Thumbs up,
by Abhay,

Bollywood Life
:

…Watch it for Vijay Sethupathi’s impeccable performance, and to experience what a revelation Katrina Kaif is as an actress. Sriram Raghavan beautifully brings out the thrill with the plot and narrative without resorting to visual elements used to achieve the same in most movies. Watch Merry Christmas for the artful storytelling that it promises….

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Thumbs up,
by Angel Rani,

Deccan Herald
:

…’Merry Christmas’ may not be as dark as ‘Andhadhun’, one of Raghavan’s finest works. But then, the carols here are not about care and compassion alone. You see, sometimes violence is better than sacrifice.

Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/merry-christmas-movie-review-unlikely-pair-shines-in-an-intriguing-tale-2847253…

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Thumbs up,
by Abhimanyu Mathur,

DNA
:

…And yet, Merry Christmas suffers in its final act. The climax, the most important part of any thriller, disappoints. It is underwhelming to say the least. Raghavan does pull a rug from under your feet in his signature style but you feel a little cheated having rooted for the story to go one way. In the end, it is the filmmaker’s choice but the end does leave you slightly unsatisfied. As I said in the beginning, it is a delicious main course. I just wish the dessert was too….

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Thumbs up,
by Rahul Desai,

Film Companion
:

…After all, good films make us hold our breath while simultaneously taking our breath away. But the great ones simply allow us to exhale….

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Thumbs up,
by Pratyush Parasuraman,

Film Companion
:

…Sriram Raghavan’s cinema is one of wicked sincerity — it is so full of love for cinema (even the t-shirts that Raghavan is seen sporting, posters of films he loves) in a way that never grates, because its sincerity is expressed through the language of the most serrated genre, that of black comedy….

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Thumbs up,
by Devesh Sharma,

Filmfare
:

…It’s a noir film but unlike noir films, besides the darkness of the soul, it also showcases the triumph of human spirit and compassion – something that’s intrinsic to Christmas. It’s a dark comedy that will make you smile and scratch your head at the same time….

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Thumbs up,
by Lachmi Deb Roy,

FirstPost
:

…Maria (Katrina Kaif) plays the role of a woman stuck in an unhappy marriage who is seen in a restaurant with her daughter, Annie. She happens to meet Albert (Vijay Sethupathi). Though they are strangers to each other, they connect over unusual circumstances. The movie is sure to make you feel nostalgic, especially for all Bombay lovers, especially the Regal cinema hall, the lanes of Colaba and old houses with beautiful architecture. What makes the movie all the more attractive is the unhurried pace. Merry Christmas is undoubtedly a rare treat….

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Thumbs up,
by Rohit Bhatnagar,

Free Press Journal
:

…Vijay, an unconventional performer is glorious in his ability to act. He resonates perfectly with the face of a common man. Katrina does her part fairly well but raises questions a bit about being Raghavan’s leading lady. Sanjay Kapoor, although, has less screen time but is pleasant on screen. Radhika Apte is merely there for two scenes, but again monotonous. Vinay Pathak is noticeable, but it’s obvious, isn’t it?…

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Thumbs up,

fullhyd.com
:

…Sriram Raghavan is no stranger to thrillers, with every one of his films belonging to the noir genre. Right from his debut film, Ek Hasina Thi, he has delivered multiple hits from the genre in Johhny Gaddaar and Badlapur. But the movie that Merry Christmas is styled after, which also happens to Raghavan’s most successful film, is…

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Thumbs up,
by Nitin Jain,

Glamsham.com
:

…Sriram Raghavan continues his winning streak on the lines of his last directorial ‘Andhadhun’ being so much appreciated that it was remade in various regional languages. For the movie buffs who binge on suspenseful dramas, this one is absolutely unmissable….

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Thumbs up,
by Monika Rawal Kukreja,

Hindustan Times
:

…Watch this Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif-starrer to appreciate good cinema, brilliant writing and enjoy an engaging watch that keep you on the edge on your seat, but you won’t really jump out of it on any big reveal or the climax. Yet, it’s Sriram Raghavan’s cinematic world, and is a must watch, even if for one time….

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Thumbs up,
by Tushar P. Joshi,

india today
:

…‘Merry Christmas’ is a terrific start to 2024 and a welcome break from the tailor-made cinema that feels repetitive. Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif’s pairing is the ace of spade that makes the film a sure-shot winner….

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Thumbs up,
by Umesh Punwani,

koimoi
:

…All said and done, Merry Christmas is one of those rare films you can watch at any time, anywhere & you won’t regret it. It’s a film with a very long shelf life – a rarity these days….

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Thumbs up,
by Mayank Shekhar,

MiD DAY
:

…The eyes, inevitably alert to every moment, stay glued to the smart storytelling, and the actors, of course. Each in top form. The film is admittedly based on a French novel, Le Monte-charge, which I’m pretty sure, you haven’t read. Neither have I.

The film also credits a separate writing team for its Tamil version. Which makes me wanna watch that version all the more – for how the story plays out there, besides spotting more Easter Eggs, obviously. The ending, for example. It’s open-ended, yes.

Hard for Raghavan to resist that, ever since the level of fan-fiction derived from the mischievous conclusion of Andhadhun (2018), his last release. Does the suspense-drama and the turns and twists in Merry Christmas top Andhadhun? Nope – but nothing since has, either. Fun follow-up, though!…

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Thumbs up,
by Saibal Chatterjee,

NDTV
:

…Intriguing, stimulating, gripping and gently challenging, Merry Christmas is everything you would want a thriller to be. It bewitches even when it baffles….

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Thumbs up,
by Avinash Lohana,

Pinkvilla
:

…Sriram Raghavan’s Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi led Merry Christmas has thrill and love at almost the right places. It isn’t perfect, but then what is. Go watch the film.

I would have given the film three stars, but I am adding another half just for the electrifying background score….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Sukanya Verma,

Rediff
:

…Don’t miss the beginning, Badlapur’s unforgettable tagline, is as good as a commandment in Sriram Raghavan’s book.

Merry Christmas opens with a question first asked by John Lennon in his anti-Vietnam war protest song, Happy Xmas (War is Over).

‘So this is Christmas and what have you done?’

The answer, my friend, lies in a breathtaking climax that will have you sighing like you’ve never sighed in a Sriram Raghavan movie before and playing Antonio Vivaldi’s Winter in a loop….

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Thumbs up,
by UDITA JHUNJHUNWALA,

Scroll.in
:

…The 144-minute film is steeped in Hitchcockian tones and a 1980s Hindi movie palate (filmed by Madhu Neelakandan). Raghavan leaves little hints and sly clues along the way for the observant viewer to pick up on. Though not as wicked or surprising as Andhadhun, Merry Christmas has intrigue, is punctuated with black humour and is held together by the USP of Sethupathi and Kaif cast together as well asRaghavan’s signature crafting….

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Thumbs up,
by Anuj Kumar,

The Hindu
:

…However, after a point, the noir suffers from translation blues. Some parts come truly alive, others fall in the gaps that exist between the manuscript and the motion picture. The crime and the big reveal described in the novel are difficult to visually adapt on screen and one has to give the benefit of the doubt (or is it reputation?) to Raghavan to believe in the stagy enactment of the climax that hangs like a postscript….

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Thumbs up,
by Pratikshya Mishra,

The Quint
:

…a…

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Thumbs up,
by Dhaval Roy,

Times of India
:

…Although relatively less ominous compared to films in the genre or the director’s previous works, catch this one for the wicked plot and the surprises. You’d have a merry time!…

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Thumbs up,
by Roopa Radhakrishnan,

Times of India
:

…In a scene in the film, one character tells another that there’s no point in watching a movie without popcorn. Similarly, there’s no point in watching a Sriram Raghavan movie without expecting sporadic flashbacks, film references, completely out-there characters, and an edge-of-the-seat experience. All of this is also applicable for Merry Christmas, but in a quieter and lighter fashion….

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So-So,
by Murtuza Iqbal,

Filmi Beat
:

…Overall, Merry Christmas might not be interesting and funny like Andhadhun, but it’s not a bad film. It has a Sriram Raghavan touch in it and of course, watch it for Katrina and Vijay’s amazing performance….

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So-So,
by Baradwaj Rangan,

galatta.com
:

…Merry Christmas is easier to admire than enjoy, and at least for me, it’s an intriguing minor work from a major filmmaker.. Read more at: https://www.galatta.com/tamil/movie/review/merry-christmas/…

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So-So,
by Aseem Sharma,

India TV
:

…As mentioned above, Merry Christmas is slow in the first half and it takes time for the storyline to get aligned with the audience’s attention. Things pick up just 2 minutes before the interval and the second half is good to go. If you are a murder mystery fan, then you might enjoy the slow build in the first half. However, when it comes to wholesome entertainment, one will surely find it a bit lengthy….

full review

So-So,
by lekha Menon,

Khaleej Times
:

…There are so many things to like about Merry Christmas even if the parts never add up to a satisfying whole. If you have loads of patience, celebrate this festive murder mystery at the cinemas….

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So-So,
by Sameer Ahire,

Movie Talkies
:

…On technical fronts, Merry Christmas lacks a few things here and there. That impact of the background score is missing. Raghavan uses some comical chillifying songs to make you feel nostalgic, but I don’t think anything will stay with you after the film. Nazar Teri Toofan and Raat Akeli songs only make it longer. If you feel bored while watching the film, then blame the songs and slow screenplay for it….

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So-So,
by Pooja Birala Jaiswal,

The Week
:

…Actors Radhika Apte, Sanjay Kapoor, Tinnu Anand, Vinay Pathak, Ashwini Kalsekar and Pratima Kazmi lend great support to this dark, murder mystery universe. Given that I went for this Raghavan film expecting an overtly mind-boggling climax, which could make me jump out of my seat, I was a bit disappointed. It’s out-of-the-box and experimental, but not overwhelming….

full review

So-So,
by Sonal Pandya,

Times Now
:

…Merry Christmas picks up speed in the last 20 minutes where there’s plenty of nervous conflict and edginess to be resolved. Sriram Raghavan’s film had the right take on the perfect crime, but does it exist?…

full review