Four Samosas (2022) from writer and director Ravi Kapoor managed to remind me of many films or filmmakers who’ve come before, while still feeling extremely fresh and personal. There are camera techniques and shot placement that feels like something Spike Lee would have done. The color palette is vibrant, and it pops. The fact that it’s a scrappy heist movie really reminded me of American Animals (2018) and that film’s core story, more so than its presentation. Yet, these characters all have real personalities and styles that don’t feel borrowed from these other films. There is a lot of love and charm in Four Samosas, and the style in the film packages of the story and characters make it worth your time.
Vinny (Venk Potula) is an aspiring rapper who is struggling to find his place in the world. When news gets to him that his ex-girlfriend Rina (Summer Bishil) has gotten engaged, he decides it’s time to make the logical leap: steal the dirty diamonds from her father’s grocery store. Vinny assembles a team of friends to plan a heist so they can all better their lives.
That’s the plot, but the movie is really about its characters, its setting, and the culture. Vinny is great, and while he could work a bit more on his rhymes, he is very relatable. However, I have to say that my love of cinema really made Zak (Nirvan Patnaik) my favorite character. He aspires to be an actor, and as a result of his love of Bollywood, he gets one of my absolute favorite moments in the film. He is tasked with distracting the employees of the supermarket while Vinny and Anjali (Sharmita Bhattacharya) are doing recon. I won’t say what happens, but it is excellent for a multitude of reasons.
I absolutely loved the comedy in this film. There are several laugh-out-loud moments in a large part of the cast. Anytime I see Karan Soni in a movie, I know he’s going to make me laugh. He plays Sanjay, Rina’s fiance and thus an antagonist in the film, and his character is often the butt of some of the best jokes. The visual gags in this film work very well – like when the crew is attempting to crack the safe, or entering the supermarket in their disguises. A good cut- or knowing when to let the camera linger – makes all the difference for the jokes to land, and Kapoor makes some great decisions.
Four Samosas is the kind of indie comedy that we just don’t get enough of – or, at the very least, the masses don’t get enough access to see. The movie is upbeat and optimistic, and I’m always up for a comedy that doesn’t just put down everything in order to be funny. If you get a chance to see Four Samosas I highly recommend it, and give it the Not Quite Golden, Ponyboy rating.
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