Accused Movie Review: Konkona’s Psychological Thriller Falls Flat

Rajkumari Sharma Tankha

I had very high expectations from Accused, especially since it is a psychological thriller starring the immensely talented Konkona Sen Sharma. Unfortunately, the film turns out to be a disappointing watch that fails to live up to its promising premise.

At its core, Accused attempts to explore an interesting theme — workplace jealousy and the lengths people may go to in pursuit of a promotion. It is a subject that could have made for a gripping psychological drama. However, beyond this idea, the film offers little that truly engages the viewer.

A Promising Story That Fails in Execution

In the film, Konkona Sen Sharma plays Dr Geetika Sen, a senior gynaecological surgeon at Chapelstone General Hospital. While the character is meant to appear intense and driven, she is portrayed as constantly angry, with a permanent frown and an impatient demeanour towards her juniors. The portrayal raises an uncomfortable question — are women bosses always depicted as perpetually irritable and harsh? In reality, leadership styles vary widely, and reducing a character to a single-note temperament feels simplistic.

Pratibha Ranta plays Dr Meera Mishra, a paediatrics consultant at Willowbrook Children’s Hospital. Her character is often shown crying or appearing gloomy. Ironically, in the few moments when she smiles, she looks far more natural and convincing. Considering that Meera is shown to be in a stable live-in relationship with Geetika — one that is accepted by their friends, family, and colleagues — her constant sadness seems unexplained and unnecessary.

Underused Supporting Cast

Monica Mahendru appears as Simran, the Head of HR at Chapelstone General Hospital. Unfortunately, the role offers little opportunity for her to display her acting abilities.

Mashhoor Amrohi plays Jaideep Bhargav, a journalist-turned-investigator hired by the hospital to conduct fact-finding. Meanwhile, Sukant Goel appears as Mansoor, a private detective hired by Meera to track Geetika. Both characters feel underdeveloped and lack originality.

The portrayal of the private detective is particularly puzzling. The character’s shabby appearance and exaggerated behaviour make him resemble a caricature rather than a credible investigator. It almost feels like an attempt to imitate the iconic carrot-chewing detective from the classic TV series Karamchand, but the result comes across as forced and unconvincing.

The investigator character fares no better. His sluggish body language and evasive dialogue make him seem ill-suited for the role of someone tasked with uncovering the truth.

Wasted Performances

The supporting cast, including Aditya Nanda as Angad — Meera’s friend and colleague — and Anuj Sachdeva as Prateek Sen, Geetika’s brother, are largely underutilised. Even the British actors appearing in smaller roles fail to leave any meaningful impact.

Final Verdict

Despite having a compelling theme centred on workplace rivalry and ambition, Accused struggles due to weak character development and unconvincing performances. What could have been a gripping psychological thriller ultimately feels underwhelming.

For viewers who expected a powerful performance from Konkona Sen Sharma and a layered narrative, Accused may leave them wanting much more.