Kahaani

Set in Kolkata, Kahaani follows Vidya Bagchi, a pregnant woman who arrives in the bustling city and discovers her husband has vanished without a trace. With only a few clues and a wary city in front of her, she refuses to give up, driving by instinct and a stubborn belief that he is still somewhere alive. As she interviews strangers and navigates a maze of red herrings, the case unfolds with near misses, late phone calls, and moments of quiet danger. The film keeps the tension tight by withholding easy answers, turning the city into a living backdrop that mirrors Vidya's mounting fear and resolve. No spoilers here, just the pressure building around every errand, every alley, and whispered rumor.

Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, Kahaani arrives in 2012 with a screenplay by Advaita Kala. It adapts to the city of Kolkata as a tense, character driven thriller that relies on atmosphere, craft, and a sharp sense of timing and rhythm.

The film was produced on a modest budget of about $1.2 million and went on to gross roughly $16 million worldwide, a strong return for a suspense focused Mumbai thriller at release. Its commercial success helped expand Hindi genre storytelling.

Vidya Balan's performance drew wide critical praise and helped redefine her career, earning attention for quiet resilience and moral complexity. The film turned the supporting villain Bob Biswas into a recognizable figure in Indian cinema, later inspiring a standalone spinoff that kept audiences talking. Its influence lingered in Indian cinema.

Critics praised Kahaani for its taut storytelling, city as character, and careful pacing that sustains suspense while exploring themes of identity, motherhood, and deception. While some viewed the twists as inspired by classic thrillers, the consensus highlighted strong performances and a fresh urban take on noir, and rewards repeat viewing.