesterday and loved it. Yes, the ending was a bit off in its tonality and I wish the fight in the tech lab was shorter but loved the video gaming effect of the start of it.
And how great was Huma Qureshi? Such lovely micro expressions! Loved Rajkumar Rao as well as the rest of the ensemble cast. Also loved that Radhika Apte got a part that is usually reserved for male cops – the dry humour, the sarcasm, the no-nonsense approach.
It was an enjoyable watch.
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Guru
November 21, 2022
Is there no CCTV anywhere in this movie ? Not where the robot kills, not in any part of the office when there are two people in the office when a person is killed, not in the stairs of the apartment where Monica gets killed.
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Rocky
November 22, 2022
Thanks Madan for your feedback on Uunchai. I hope to watch it soon.
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Rocky
November 29, 2022
Was feeling a little under the weather during the entire thanks giving week.
Watched the following-
1.Monica My Darling- a movie -of the Khapshyap gang, by the gang and for the gang. However much much better than the horrible MKDNH. Rao is now typecast as the bumbling Buffon . The BGM is vey good. But the plot has so many holes, if this was a movie by Kjo or Abbas Mastan, the critics would have had a field day in pointing them out.
Godfather- a solid masala film. Chranjeevi , Satya, and Murli are in top form. The scene where Satya tells the jailer to open the door and the expressions on the faces of the characters that is what masala is all about. Ending seemed a bit hurried but it was a great watch. Brilliant .
3.Chup- time pass experimental film. Seemed like a one line idea stretched for two hours .
Sita Ramam- Overacting kee dukaan specially Ram’s boss kee acting. so so many loopholes, and convenience ka screenplay that it seemd it was written by an intern. very long , boring and Ajhel movie.
5.Tanaav- A must must watch series , maza aa gaya , binge watched it .
6.Khakee- Bihar Chapter – OKish , not as good as Tanaav . I felt since it is based on a real life character , a lot of things may have been airbrushed about the Amit Lodha character.
7.Nirmal Pathak kee Ghar Wapsi- very endearing series. senti kar diya, By God kee kasam.
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Rocky
November 29, 2022
P.S.- The following movies, I have had no urge to watch yet.
1.Liger
2.LSC
3.Ek Villain
4.Shamshera
5.Dobara
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rsylviana
November 30, 2022
Soo not the right forum but encouraged by Rocky’s comments here I go… I’m currently recovering from a minor non-life threatening surgery which unfortunately still hurts like the b-word and makes me behave like a pill to be around , so can someone recommend some easygoing trashy-fun films to watch so that I retain a semblance of my sanity ?!
I’m already well into my 3rd Christmas themed Hallmark-style movies currently streaming in Netflix so something apart from those would be better.
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Rocky
November 30, 2022
rsylviana- Hope you feel better.
Memory starring Liam Nesson and Wrath of Man starring Jason Statham are good time pass masala movies on Prime video .
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Madan
November 30, 2022
Rocky: Hope you’re better now.
rsylvania: Take care.
Have you seen I Care A Lot (Netflix)? While the theme is pretty dark, it is made in a very fun, camp sort of way and enjoyable as long as you don’t expect too much. Rosamund Pike and Peter Dinklage in the cast, need I say more?
Also, bit older, but Baby Driver is a fun action-heist film, a kind of lesser version of the more entertaining Italian Job.
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lurker
November 30, 2022
@rsylviana – Knives Out if you haven’t checked it out. If you’re into web series, ‘Only Murders in the Building’. They are both light-hearted murder mysteries.
Also ‘The Office’, whether you’ve already watched it or not.
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lurker
November 30, 2022
@Rocky – fwiw, I don’t Dobara belongs in the same list as Liger. Neither does LSC.
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Spandana
November 30, 2022
@Lurker: Co-incidentally started watching ‘Only Murders in the Building’ yesterday and found the leads and their chemistry utterly charming even if the mystery plot has some holes. Highly recommended comfort watch.
‘Knives Out’ is another movie that I adore to pieces, but I can not re-watch it at all due to one of the leads’ sickness. Heck, I could barely finish reading GWaugh’s latest write in (sorry) due to the subject matter.
MCU’s ‘Hawkeye’ and ‘Ms. Marvel’ are also high on the feel good factor even if they are light on plot and super hero aspects. Both leads are lovely. Hawkeye is set during the Holiday season and Ms. Marvel is around a desi wedding, so both are festive.
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musical venkyy
December 2, 2022
Some Korean dramas. Vincenzo, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Hometown Cha Cha Cha.
Carrie, Get Out, Deep, The Mist, 1922, Kim’s Corner.
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Kaushik Bhattacharya
January 3, 2023
I just caught up on this yesterday and it was huge fun. As BR said in his review, I don’t know if this style/vibe will work again but both MKDNH and this film were hugely enjoyable. The plotting was nowhere near as clever or dense as Sriram Raghavan or Thiagarajan Kumararaja, but any film that can reference Captain Zattack and Nagina on the hand and My Cousin Vinny and Soodhu Kavvum on the other, and do both organically is worth its running time 🙂
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ravenus1
April 3, 2023
Saw it during the weekend and these are my impressions:
Monica O My Darling doesn’t entirely escape Vasan Bala’s penchant for over-writing and referencing – a certain scene involving Rajkummar Rao going after an incriminating document is almost ruined by the insertion of a song, about as subtle and smooth as an un-lubed dildo up one’s ass.
But this is fortunately rare enough that one can enjoy the film for what it is, a solid, if not particularly water-tight, romp that owes more than a smidgen of debt to Shriram Raghavan’s crime capers (dutifully referenced). Huma Qureshi (❤ ❤ ❤) and Sikander Kher totally owned their parts.
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