Movie: Sona Spa
Language: Hindi
Starring: Naseeruddin Shah, Nivedita Bhattacharya, Ahana Kumrah, Shruti Vyas, Pooja Pradhan, Vineet Sharma
Directed by: Makarand Deshpande

Though 'Sona Spa' has a hatke concept, the movie is a sleaze fest of a film whose intentions are clear from the very start, when the song 'Hum Neend Ka Business Karte Hain' (!) plays out while you settle down into your seat. Unlike 'OMG! Oh My God', not all plays can make a smooth transition from stage to screen and here's hoping that 'Sona Spa' serves as an example for filmmakers trying to do so in the future.

What's it about?
Sona Spa, founded by Baba (Naseeruddin Shah), is like no other in the business. It offers its clients relaxation by sleeping 'for' them, but not 'with' them (a point driven home several times in the film). 'Sleep workers', as they are referred to, are expected to bond with their clients in an absurd manner, that includes putting their heads together and touching each others' ears against a Matrix-like backdrop. For reasons as puzzling as having an insomniac father and a troubled sister who dreams of jumping off the Sinhagad fort in Pune (?), our protagonists Rucha (Shruti Vyas) and Ritu (Ahana Kumrah) join the spa as sleep workers. While sleeping for others, these girls witness their clients' dreams as well and from here on, director Makarand Deshpande's bizarre idea begins to unravel at the seams.

'Sona Spa' is a badly shot film and while this may have been because of inadequate funds, there is no excuse for the C-grade feel. Especially disgusting are sequences that involve a certain Mr. Chowksy, a married man who fancies the company of hookers. Trashy shots of him pouring honey on the girls and posing in a pink fur and painted nails feel cheap. Naseeruddin Shah, pops up from time to time, sitting on a big chair against the  backdrop of the universe (really?), to give sermons about the importance of sleep. While some characters like the spa's manager Indu (Pooja Pradhan), Indu's mentally challenged brother and the police officer seem interesting at first, their stories are half-baked and ill-explained.

Of the entire cast, we liked Ahana Kumrah the most as she fit into her role of a middle-class girl easily and looked confident and genuine on the big screen. While Nivedita Bhattacharya also did not disappoint, it was Shruti Vyas, Naseeruddin Shah and the rest of the troupe that almost put us to sleep - for all the wrong reasons.

What to do?
'Sona Spa' is a nightmare of a film! We see no reason why you should watch it.

in.com rating: 1/5
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