‘Four Samosas’ (2022) Review: A Self-Proclaimed Heist Movie
Is it ever possible to make a perfect heist movie? Ravi Kapoor’s Four Samosas establishes itself as a self-proclaimed heist movie but lacks the substance needed to pull off the momentum. The movie is stylistically unique, with symmetrically framed films and yellow texts appearing on screen to introduce each chapter of the heist — it is a style that is similar to Wes Anderson’s movie. Four Samosas incorporate music, dance, and Indian culture into the story, however, it fails to present itself as a heist and comedy together.
The movie begins with Vinny (Venk Potula), who is an aspiring rapper and works full-time at a sari shop. Still hungover from his last relationship, he finds out that his ex-girlfriend, Rina (Summer Bishil) is getting married to his enemy, Sanjay (Karan Soni). In an effort to win her back, Vinny decides to rob Rina’s father’s store and recruits three of his friends. He enlists his best friend, Zak, (Nirvan Patnaik), the very resourceful, Anjali, (Sharmita Bhattacharya), and tech engineer, Paru (Sonal Shah) to pull off this heist.
Visually, Four Samosas is spectacular. The characters are placed within a perfectly-symmetrical, pastel-coloured world, with a square aspect ratio with rounded corners. While these elements look familiar, Kapoor doesn’t attempt to replicate Anderson’s work. The opening scene itself includes the four thieves running out of the store in slow motion in a symmetrical frame. In another scene, Vinny and his best friends spend six hours trying to open the safe. There’s an abundance of visual elements and references that show Kapoor’s attempt to create his own style and stand out.
While the visual elements are what make the movie appealing, the characters aren’t fleshed out. Kapoor doesn’t attempt to flesh out or establish his main protagonist. The movie lets the audience know over and over again that Vinny’s relationship with Rina ended three years ago. His motivation to steal the diamonds is out of pure jealousy and this justification is shallow. Once he sells the diamonds, he will be able to help his aunt pay for surgery and send Zak off to become an actor in Bollywood. These stakes aren’t high in tension and even for a character-driven plot, Kapoor’s Vinny is the least likeable of the ensemble. Also, the movie suggests that Rina’s rejection is the problem and why Vinny’s ‘broken’ all the time, which is meant to be a running gag that becomes repetitive and loses its humour.
Despite a few hiccups with Four Samosas, the movie is a charming entry that shows the culturally diverse worlds of first-generation Indian-American immigrants. Kapoor never lets the audience stray away from the unique crossovers of Indian culture and promotes inclusivity. Cultural references and movie influences bring an infectious story, Kapoor delivers an incredible film with an equally stunning ensemble. Four Samosas is a standout feature, only if you address the few problems that commit to its self-awareness.
