As with most Ram Gopal Varma films, one knows even before seeing any of his films that one will eventually get one’s money’s worth, and the same is true of My Wife’s Murder also. The film is not very long (about 1 hr 50 minutes) and right from the opening shot, keeps the viewer engrossed and guessing. Ravi Patwardhan (Anil Kapoor), is typically middle class, and is a father of two children. He runs an editing studio, and is ably assisted by Reema (Nandana Sen). Ravi’s wife Sheela (Suchitra Krishnamurthy), is a perpetual nag, and is constantly screaming and shouting at him, often accusing him of having an affair with his assistant. Ravi keeps quiet, but one day things get out of hand, and Ravi slaps her. Sheela bangs her head on the bed, and dies. Ravi is panic stricken, scared and confused. Instead of informing the police, he does a clean up operation, borrows his assistant’s car, and dumps his wife’s body. He tells everybody that Sheela has gone to Shirdi. Soon, Sheela’s parents enter the picture, and the police are called in. to trace a missing Sheela. Sheela’s body is found, and the investigation hots up, as Inspector Tejpal (Boman Irani) takes over the case. The rest of the film is a cat and mouse game between the police, Ravi and Reema, as Ravi struggles to maintain his sanity.
The film is very engrossing, and since it is devoid of songs and dances, the pace never slackens. The viewer is kept chewing his nails, as good photography, an apt background score, and a slick editing take the film to its climax. Of the cast, Anil Kapoor is superb, as the harassed husband who accidentally kills his wife, regrets it, and tries to cover up. Suchitra’s role is very brief. Nandana Sen impresses as the girl with spirit and fire, and one who is willing to stick out her neck for her boss. Both the girls do need to hone their dialogue delivery and diction skills, though. We’ve seen Boman do some excellent roles in the past, and his first as a cop in this film is another feather in his cap, as he conducts the investigation with sarcasm, wit and intelligence. Husband wife quarrels are something that takes place day in and day out almost in every home. Ram Gopal Varma has only taken this problem and gone a few steps ahead with it. Quite believable, and reasonably well done.