Unraveling Pune Highway: A Hilariously Quirky Trip Packed with 90s Nostalgia and Thrills!

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Remember those childhood ice-lollies from street vendors? There were even wild stories that they were made from the same ice used for preserving bodies! This odd urban myth gets a nod in ‘Pune Highway’, which features a scene where a cop stashes a corpse in an ice factory. If you didn’t know this before, you might think twice about those treats now!

Directed by Rahul da Cunha and Bhargava Krishna, ‘Pune Highway’ is a thriller that revolves around four friends who become murder suspects after a young woman’s body is found in Pune. It has a classic 80s/90s drama vibe, making it a good watch for those who enjoy true crime, similar to shows like Crime Patrol.

The film kicks off with a chilling scene: a mysterious corpse washes up on a riverbank. The woman is unidentifiable, but a golden bangle points to her past. Inspector Prabhakar Pethe (Sudeep Modak) takes a personal stake in solving this murder.

The main characters include siblings Pramod (Amit Sadh), also known as Khandu, Natasha (Manjari Fadnnis), Nicky (Anuvab Pal), and Vishnu (Jim Sarbh). A fifth friend, Saple, is recovering from a brutal attack. Flashbacks reveal Khandu’s ties to Mansekar (Shishir Sharma), a feared local strongman. The victim, Mona (Ketaki Narayan), is linked to these friends, making them key suspects.

As the story unfolds, the suspense revolves around “Who killed Mona?” The creators keep viewers guessing with clever misdirections. However, some parts feel comical and unprofessional, like when characters treat the police station as a hangout. While the lead actors deliver solid performances, some minor roles come off as unintentionally amusing.

‘Pune Highway’ mixes thriller elements with a hint of parody. Although some plot twists are bizarre—like a character who refuses to give an alibi for emotional reasons—the film remains engaging. Childhood flashbacks don’t add much, and the pacing can feel off at times.

Overall, if you enjoy Crime Patrol, this film is a fun, if somewhat over-the-top, watch. If I had to give it a score, it would be about 5.5 out of 10—just enough to pass.

Catch ‘Pune Highway’ on Prime Video and dive into the quirky world of this film.

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