The quirky suspense thriller Haseen Dillruba has been well-received by the OTT audiences in spite of some underwhelming reviews.
Unfazed,director Vinil Mathew says, “I’m overwhelmed by the love that Haseen Dillruba is getting, not just in India where it has been No 1 since its release but across the globe. From the UK, Canada to Brazil and Argentina, the film has been in the top 10 in over 22 countries which has truly surpassed all expectations. It’s testimony to the fact that a well-told human story connects at a universal level crossing borders. Despite the film being culturally rooted in Indian pulp, people across countries and diverse cultures have not only connected to the emotions and relished the humour but have picked up nuances, layers and motifs in the film.”
Talking about how the film resonated with people, actor Taapsee Pannu said, “It’s a very new feeling for me to see Haseen Dillruba reaching an audience around the world the way it has because I have never had a straight to OTT release before this, so I was excited for the debut and it has been fabulous. I think I have been very lucky with my debuts, my struggle only begins after that.”
Taapsee feels empowered by the reach of the digital medium. “ Thanks to Netflix this film reached places that I never knew Hindi films could reach. The film was trending across 22 countries for over a week, as far out as South America, which is amazing. I am still trying to wrap my head around how exactly one feels when their film reaches so far and wide, getting so many messages from people in different parts of the world, in so many different languages. Many times I’ve had to translate to understand what they are saying. But success always feels so sweet. And I am thankful to audiences for the love they have poured on this film and me.” She further added, “I believe the film resonated with so many people because it was based in a small city in the heart of India featuring characters that were flawed and grey, which resonates with the majority of the audience. When we see an on-screen representation of something like this, a part of us relates to the character as we are so used to watching stories of only positive and pious heroes who can do no wrong. It’s refreshing to see such relatable stories about flawed people, and this shift in audience choice is such a welcome sign. Now, it’s about keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, entertained, hooked and involved, which is what this film does well, having characters who are unconventional yet relatable.”
Writer Kanika Dhillon, celebrating the phenomenal response to the film said, “I am so excited and grateful that Haseen Dillruba is getting so much love because the entire team was out on a ‘limb’ literally trying something new and radical! As the writer, I knew it was a high risk genre bending pulp I’d written and thanks to my fantastic director and actors, we not only managed to land the film but also make a deep connect with the audience. I am still reeling with the sheer amount of love – as Haseen Dillruba is trending at top 10 in 22 countries including India where it’s been no 1 since its release! Countries I’ve never thought of finding an audience like Brazil and Argentina are showering the film with love. Thanks to a platform like Netflix, viewers get a chance to see our differentiated stories. I am basking in the sheer force of love it’s receiving!”
