From niche English-language picks like Being Cyrus and Finding Fanny to more mainstream hits like Cocktail and Angrezi Medium, Homi Adajania is quite a versatile name among modern Indian directors. Here’s a definitive ranking of all movies directed by the Murder Mubarak filmmaker along with a guide on where to stream them all.
Being Cyrus and Cocktail: Homi Adajania’s collaborations with Saif
Homi Adajania began his career with advertising before transitioning into filmmaking, bringing his distinct vision to the Indian cinema landscape. His directorial debut came with the 2006 film Being Cyrus. This dark comedy-drama, starring Saif Ali Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Dimple Kapadia, received critical acclaim for its offbeat narrative and strong performances. Focusing on a Parsi family, the film delves into the chaos that unfurls after the family encounter an ominous member named Cyrus.
Adajania's directorial style, marked by his ability to blend dark humor with nuanced character portrayals, was evident in this debut effort.
In 2012, Adajania joined forces with Saif Ali Khan again for the love triangle romantic comedy-drama Cocktail. Starring Khan alongside Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty, the film was a commercial success and received positive reviews for its fresh take on modern relationships and friendships.
Finding Fanny and The Fakir of Venice: The experimental picks
Following the success of Cocktail, Adajania continued to explore unconventional narratives with Finding Fanny in 2014. This offbeat road movie, set in a sleepy Goan village, starred an ensemble cast including Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Naseeruddin Shah. The film received praise for its quirky humor, poignant moments, and strong performances, further establishing Adajania as a director with a penchant for storytelling outside the mainstream.
The Fakir of Venice, released in 2019 but filmed earlier, offered yet another glimpse into Adajania's repertoire as a writer (with Anand Surapur directing). Though the film faced delays in release, it showcased Adajania's ability to tackle thought-provoking subjects with a touch of humor and insight. The quirky comedy found Akhtar’s protagonist assisting a modern artist as he finds a godman for an art installation.
Angrezi Medium and Murder Mubarak: Adajania goes mainstream
In 2019, Adajania directed Angrezi Medium, a heartwarming comedy-drama that marked his return to the director's chair after a five-year hiatus. Starring Irrfan Khan, Radhika Madan, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, the film explored the relationship between a father and daughter against the backdrop of education and aspirations. Despite its release amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Angrezi Medium was well-received by critics and audiences alike for its heartfelt narrative and stellar performances.
Retaining his mainstream sensibilities but for a smaller screen, Adajania also directed the 2024 Netflix murder mystery Murder Mubarak. A whodunit set within a fancy Delhi club, the movie drew positive reviews and boasted an all-star ensemble including Sara Ali Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, and frequent collaborator Dimple Kapadia.
Did Homi Adajania direct any TV shows?
2023 saw Adajania playing around with streaming as he helmed the Hotstar original Saas Bahu aur Flamingo, an exciting neo-noir starring Dimple Kadapia as an aging crime family matriarch. The eight-episode crime comedy garnered five Filmfare nominations.
Why is Cocktail Homi Adajania’s best movie to watch?
Playing around the familiar love triangle formula, Cocktail was a fresh take on modern love delivering Adajania’s stylish direction, Imtiaz Ali’s multi-layered dialogues, and Pritam’s breezy soundtrack that still dominates Indian pop culture.
Where can you stream Homi Adajania’s filmography?
While Murder Mubarak is a Netflix original, most of Homi Adajania’s other movies are available to watch ZEE5, Eros Now, Vi Movies and TV, and Jio Cinema.
