India, Dec. 12 -- As I watched Saali Mohabbat, directed by actor Tisca Chopra, I was instantly reminded of Chutney, the popular short film she starred in a few years back. It almost feels like we're witnessing the beginnings of a Tisca Chopra cinematic universe.

Jokes aside, the plot centres on Smita (Radhika Apte), who narrates the story of a woman hurt by her husband Pankaj (Anshumaan Pushkar). He cheats on her with her cousin Shalini (Sauraseni Maitra), and one day, the adulterous pair is found dead. Investigating the case is a corrupt cop Ratan (Divyenndu). Finding out who murdered them forms the rest of this whodunit.

The story tries hard to build suspense from the word go. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned- and Tisca (also th...