Manoj Bajpayee is under-used, and could have been a real asset to the movie. The presence of other compelling actors does save the movie from becoming a dreadful train wreck. Adarsh Gourav plays a compelling son of a murdered man. A little weak for a thriller, Rukh is still a watchable movie. However, we don’t recommend spending money at a multiplex.

It’s not easy to be courageous enough to challenge the genre-bound filmmaking, especially for a first timer. Director Atanu Mukherjee’s Rukh challenges existing norms and our sensibilities as we get confused in our attempt to fit this suspense drama in a bracket. It might look like a typical whodunit in the beginning, but you realise within minutes that Rukh is more about fighting the inner demons than those outside. Rukh has been planned like a book. Somebody is taking us along on a journey. We are with them, but we don’t know these characters, and we also know that we all have secrets. Actually, we believe what we want to believe. The actor in Adarsh Gourav shows range and sensibilities much beyond his age. The perennially disturbed youngster tries to establish a connection with his father. He is vulnerable yet ready to fight and his character grows with the story. Manoj Bajpayee is every bit the businessman who wants to realise his dream in a liberal economy. It’s really difficult to reach to the core of his character. He binds the story together and gives the director a chance to exploit the gloomy feel of the story. Rukh has its own narrative technique. To categorise Rukh as an art-house film would be an injustice to Atanu Mukherjee’s talent. It’s a ‘different’ film, for the want of a better word.

Manoj Bajpayee remains underused in this puzzle around. There’s a somberness to the way this chronicle of a death unfolds, which holds your attention. Some scenes sit heavily, though. And if you are an alert viewer, you will figure out what happened much before the big reveal. Some interesting casting choices are in here. As the young fellow, fighting his own weaknesses, and being confronted with his father’s, Gourav veers appropriately between resentment and bewilderment. Mishra plays an unethical businessman, and a guy with distinct shades of grey; nice to see him play an un-benign character. But I do have a quibble. There’s not enough of the powerhouse Bajpayee in the film . I was left wanting more of his ‘Rukh’.

As far as thrillers go, 'Rukh' is a one-of-a kind Hindi film. It does not travel at a breakneck speed as most thrillers do, but the timing is not slow either. The film moves at a perfectly natural pace. Performances by Kumud Mishra as the wily business partner and by Smita Tambe as the guilt-struck, grieving mother are excellent. Manoj Bajpayee, as usual, does a fine job with the limited screen time he has. Adarsh Gourav, who has done bit parts in 'My Name is Khan' and 'Mom' stands out in his role as a sensitive, brooding protagonist. He never goes overboard and delivers a mature and authentic performance. The film is not bereft of humour either, as is employed through the dialogues by Vasan Bala. Lyrics by Sidhant Mago are poetic and blend naturally with the film's theme, as does the music by Amit Trivedi. The cinematography by Pooja Gupte is refreshing as she keeps a majority of the frames interesting and doesn't let the film become a dull, dark exercise. It's a rare, mature thriller that delivers the goods and keeps you engrossed. Don't let this small film slip under the radar, because this will stay with you long after you leave the theatre.