Dinner Party Disaster: Secrets, Deception, and Death at 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli'

As of 2025-10-10T08:15:09+00:00, the film 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli' by Anshuman Jha has been released. The movie, which was intended to be a slick chamber thriller blending dark comedy and social satire, has ended up as an ambitious but uneven play-like experiment.

Set almost entirely inside a plush London home, the film takes place over the course of a single dinner party that descends into a night of secrets, deception, drama, and death. Jha's direction creates a sense of intimacy and style through the tight, single-location setup and slow-burn tension, reminiscent of Hitchcock's mastery of suspense in confined spaces. However, the overtly performative tone, while working for a while, eventually distances the viewer emotionally.

The standout element of the film is Rasika Dugal's performance. Her impeccable timing, particularly with comedy and delivery of one-liners, adds a much-needed human pulse to the otherwise over-styled narrative. Arjun Mathur and Zoha Rahman also deliver solid performances, while Paresh Pahuja's quirky character grows on the viewer.

Unfortunately, the film's biggest flaw lies in its cluttered storytelling, as Jha attempts to tackle a wide range of themes, including illegal immigration, racial discrimination, trauma, and the pretentious nature of humankind. This results in a lack of depth in the exploration of these issues, further exacerbated by the film's slow pace.

Overall, 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli' is an atmospheric and stylish experiment that showcases flashes of wit and technical finesse, but its inconsistent tone and cluttered writing prevent it from being a truly memorable experience.