Mirch

Vinay Shukla has done an excellent task of weaving separate stories together on a common theme of suspicion and lust. Although the theme of all the stories portrayed in the film are innate human desires, the portrayal is subtle and never relapses into anything similar to the traditional ribaldry that marks mainstream Bollywood films (aka dances with towel between legs or songs with incantations of 'jawani'). The cast is powerful, and lives up to its promise, although the second half of the movie loses its Woody-Allenesque feel and becomes much too dark, and even predictable. Overall, a good watch, and one of the few recent movies that tickle the humor, as well as get the audience thinking about the frailty of human relationships.