{{short description|2022 Indian film by Behzad Khambata}} {{Use British English|date=February 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = A Thursday | image = A Thursday poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Behzad Khambata | producer = Ronnie Screwvala<br />Premnath Rajagopalan | writer = Behzad Khambata | story = Ashley Michael Lobo<br />Behzad Khambata {{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes | label1= Dialogues by | data1 = Vijay Maurya}} | starring = {{ubl|Yami Gautam|Atul Kulkarni|Neha Dhupia|Dimple Kapadia|Karanvir Sharma}} | music = Rooshin Dalal<br />Kaizad Gherda | cinematography = Anuj Rakesh Dhawan <br/> Siddharth Vasani | editing = Sumeet Kotian | studio = RSVP Movies<br />Blue Monkey Films | distributor = Disney+ Hotstar | released = {{Film date|2022|2|17|df=y}} | runtime = 129 minutes | country = India | language = Hindi | budget = <!--Must cite a reliable published source with a reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb. no fan-sites.--> | gross = <!--Must cite a reliable published source with a reputation for fact-checking. No blogs, no IMDb. no fan-sites.--> }}
'''''A Thursday''''' is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language psychological thriller film written and directed by Behzad Khambata.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 February 2022 |title=Thursday trailer: Yami Gautam as a deadly kidnapper challenges PM Dimple Kapadia, Neha Dhupia is a pregnant cop |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/a-thursday-trailer-yami-gautam-as-a-deadly-kidnapper-challenges-pm-dimple-kapadia-neha-dhupia-is-a-pregnant-cop-watch-101644468139459.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/a-thursday-trailer-yami-gautam-as-a-deadly-kidnapper-challenges-pm-dimple-kapadia-neha-dhupia-is-a-pregnant-cop-watch-101644468139459.html |archive-date=11 February 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 February 2022 |title=A Thursday trailer: Yami Gautam takes 16 kids hostage in tense thriller |work=The Indian Express |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/a-thursday-trailer-yami-gautam-thriller-video-disney-plus-hotstar-7765328/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/a-thursday-trailer-yami-gautam-thriller-video-disney-plus-hotstar-7765328/ |archive-date=11 February 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The film stars Yami Gautam, Atul Kulkarni, Neha Dhupia, Dimple Kapadia, and Karanvir Sharma.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 February 2022 |title=A Thursday teaser out. Yami Gautam's hostage drama to release on Disney+ Hotstar soon |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/a-thursday-teaser-out-yami-gautam-s-hostage-drama-to-release-on-disney-hotstar-soon-1910690-2022-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209063552/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/binge-watch/story/a-thursday-teaser-out-yami-gautam-s-hostage-drama-to-release-on-disney-hotstar-soon-1910690-2022-02-09 |archive-date=9 February 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 February 2022 |title=A Thursday teaser: Yami Gautam's scary stare sends chills down the spine, fan says 'oh bhai'. Watch |work=Hindustan Times |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/a-thursday-teaser-yami-gautam-s-scary-stare-sends-chills-down-the-spine-fan-says-oh-bhai-watch-101644388593479.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209075746/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/a-thursday-teaser-yami-gautam-s-scary-stare-sends-chills-down-the-spine-fan-says-oh-bhai-watch-101644388593479.html |archive-date=9 February 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 February 2022 |title=Yami Gautam's grim look in A Thursday teaser is sure to send chills down your spine |work=Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/yami-gautams-grim-look-in-a-thursday-teaser-is-sure-to-send-chills-down-your-spine-watch-here-10361291.html/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/yami-gautams-grim-look-in-a-thursday-teaser-is-sure-to-send-chills-down-your-spine-watch-here-10361291.html/ |archive-date=11 February 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on 17 February 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 September 2021 |title=Yami Gautam to star in A Thursday, film to release on digital |work=Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/yami-gautam-star-thursday-film-release-digital/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220211/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/yami-gautam-star-thursday-film-release-digital/ |archive-date=11 February 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 February 2022 |title=Yami Gautam as terrorist in A Thursday will hook you. Disney+ Hotstar film to release on Feb 17 |work=India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in//movies/bollywood/story/yami-gautam-as-terrorist-in-a-thursday-will-hook-you-disney-hotstar-film-to-release-on-feb-17-1911117-2022-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210052347/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/yami-gautam-as-terrorist-in-a-thursday-will-hook-you-disney-hotstar-film-to-release-on-feb-17-1911117-2022-02-10 |archive-date=10 February 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> It received mixed reviews from critics, although Gautam's performance was praised. The story follows a mentally unstable woman who seizes sixteen children, triggering a tense hostage negotiation. As the standoff intensifies, two investigating officers uncover a disturbing truth: the woman knows them from a traumatic event in her past, and they may be directly tied to the situation.
At the 2022 Filmfare OTT Awards, ''A Thursday'' received 4 nominations – Best Web Original Film, Best Actress in a Web Original Film (Gautam), Best Supporting Actor in a Web Original Film (Kulkarni) and Best Supporting Actress in a Web Original Film (Dhupia).
== Plot == Naina Jaiswal, a teacher at the Little Tots play school in Colaba, Mumbai, who had been on leave for three weeks, unexpectedly returns a week early. The school is located in front of the property owned by Rohit Mirchandani, Naina's fiancé, where Rohit & Naina live. Parents drop off their children, and Naina asks one of the female parent to send a cake for her daughter Niharika's birthday, delivered by the parent's driver. After setting up a cartoon for the kids to watch, Naina calls the police station and informs them that she has taken 16 children as hostages. Niharika's driver arrives with a cake and Savitri, the helper, returns to the school after forgetting her phone; both are taken hostages.
The police suspect it is a hoax, until Naina fires shots in the air. ACP Catherine Alvarez contacts her, but Naina says that she will negotiate only with officer Javed Khan. Javed is brought to the scene, and she tells him that she will free one child for every demand he meets, or else she will kill each child in alphabetical order, starting with Aakash. Her first demand is for a transfer of {{INR|5}} crore to her bank account. Catherine and Javed, who shared a romantic history, are incompatible when working together. Catherine sends armed police inside, against Javed's will. Enraged, Naina kills Aakash while being live on national television. The Commissioner of Police places Javed in charge and assigns Catherine to research about Naina.
Naina's second demand is to speak to the Prime Minister, Maya Rajguru. Rajguru talks to Naina on the phone, but Naina urges her to meet her in person. Naina then tells Javed to find and bring Rakesh Mathur and Charan Kumar, from a school in Goregaon. The police capture Rakesh, but are unable to locate Charan.
During a background check, Catherine learns that Naina has been taking antidepressants and seeing a psychiatrist, Dr. Juneja, since she was 16. She searches Naina's house and finds receipts for medication prescribed by Dr. Juneja. Catherine contacts her, and Javed gets hold of Naina's mother Kusum, whose revelation comes across as a brutal shock to Javed; Naina was raped when she was 16, and Javed and Catherine were then officers in charge of the case. They neglected Naina's case, since they were pursuing a high-profile case to gain recognition. After begging them to help for two years, Kusum became resigned to their indifference; in the present, she blames Javed for being the root cause of the drama due to his and Catherine's inaction.
Rajguru decides to meet Naina in person, accompanied by Javed, after Naina releases Savitri along with Aakash, whom she had spared. Naina brings up the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, which protects children below the age of 18 from sexual offenses. Naina asks Rajguru why is there no protection for people over 18, and demands that her rapists face the death penalty. Rajguru tells her that legislation is a complex task that requires time, but her rapists are found and imprisoned.
It is revealed that the driver is actually Charan, who had raped Naina as a child, while Rakesh restrained her. Naina had plotted to kidnap him when he reveals that he is Niharika's driver while holding her hand, much to Naina's shock. She shoots him dead in the presence of Rajguru and Javed. Armed Commandos enter the school and arrest Naina. She is taken to prison, and later, is assigned a teacher for the female inmates, while Rajguru makes an announcement that the capital punishment for rapists will be a death penalty.
== Cast == * Yami Gautam as Naina Jaiswal * Atul Kulkarni as Javed Khan * Neha Dhupia as ACP Catherine "Cathy" Alvarez * Dimple Kapadia as Prime Minister Maya Rajguru * Karanvir Sharma as Rohit Mirchandani, Naina's fiancé * Maya Sarao as Shalini Guha, Naina's friend Yash's mother * Sukesh Anand as Lokhande * Kalyanee Mulay as Savitri, Naina's maid * Boloram Das as Charan Kumar, Naina's rapist and Niharika's family driver * Shubhangi Latkar as Kusum Jaiswal, Naina's mother * Adi Irani as Police Commissioner * Divjyot Kaur as Renuka Dubey * Micky Makhija as Rohit's father * Sanjeev Jotangia as Malcolm * Sulagna Chatterjee as Aakash's mom * Bhavin Hirani as Aakash's dad * Raj Kumar sharma as Home Minister * Asim Sharma as PM PR REP * Hardika Sharma as Niharika (play school student) * Prachi Hada as journalist
== Production == Principal photography began on 12 March 2021,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/yami-gautam-and-neha-dhupia-start-shooting-for-a-thursday-1778505-2021-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312084108/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/yami-gautam-and-neha-dhupia-start-shooting-for-a-thursday-1778505-2021-03-12 |archive-date=12 March 2021 |url-status=live |title=Yami Gautam and Neha Dhupia start shooting for A Thursday |work=India Today |date=12 March 2021 |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/yami-gautam-begins-filming-for-thriller-a-thursday/articleshow/81468475.cms |title=Yami Gautam begins filming for thriller 'A Thursday' |date=12 March 2021 |work=The Times of India |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/celebrities/yami-gautam-begins-filming-for-thriller-a-thursday-690534 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312095902/https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/celebrities/yami-gautam-begins-filming-for-thriller-a-thursday-690534 |archive-date=12 March 2021 |url-status=live |title=Yami Gautam begins filming for thriller 'A Thursday' |date=12 March 2021 |work=India TV News |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref> and wrapped in July of that year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yami Gautam announces official production wrap for 'A Thursday |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/yami-gautam-announces-official-production-wrap-for-a-thursday20211123203208/ |date=23 July 2021 |work=ANI News |access-date=11 February 2021 |archive-date=23 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123174552/https://www.aninews.in/news/entertainment/bollywood/yami-gautam-announces-official-production-wrap-for-a-thursday20211123203208/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Yami Gautam Wraps Up A Thursday Shoot With The "Best" Team And A Trunk Of Memories |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/yami-gautam-finishes-shoot-of-a-thursday-shares-special-post-for-best-of-teams-2497686/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729091416/https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/yami-gautam-finishes-shoot-of-a-thursday-shares-special-post-for-best-of-teams-2497686 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |url-status=live |date=23 July 2021 |publisher=NDTV |access-date=11 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Yami Gautam wraps up shoot of 'A Thursday' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2021/jul/29/yami-gautam-wraps-up-shoot-of-a-thursday-2337159.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729100750/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2021/jul/29/yami-gautam-wraps-up-shoot-of-a-thursday-2337159.html |archive-date=29 July 2021 |url-status=live |date=6 August 2021 |work=The New Indian Express |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|13|4.9|8|consensus=}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Thursday {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_thursday |access-date=6 February 2025 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes |language=en}}</ref>
Cyril of ''India Today'' gave the film a rating of four out of five and wrote, "Yami Gautam's ''A Thursday'' is the kind of thriller that has been missing from Indian screens for a while."<ref>{{cite web |title=A Thursday Movie Review: Yami Gautam's film is one of the best thrillers in recent times |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/a-thursday-movie-review-yami-gautam-s-film-is-one-of-the-best-thrillers-in-recent-times-1914147-2022-02-17 |website=India Today |date=17 February 2022 |access-date=19 February 2022 |archive-date=18 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218171159/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/bollywood/story/a-thursday-movie-review-yami-gautam-s-film-is-one-of-the-best-thrillers-in-recent-times-1914147-2022-02-17 |url-status=live}}</ref> Renuka Vyavahare of ''The Times of India'' rated it three out of five and wrote, "Despite a rather predictable backstory, ''A Thursday'' redeems itself with its powerful emotional arc and social commentary in the latter half. It touches upon a relevant issue that will resonate with women across the globe."<ref>{{cite news |title=A Thursday Review: An intriguing hostage drama that's high on emotion |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/a-thursday/ottmoviereview/89592049.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=19 February 2022 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217202511/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/a-thursday/ottmoviereview/89592049.cms |url-status=live}}</ref>
Pradeep Menon of ''Firstpost'' gave the film a rating of 2.75 out of five and wrote, "''A Thursday'' strives to be urgent, relevant and cool, but succeeds only partially, because it stops to make a point far too often."<ref>{{cite web |title=A Thursday movie review: Yami Gautam Dhar's vigilante-hostage thriller is slick but uneven with a polarising message |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/a-thursday-movie-review-yami-gautam-dhars-vigilante-hostage-thriller-is-slick-but-uneven-with-a-polarising-message-10379661.html/amp |website=Firstpost |date=17 February 2022 |access-date=19 February 2022 |archive-date=19 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219155151/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/a-thursday-movie-review-yami-gautam-dhars-vigilante-hostage-thriller-is-slick-but-uneven-with-a-polarising-message-10379661.html/amp |url-status=live}}</ref> Shubhra Gupta of ''The Indian Express'' rated the film 1.5 out of five and wrote, "The chief problem with Yami Gautam's film is that we do not take any of this seriously, whether it is Naina brandishing a gun, or snarling and cooing at her hostages."<ref>{{cite web |title=A Thursday movie review: Yami Gautam starrer deserves a series of eyerolls |website=The Indian Express |date=16 February 2022 |url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/a-thursday-movie-review-yami-gautam-7776720/lite/ |access-date=1 March 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301134622/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/a-thursday-movie-review-yami-gautam-7776720/lite/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award ceremony !Category !Nominee / work !Result !Ref. |- | rowspan="4" |2022 | rowspan="4" |Filmfare OTT Awards |Best Web Original Film |''A Thursday'' |{{nom}} | rowspan="4" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filmfare OTT Awards 2022 - Nominations |url=https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-ott-awards-2022/nominations |access-date=11 February 2024 |website=filmfare.com |language=en}}</ref> |- |Best Actress in a Web Original Film |Yami Gautam |{{nom}} |- |Best Supporting Actor in a Web Original Film |Atul Kulkarni |{{nom}} |- |Best Supporting Actress in a Web Original Film |Neha Dhupia |{{won}} |}
== Soundtrack == {{Infobox album | name = A Thursday | type = Soundtrack | artist = Rooshin Dalal and Kaizad Gherda | cover = | alt = | released = 24 February 2022<ref name="jiosaavn">{{Cite web |date=27 February 2022 |title=A Thursday – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/a-thursday/IeJIafpr1-0_ |publisher=Jiosaavn}}</ref> | recorded = 2021 | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature-film soundtrack | length = 42:51 | language = Hindi<!--Do not link per WP:OL--> | label = RSVP Movies | producer = Rooshin Dalal, Kaizad Gherda | misc = {{external music video| header = Official audio | type = soundtrack |{{YouTube|6VFXzs5x4BE|A Thursday - Full Album}} }} }}
The soundtrack to ''A Thursday'' contains twenty-one instrumental compositions used in the film score, curated and composed by Rooshin Dalal and Kaizad Gherda.<ref name="jiosaavn"/>
{{Track listing | headline = Track listing | total_length = 42:51 | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = Naina theme song | length1 = 1:50 | title2 = The first call | length2 = 1:37 | title3 = The Playschool | length3 = 1:17 | title4 = The Quite | length4 = 0:43 | title5 = Demand | length5 = 1:06 | title6 = Wash your hands | length6 = 0:58 | title7 = A for Akash | length7 = 2:06 | title8 = Alvarez and Khan | length8 = 0:53 | title9 = Back off Javed | length9 = 2:10 | title10 = Naina's Mind | length10 = 1:03 | title11 = Phir se bolna | length11 = 0:56 | title12 = Maya Rajguru | length12 = 1:38 | title13 = Rock a Bye Baby | note13 = Sung by Deelraz Bunshah | length13 = 3:47 | title14 = The interview | length14 = 3:30 | title15 = Birthday Cake | length15 = 2:07 | title16 = Case | length16 = 2:04 | title17 = A Thursday | length17 = 6:28 | title18 = Let go | length18 = 2:34 | title19 = Do you know what it feels like | length19 = 3:23 | title20 = Stand off | length20 = 1:31 | title21 = The Last shot | length21 = 1:10 }}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb title|13028258}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thursday, A}} Category:Indian action thriller films Category:2022 films Category:2022 Hindi-language films Category:2022 Indian films Category:2020 thriller films Category:2020 films Category:Disney+ Hotstar original films