The latest Huma Qureshi movie has a killer title inspired by its killer heroine. Baby Do Die Do stars Qureshi as Baby Karmarkar, a deaf-mute assassin who operates in the streets and warrens of Mumbai. Alongside offing targets identified by her mentor Jain (Chunky Panday), Baby broods about the man who had killed her sister all those years ago.

A new assignment for the shady builder Zafar (Sikandar Kher) and his brother Lucky (Arun Kushwah) brings unwelcome attention from police officer Anjum (Seema Pahwa). Zafar’s adversary Manju (Vidya Malavade) wants revenge for her husband Mikky (Himanshu Malik). Baby also lets her soulful neighbour Siddhu (Rachit Singh) into her heart.

Nachikent Samant’s Hindi film, based on a story by Jasmeet K Reen and Parveez Shaikh and written by Samant and Gaurav Sharma, initially lives up its superb title and inventive premise. Baby Do Die Do sets itself up smoothly and vividly.

Mumbai’s permanent state of grunge is deftly portrayed, with a stark contrast between Baby’s working-class living quarters and the very tall tower that Zafar is building on encroached land. The amoral characters embody Mumbai’s grimly professional ethic.

Split screens not only for allow Baby’s sign language to be translated but also give the film the feel of a comic book adaptation....

Read more