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Haiwaan - Review

meeta — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:04:31 +0000

wogma rating: Watch if you have nothing better to do ^(?)

quick review:

Makes you wish you could take some editorial calls to see if that made the movie better. At its current length and uneven pace though, it'd be wise to skip it unapologetically.

Streaming Partner: Sony Liv

Review

Scene after scene, I heard myself thinking, "At least, it's not slapstick." That tells you almost all you need to know about the film. Then one looooong scene tells you loud and clear that Priyadarshan cannot help himself. But you consider yourself lucky that he picked just that one scene for the supposed "humour" and milked the "joke" as much as was possible.

The tragedy is that the story wasn't without potential. It, especially the second half, especially-especially the climax, is so drawn out that it makes you forget the merit of the plot. To top it off, some scenes feel amateurish in their execution. Like an extra pause between action and reaction or a character entering the scene a beat or more late.

This is not taking into account the usual tropes of songs being shoved in forcefully. Same goes for the social commentary such as religious harmony or police brutality or life philosophy. These concepts play disconnected cameos.

The uneven pace makes it even worse. The story is packed in the first half along with the song and dance. The second half feels like one long chase sequence. A chase so dry that the intermittent attempts at intelligent writing are wasted. So, is some of the character development.

The movie has quite a few characters, and some of them are interesting too. You get a peek into some of their lives through their situation and payoffs. On the flip side, none of them could be fleshed out properly because of the sheer number. So, throughout the film, you feel like this character might do something interesting or that character might bring solve this mystery. But, nothing of the sort happens.

Instead, the performances take a hit and almost all of them become monochromatic despite some depth to the characters. Starting with Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar, most of the actors are off by a beat. There is something that gives away that they are putting on an act and are not living the character. Except for Saiyami Kher whose dialogue delivery couldn’t have been any more robotic, which is a shame because she is a good actor. Actually, there isn't a single person in the cast who we haven't seen give a brilliant performance elsewhere.

It's been a while since I walked fresh into the theatre and came out feeling drained. And it's not like we are being served brilliant movies Friday after Friday. I wish I could say that the tiredness is because the plot was complicated and the connections required me to stay wired. On the contrary, the lingering feeling is, "Say, what?" All that effort in writing sub-plot within irrelevant sub-plot and the main plot didn't deserve half a thought?

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Lots and some of it gory too.
Language: Clean
Nudity & Sexual content: None
Concept: Revenge
General Look and Feel: Intention to be intense

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 1
Story: 1.5
Lead Actors: 2.5
Character Artists: 2.5

Dialogues: 1
Screenplay: 0
Music Director: 3
Lyrics: 2

Haiwaan - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: KVN Productions, Thespian Films
Producer: Venkat K Narayana, Shailaja Desai Fenn
Director: Priyadarshan
Lead Cast: Akshay Kumar , Saif Ali Khan
Supporting Cast: Boman Irani , Mohanlal, Asrani, Rajesh Sharma, Sharib Hashmi , Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Mohan Joshi, Pahal Chaudhary
Screenplay: Priyadarshan, Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair
Dialogues: Rohan Shankar
Cinematography: Divakar Mani
Editor: Aiyappan Nair M.S.
Background Score: Ronnie Raphael
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Costume Designer: Komal Shahani, V. Sai
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Action, Thriller

Mirzapur – The Movie - External Reviews

meeta — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:37:24 +0000

25 reviewers have given Mirzapur – The Movie an average rating of 4.1/5.0 ^(?)

16 yays

0 nays

9 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch some day, maayyybe… ^(?)

quick review:

Happy to see more of the same? That is exactly what you'll get. Any newness is done with, with elan.
Streaming Partner: Amazon Prime

Thumbs up by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...Divyendu plays Munna as a motherless attention-seeker, trying to catch his father’s eye by misbehaving. It is a riveting performance, upscaled by the writing which treats the characters with respect when they don’t always deserve it. Gurmmeet Singh directs the pumped-up material with a controlled swagger. Unlike Dhurandhar which is so enamoured of its own slick (and sick) violence, Mirzapur The Movie never steps back to admire itself. There is no time or place for self-indulgence when the characters love themselves so much.... full review

Thumbs up by Aditya Mukherjee, Deccan Herald ...Pankaj Yadav, Ravi Kishan, Jitendra Kumar, Divyendu Sharma and Sheeba Chadda deliver outstanding performances. The breathtaking shots of Rajasthan deserve a mention.... full review

Thumbs up by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...The series showed us how these characters changed. The film goes back to show us who they were before that change became inevitable. And sometimes, knowing exactly where a story ends can make the journey back to the beginning surprisingly compelling.... full review

Thumbs up by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...The performances are one of the biggest strengths of the film. Pankaj Tripathi once again owns the screen as Kaleen Bhaiya. There is a certain ease with which he slips into the character, and every scene involving him gets an added impact.... full review

Thumbs up by Zinia Bandyopadhyay, FirstPost ...It may not recreate the anarchic high of the first season, and it does not always have the same effortless bhaukaal. But the chemistry remains intact, the performances hold up, the world is familiar without being entirely repetitive, and Ravi Kishan arrives with enough swagger of his own to make this detour worthwhile.... full review

Thumbs up by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, Mirzapur: The Movie knows its audience, and more importantly, it knows what that audience wants. There are enough callbacks to make fans grin and enough new twists to prevent the whole thing from feeling like a recycled season. And of course, enough violence to ensure nobody mistakes this for a family drama. Yes, three and a half hours is a commitment, but so is watching three seasons of people fighting over a throne nobody has ever managed to sit on peacefully. At least this time, the investment comes with a big-screen payoff. Also, Munna bhaiya truly amar hain.... full review

Thumbs up by Sana Farzeen, india today ...It is a film made with obvious love for the world, its characters and, most importantly, its fans. And that love is visible in every little moment. But somewhere between trying to give every character a moment and every relationship a backstory, the film becomes a little too indulgent. Mirzapur does feel exactly like the chaotic, pulpy ride you signed up for. Maybe you can just take along a little extra patience when you head to the theatres.... full review

Thumbs up by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...Net net, I quite enjoyed Mirzapur The Movie because it knows how to stay in its lane, papering over its flabby bits with continual speedy spurts and an intriguing climax. I know how things will pan out, but I’m still in for the ride. Will there be a Mirzapur The movie... full review

Thumbs up by UDITA JHUNJHUNWALA, Live Mint ...Gurmmeet Singh knows what Mirzapur audiences want. He has tried to retain the old Mirzapur flavour in the treatment of the film. The dialogues, the way the characters behave, the violence and the bitterness in relationships all carry the identity of the original series. The direction is strongest when it brings the characters face to face. The excitement of seeing old faces together and the chemistry between them gives several scenes extra energy.... full review

Thumbs up by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Up until a point that it appeared the simple story had overstretched its welcome, with Bollywood stunts, and the sorts. What with the closing slate done, and a whole lot more yet to go!... full review

Thumbs up by Sneha Hiro Tare, News18.com ...Overall, you walk out feeling it was a decent time at the movies for a fan, carried largely by nostalgia and the comfort of the characters. Measured against the first two seasons, it lands just about okay, but it is quite stronger than the third season. New viewers can still enjoy the world without knowing every detail, but the experience is clearly aimed at those who already care... full review

Thumbs up by isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...The real, rugged locations uplift the film; the gore, as expected, is relentless, and the action is immersive and volatile. It keeps unveiling surprises until the very last scene, and the actors breathe life into these flawed but human characters. Though the film stumbles close to the finish line, the engaging narrative more than makes up for its flaws.... full review

Thumbs up by DEBANJAN DHAR, Outlook India ...Mirzapur: The Movie retains its zing as long as it circles matters of such emotional wounds, love and familial ties that intensify stakes.... full review

Thumbs up by Mayur Sanap, Rediff ...For once, Mirzapur does not leave us hanging. And that feels damn good.... full review

Thumbs up by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The extraction of the show’s most entertaining aspects while also introducing a couple of new arcs, and the decision to use the same actors with one notable exception, give Mirzapur The Movie both the element of comforting familiarity and the thrill of surprise.... full review

Thumbs up by Kartik Bhardwaj, the new Indian Express ...That being said, the film does have its misses and often feels overwritten. The screenplay starts dragging and the unnecessary love song and an item number doesn’t help. But you can ignore the little slips because the characters are incessantly watchable.... full review

So-So by Siddharth Varada, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express ...The film has parts that are enjoyable but also parts that feel familiar and add nothing to our understanding of the universe.... full review

So-So by Simran Singh, DNA ...Mirzapur: The Movie is a brave attempt at taking a popular series to the big screen, but it also reminds us why OTT has garnered so much acceptance or importance in recent times. Barring the sluggish narrative, the film will entertain its diehard fans, but it doesn't justify the status of the iconic show.... full review

So-So by Ria Sharma, Free Press Journal ...One of the strengths is the dialogue writing. Several dialogues in the first half are whistle-worthy, with the scenes between Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu standing out as some of the best moments.... full review

So-So by Jaya Dwivedie, India TV ...Gurmmeet Singh knows what Mirzapur audiences want. He has tried to retain the old Mirzapur flavour in the treatment of the film. The dialogues, the way the characters behave, the violence and the bitterness in relationships all carry the identity of the original series. The direction is strongest when it brings the characters face to face. The excitement of seeing old faces together and the chemistry between them gives several scenes extra energy.... full review

So-So by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...t’s not that Mirzapur: The Movie handles the script badly! The problem is that it does not know what new to write in this script! You’re watching a world you already know extremely well, populated by people whose fates you already know, moving at a pace that assumes you need convincing all over again. My heart breaks to write this but Pankaj Tripathi, the franchise’s central figure, is the most underused and underpowered actor in this film! Mirzapur: The Movie is exactly what it was built to be: a loud, well-mounted reunion tour for fans! As a pure fan film, it works – the action is bigger, Ravi Kishan and Mohitt Malikk are genuinely valuable additions, and Divyenndu is as watchable as ever. But as a piece of storytelling, it stays so loyal to the world you already know that it rarely finds a reason to surprise you. The sluggish pace and repetitive writing make this a film tailored strictly for rowdy fans of the franchise. 2.5 stars! Mirzapur The Movie Trailer Mirzapur The Movie | Official Hindi Trailer |Ali Fazal | Pankaj Tripathi | Divyenndu | 4th Sept For more Bollywood movie reviews, stay tuned to Koimoi. Must Read: Gandhari Movie Review Ft. Taapsee Pannu: Call It Draupadi Or Dhritarashtra – Kanika Dhillon’s Writing Makes It Still The Same – Pretentious! Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Google News ADVERTISEMENT. TAGSAbhishek BAli FazalDivyennduGurmmeet SinghJitendra KumarMirzapur The Moviemovie reviewPankaj TripathiRasika DugalRavi RELATED ARTICLES Mahaprabhu Jagannath Movie Review BOLLYWOOD MOVIE REVIEWS Mahaprabhu Jagannath Movie Review: A Power-Packed Devotional Entertainer That Delivers Beyond Expectations Unmadham Movie Review ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Unmadham Movie Review: In Kunchacko Boban Starrer, The Real Curse Is Cast On Its Second Half Gandhari Movie Review Ft. Taapsee Pannu: Call It Draupadi Or Dhritrashtra Or Any Other Mythological Character! BOLLYWOOD MOVIE REVIEWS Gandhari Movie Review Ft. Taapsee Pannu: Call It Draupadi Or Dhritarashtra – Kanika Dhillon’s Writing Makes It Still The Same – Pretentious! Vibe Trailer Review: Kunal Kemmu & Preity Zinta's Wacky Mission Looks Like A Whole Lot Of Fun ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Vibe Trailer Review: Kunal Kemmu’s Comedy Has The Madgaon Express Vibe, But With A New Twist Last Man In Tower Trailer Review: It's Manoj Bajpayee vs Boman Irani In Mumbai Matter! ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Last Man In Tower Trailer Review: Family Man Manoj Bajpayee’s New Mission Is A Very Relatable Mumbai Matter, And It’s Quite Exciting! Sardar 2 Trailer Review: A Video That Packs In A Lot And Promises An Engaging Theatrical Experience ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Sardar 2 Trailer Review: Karthi’s Dual Role, SJ Suryah’s Villain Act & Sam CS’s Music Promise This To Be An Unforgettable Theatrical Experience.... full review

So-So by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies ...Overall, a strictly one-time watch, recommended mainly for hardcore Mirzapur fans.... full review

So-So by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...The movie has its share of surprise elements but plays out largely along predictable lines. Most of the men and women who peopled Mirzapur over its two seasons are back in Mirzapur: The Movie... full review

So-So by Netra Brid, Pinkvilla ...Mirzapur: The Movie tried hard to make the seamless transition from OTT to cinema that the franchise deserved. Its biggest advantage is it is heavily dependent on nostalgia and audience familiarity. Fans will enjoy seeing their favourite characters return, hearing the familiar slangs and witnessing the power games unfold on a larger canvas. Newcomers, however, may struggle to connect with a story that assumes considerable familiarity with the Mirzapur universe. The film is better in its first half but the sluggish pacing tests your patience after interval. Gurmmeet Singh manages to deliver enough entertainment to keep loyal fans engaged, yet the film needed sharper and stronger understanding of what makes a theatrical crime drama different from an OTT narrative. It has enough masala, performances and nostalgia to make it a one-time watch, but the throne deserved a tighter contender.... full review

So-So by Abhishek Srivastava, Times of India ...Mirzapur: The Movie' loses the charm it builds in the first half, and whatever charm survives fades fast after the interval. Its grip on the setting is shaky, but the cast keeps things watchable even when the story doesn't. The film touches on political corruption involving the chief minister's brother without ever really digging into how ugly that world gets.... full review

Mirzapur – The Movie - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Excel Entertainment, Amazon MGM Studios
Producer: Farhan Akhtar , Ritesh Sidhwani
Director: Gurmmeet Singh
Lead Cast: Ali Fazal , Pankaj Tripathi, Jitendra Kumar, Divyenndu
Supporting Cast: Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Sushant Singh, Ravi Kishan , Sonal Chauhan, Sheeba Chaddha, Rasika Dugal , Shweta Tripathi , Shriya Pilgaonkar, Shaji Chaudhary, Rajesh Tailang, Abhishek Banerjee , Harshita Gaur, Anangsha Biswas, Pramod Pathak, Mohitt Maalik, Satendra Soni
Story: Puneet Krishna
Cinematography: Sanjay Kapoor 1
Editor: Manan Ashwin Mehta
Choreography: Vijay Ganguly, Khyati Panchmatia
Music Director: Anand Bhaskar, Junaid Kumar, Dhanda Nyoliwala
Lyrics: Kumaar, Tejpal Singh Rawat, Ginny Diwan, Dhanda Nyoliwala
Costume Designer: Darshan Jalan, Neelanchal Ghosh
Running time: 195 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Action, Crime, Politics

Batwara 1947 - External Reviews

meeta — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 07:26:25 +0000

30 reviewers have given Batwara 1947 an average rating of 3.4/5.0 ^(?)

14 yays

3 nays

13 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up by Siddharth Varada, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express ...Their story symbolizes the highest point of humanity, with the film showing how the delicate balance between the belief in one’s own faith and the respect for other faiths can be maintained.... full review

Thumbs up by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...We may not find every component of this peace anthem equally harmonious—and Rahman’s atonal Bhajan is the worst I’ve heard in cinema—but at its core this is a work of tremendous integrity.... full review

Thumbs up by Sahelee Rakshit, Bollywood Life ...Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol have made angry cinema together before. Here that anger seems older, wiser and more compassionate. Batwara 1947 may be mounted as a historical epic, but its most powerful message is remarkably simple... full review

Thumbs up Deccan Chronicle ...Batwara 1947 is slow, occasionally preachy and technically uneven. But its central idea vividly revolves around grief having no religion, and a mother having no border. The film is less interested in showing Partition only as a story of Hindu-Muslim conflict and more interested in asking what happens when people choose humanity over identity.... full review

Thumbs up by Simran Singh, DNA ...Batwara 1947 is a delightful comeback of Sunny-Santoshi, filled with power-packed, emotionally driven moments that will surely leave you in tears. The intent and the content both hit your heart, and it truly deserves a watch in cinemas. Batwara 1947 is and should be enjoyed with family.... full review

Thumbs up by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...The film may stumble when it reaches for conventional heroics, but its heart never does. And that heart matters. Batwara 1947 arrives at a time when we desperately need to be reminded that the people on the other side of a border are not abstractions. Partition divided a country. Hatred divided human beings. The film’s final image offers a quiet, almost defiant possibility: perhaps humanity can still put us back together.... full review

Thumbs up by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Batwara 1947 is not a perfect film, but its emotional core and performances make it worth a watch. The second half works better and delivers some genuinely moving moments. The climax will surely leave you teary-eyed. The film talks about Partition, but at its heart, it is about humanity. It reminds us that hatred and violence can destroy everything, while compassion can help people rise above religious and cultural differences.... full review

Thumbs up by Zinia Bandyopadhyay, FirstPost ...perhaps that is the film's biggest achievement. It reminds us that some emotions don't belong to a religion. Grief doesn't. Fear doesn't. Loneliness doesn't. The desire to return home doesn't. And neither does the need to be treated like a human being.... full review

Thumbs up by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...The Mirzas, frustrated, try everything they can to make her leave. But Mai refuses, insisting that she is waiting for her son to return. As tensions rise, Yaqoob (Abhimanyu Singh), an aspiring politician, begins to give the conflict a communal colour, further inflaming an already volatile situation. What happens next forms the crux of the film.... full review

Thumbs up by Anindita Mukhopadhyay, India TV ...Batwara 1947: The direction Rajkumar Santoshi's direction effectively captures the shared pain of people living on both sides of the India-Pakistan divide. The film underlines how Partition did not simply divide a country. It also separated families and forced countless people to start their lives again from scratch. The core story is strong, and the subject naturally carries considerable emotional weight. The first half works particularly well and keeps the audience engaged. The second half, however, feels somewhat stretched.The direction and editing could have been tighter in places, particularly when the film begins to feel repetitive. There are also perhaps more Sunny Deol action and hero moments than the emotional setting really needs. Some sequences become very dramatic and larger than life, which does not always sit comfortably with the film's more intimate emotional tone. The dialogues have their emotional moments, but some could have been sharper and better suited to the scenes.... full review

Thumbs up by "Rajiv Vijayakar ", koimoi ...For Santoshi, this is a grand return to form, a full 22 years after his marvelous Khakee. We can forget all his subsequent aberrations for this superb display of compassionate storytelling with a message. A.R. Rahman’s background score is unshowy. I had to consciously make myself aware of the score to notice and evaluate it, and this is the way such music should be. However, as is the case with him for eons now, his songs do not register.... full review

Thumbs up by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...Batwara 1947 makes a plea that we would all do well to heed.... full review

Thumbs up by Yatamanyu Narain, News18.com ...To sum it up, Rajkumar Santoshi’s Batwara 1947 may be far from perfect, but its heart is firmly in the right place. In a world fuelled by hatred, violence and religious disharmony, the film arrives as a beacon of light for those consumed by such corrosive emotions. It entertains, but it also leaves behind an important message of peace and brotherhood. Most crucially, it makes a persuasive case for the old warning that an eye for an eye only makes the whole world blind.... full review

Thumbs up by Sahir Avik D’souza, The Quint ...Over three decades later, the two have reunited for Batwara 1947, in which Deol is once again the all-powerful man of strength.... full review

So-So by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com ...On The whole BATWARA 1947 neither makes you feel the terror of partition nor the trauma experienced by the people whom had to leave everything and shift th either India or pakistan with their entire family. In the end, I just remains a well-intentioned film with its heart in the right place and nothing more than that.... full review

So-So by Pranati A S, Deccan Herald ...Batwara 1947 is a film with a timely message, but one told through an outdated cinematic vocabulary. Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/batwara-1947-movie-review-timely-message-outdated-style-4111299... full review

So-So by Ria Sharma, Free Press Journal ...Batwara 1947 has all the ingredients of an emotional Partition drama - action, family drama, patriotism, emotions and a strong central conflict. The performances, especially by Sunny Deol and Shabana Azmi, keep the film going.... full review

So-So by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...The music and lyrics pass muster but do little to enhance the proceedings. They neither disrupt the narrative nor add much to its emotional impact, making them largely incidental to the experience.... full review

So-So by Sana Farzeen, india today ...The irony is that Batwara 1947 is terrific as a text. Adapted from the play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai, the writing has ideas, the conversations have weight, and the central metaphor is powerful. But cinema needs emotional texture, lived-in relationships and performances that make you believe in the people on screen. It has all the right things to say but doesn't know how to, and that makes this potentially moving story feel surprisingly cold.... full review

So-So by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...This is a counterpoint in the heat of civil war over batwara, as it were. You gotta honour the intentions, sometimes. These are also those times. That’s quite separate from whether a film feels engaging enough, though.... full review

So-So by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies ...Nevertheless, Batwara 1947 is definitely a good watch. You might have missed dropping tears in the cinema hall this year, so here's your chance. "Maa ki seva se bada koi karm nahi, aur Insaniyat se bada koi dharm nahi" and "Maa ko majhab me mat baato, Maa khud ek majhab hai," are definitely the most powerful statements made by any Bollywood movie this year.... full review

So-So by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...Batwara 1947 blooms during its evocative scenes of communal harmony. Its muddled screenplay, though, tests your patience, and Santoshi never allows the characters to breathe properly. The film asks: What does home really mean? And who should have the power to decide it? Ultimately, the drama might not be perfect, butdeserves to be watched for its performances and timeless, resonant themes.... full review

So-So by Aishani Biswas, Outlook India ...Anyone drawn to stories about communal harmony, or curious about how Wajahat's stage classic translates to the screen, will find enough here to justify a watch, provided expectations are calibrated for a film that reaches further than it can grasp.... full review

So-So by Deepa Gahlot, Rediff ...Santoshi reduces the story to a collection of slogans, though Sunny Deol should be given credit for handling the lowkey moments as well as the bombastic scenes with aplomb.... full review

So-So by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...Zinta is a particularly lively presence, a more full-bodied character than the one-note Sikandar or the persistently hammy Abhimanyu Singh. As the passive and yet poignant Durgavati, Shabana Azmi packs a punch.... full review

So-So by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...While Santoshi occasionally compromises the narrative with a cartoonish villain and larger-than-life action blocks, the Sunny-Shabana symphony and the film’s core message remain deeply impactful.... full review

So-So by Dhaval Roy, Times of India ...Though Batwara 1947 has its moments, its uneven treatment and overstretched narrative dilute the impact of its powerful message.... full review

Thumbs down by manjusha Radhakrishnan, Gulf News ...Batwara 1947 didn't need to manufacture emotion around that tragedy. It needed restraint, complexity and characters who felt like flesh-and-blood people rather than representatives of ideas. Instead, its great love for drama becomes almost scary. The movie has so much to say about humanity that it barely gives its humans room to breathe.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...The message is loud and clear: no religion is evil, only humans are; nafrat can be conquered through pyaar, siyasat se mazhab ko na milao; and above all, maanvata se bada koi dharam nahin. But they come as a listicle, instead of making you feel.... full review

Thumbs down by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...The Pakistan of Santoshi’s film is too removed and too vague to speak to the India of today. “No religion is bad,” Habib says. “Good, bad, that’s people.” Batwara so wants to be praised for its noble intentions. Myself, I’ll take mixed intentions over safe nothings.... full review

Batwara 1947 - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Aamir Khan Productions Pvt Ltd
Producer: Aamir Khan , Aparna Purohit
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Lead Cast: Preity Zinta , Sunny Deol
Supporting Cast: Shabana Azmi , Mithun Chakraborty, Ali Fazal , Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh, Vicky Kaushal , Baby Khushi Hajare, Karan Deol, Kanikka Kapur, Isha Sandhir, Vijayant Kohli, Ajay Madhok, Nitish Nirmal
Screenplay: Rajkumar Santoshi
Dialogues: Rajkumar Santoshi, Asghar Wajahat
Cinematography: Santosh Sivan
Editor: Sally Salgaonkar
Music Director: A R Rahman
Lyrics: Javed Akhtar
Costume Designer: Maxima Basu
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: History, Patriotism

Mirzapur – The Movie - Review

meeta — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:57:49 +0000

wogma rating: Watch some day, maayyybe… ^(?)

quick review:

Happy to see more of the same? That is exactly what you'll get. Any newness is done with, with elan.
Streaming Partner: Amazon Prime

Review

You are told repeatedly, again and again, ad nauseum about the power of this so-called throne. Not once, do you see it. In fact, continuing from the series, you see its vulnerability—in the power that is held over it by politicians, in how powerless its heir is, in how many known and secret enemies it has.

So, as you watch the all-too-familiar proceedings, you know how it's going to pan out. Now, this might be alright for someone who hasn't watched the series. Maybe this holds nostalgic value for those who have followed the series too. Especially because the movie's story starts off pretty much at the beginning, maybe an episode or two into the first season of the series.

To be fair, there is an attempt to stir something new. But as it's happening and down to the end it feels like much ado about very little. That the climax feels like the Mirzapur world has come around a full circle, doesn't help its case.

What does help is that the performances are head and shoulder above the average. Pankaj Tripathi continues to be able to draw a loud laugh with so much as the slightest of flickers in the eye and quivers outside the lip. Yes, it is intentional. And yes, I am referring to his entire repertoire and not just this series. The one thing that stands out about Mirzapur though is that each member of the cast fits just perfectly and does exactly what their character needs them to do.

Some credit, of course, goes to characters that are reasonably well written too. A special shout out to Munna's capacity to wear both—his weaknesses and his capacity to be oblivious to them—on his sleeve.

Unfortunately, though, this quality in writing doesn't spread to the story or even the dialogue. The story meanders uninterestingly. Sure, there is some merit to highlighting how petty men who are so macho can be. But that doesn't make it any less petty. Neither does calling out the pettiness. It just makes the whole thing repetitive. The 3+ hours' worth of lines barely leave a mark either.

What's supposed to stay with you then? The gore, the bloodbath and the action? We can see the effort put in to make that shine, but again it isn't engaging. And I wouldn't know if overt brutality is entertaining because I am not in the movie hall for that.

Deceit, revenge, violence, competitiveness, sex even—have made for great stories and, of course, films too. But Mirzapur The Movie ain't that story, nor movie.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Loads
Language: Liberal use of curse words
Nudity & Sexual content: Loads of sexual content, even if no nudity as such except for s bare chested Ali Fazal
Concept: Violence
General Look and Feel: Rugged, brash, rustic. As you would expect from the Mirzapur world.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 3
Story: 2.5
Lead Actors: 5
Character Artists: 5

Dialogues: 2.5
Screenplay: 2
Music Director: 1.5
Lyrics: 1.5

Mirzapur – The Movie - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Excel Entertainment, Amazon MGM Studios
Producer: Farhan Akhtar , Ritesh Sidhwani
Director: Gurmmeet Singh
Lead Cast: Ali Fazal , Pankaj Tripathi, Jitendra Kumar, Divyenndu
Supporting Cast: Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Sushant Singh, Ravi Kishan , Sonal Chauhan, Sheeba Chaddha, Rasika Dugal , Shweta Tripathi , Shriya Pilgaonkar, Shaji Chaudhary, Rajesh Tailang, Abhishek Banerjee , Harshita Gaur, Anangsha Biswas, Pramod Pathak, Mohitt Maalik, Satendra Soni
Story: Puneet Krishna
Cinematography: Sanjay Kapoor 1
Editor: Manan Ashwin Mehta
Choreography: Vijay Ganguly, Khyati Panchmatia
Music Director: Anand Bhaskar, Junaid Kumar, Dhanda Nyoliwala
Lyrics: Kumaar, Tejpal Singh Rawat, Ginny Diwan, Dhanda Nyoliwala
Costume Designer: Darshan Jalan, Neelanchal Ghosh
Running time: 195 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Action, Crime, Politics

Alpha - External Reviews

meeta — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 06:16:28 +0000

26 reviewers have given Alpha an average rating of 1.6/5.0 ^(?)

5 yays

14 nays

7 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

Like any ol' new-age action film. Only with women, so that's fun. The action is slick. The lost-and-found story is right out of '80s Hindi films. Plus, of course, the seemingly inevitable dose of 2010s-20s patriotism.

Thumbs up by Subhash k Jha, Bolly Spice ...The fight, bickering, and the banter that ensues are solidly constructed.... full review

Thumbs up by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...Alpha may not be the strongest film in the Spy Universe, but it gives the franchise something it genuinely needed: a fresh perspective. Now all the makers need is a story every bit as fearless as the women leading it…... full review

Thumbs up by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal ...No songs from Alpha were unveiled before the release, so whatever you hear in the movie will be new for you, and once the film is over, you will feel like searching for the jukebox of the movie. Also, the background score is wow and elevates the action sequences.... full review

Thumbs up by Titas Chowdhury, News18.com ...Alpha may not be the YRF Spy Universe’s strongest or most flawless outing. There are loopholes and the story remains largely predictable. But even with its imperfections, this one is a trailblazer. It sets a powerful precedent for women-led action films in mainstream Hindi cinema, proving that female protagonists can command scale, spectacle and star power just as convincingly as men.... full review

Thumbs up by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...Watching two women lead a franchise that has so far been dominated by male spies is genuinely empowering. Alpha successfully establishes Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as worthy additions to the YRF Spy Universe, even if the screenplay doesn't consistently support their efforts.... full review

So-So by Siddharth Varada, Blogical Conclusion, The New Sunday Express ...Alpha works as a female-led spy thriller. It is entertaining and also has pretty good potential going forward. I just wish the emotions between Sita and Kaul came through better. Despite not being as emotionally satisfying as some of the other spy films, it ends up being a good watch.... full review

So-So by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...On the whole, Alpha is not as bad as Bobby Deol's Haryanvi accent and is a decent one-time watch. While it has nothing new to offer, you can still watch it if you're a fan of action-packed spy thrillers.... full review

So-So by Manmath Sahu, fullhyd.com ...If you walk in expecting a gripping spy thriller, you will likely be disappointed. But if you view Alpha as a stylish combat action film, it still manages to earn a one-time watch.... full review

So-So by Vineeta Kumar, india today ...The last truly satisfying film from this universe was War back in 2019. Since then, the graph has steadily dipped. Alpha doesn't drag it further down, but it certainly doesn't raise the bar either.... full review

So-So by Anindita Mukhopadhyay, India TV ...Alpha is one of those films that you desperately want to root for. It's Bollywood's first female-led spy film. It has Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor and a surprise that fans will be talking about long after they leave the theatre. On paper, it should have been a slam dunk.... full review

So-So by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...The film is not short of powerhouse performers. As the antagonist, Bobby gets a meaty role, and he bites into it with full force. His eyes exude an inherent innocence, which makes him such a deadly villain. It makes his sudden bursts of violence twice as terrifying because you never see them coming, but the screenwriters don’t give him a compelling backstory to complement his efforts. While the film belongs to its leading ladies, the solid presence of Bobby and Anil cannot be understated. Their commitment and intensity provide enough dramatic weight to keep a shallow, derivative script afloat for those who marvel at spectacle rather than storytelling.... full review

So-So by Mimansa Shekhar, Times Now ...Alpha is an entertaining entry in the YRF Spy Universe that works more on punches than on its screenplay. Alia Bhatt redefines herself as an all-out action star. Sharvari Wagh gives an appealing supporting performance. But the story occasionally walks familiar paths. Alpha is a fun theatre experience for fans of stylish spy entertainers. If you want real spy-thriller meat, go watch Dhurandhar. There, I said it... full review

Thumbs down by Divya Pal, Bollywood Life ...Alpha is definitely worth watching on the big screen. But if you're looking for a genuinely gripping spy thriller with tighter writing... there are better options available.... full review

Thumbs down by Pranati A S, Deccan Herald ...Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as Sita and Durga deliver restrained performances even as they wield guns and beat up the ‘bad’ boys. It is delightful to watch the two of them bonding in the Kashmir valley as they climb mountains, jump into rivers and sleep under the stars. There isn’t much to say about how technically sound the film is — as it should be like any other film made on this scale.... full review

Thumbs down by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...Alpha is not an outright poor film. It has scale, polished visuals, energetic action and two committed performances from Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. Both actresses are likely to benefit from the film and add a credible action title to their filmographies. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for YRF. For a studio that has delivered some of Hindi cinema’s most memorable spy entertainers, Alpha never rises above being an average, over-stylised action thriller... full review

Thumbs down by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Alpha is neither the disaster naysayers had predicted nor the reinvention the SpyVerse needed after the disappointing War 2. It is a competently mounted but emotionally underwhelming film that delivers very few highs, largely courtesy Hrithik Roshan, but never finds a compelling pulse of its own. Sometimes, that's more disappointing than watching an outright bad film.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...To me, that’s the worst part: here’s a film telling us to believe that a lone female ranger can blow up a massive superstructure, housing a gigantic lab running a scheme thought up by a mad scientist type, and this highly trained assassin will then meekly do what she’s told? It would fit in if the film was going for the fun comic-book feel of ‘Pathaan’, where eye-rolls are served along with eye-watering high octane scenes, but Alpha asks us to take it seriously.... full review

Thumbs down by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...Alpha is absurd and chaotic. It takes a monumental franchise milestone—the first female-led spy film—and turns it into some kind of spoof! If this is the creative direction the makers are taking, it might just be time to let the Spy Universe rest in peace. Skip this one totally!... full review

Thumbs down by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...Shiv Rawail's ‘Alpha’ is sorely missing fresh ideas and is unable to credibly showcase Alia Bhatt as an action star... full review

Thumbs down by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Soon as he reveals his face to the attackers, they run, “Bhaago, yeh Kabir hai!” As in Kabir from the equally jhantu War 2. Or, actually, no. Scratch that. Alpha is superior.... full review

Thumbs down by Sameer ahire, Movie Talkies ...Technically, the cinematography and VFX are decent, but most other aspects fall short. The action sequences work in the first half but collapse later. The editing fails to keep things engaging, although the script is the bigger culprit. Production design is passable, and the music is below average. I seriously don’t understand why those songs were included—they feel completely out of place. Ishita Moitra’s dialogues are painfully weak.... full review

Thumbs down by DEBANJAN DHAR, Outlook India ...Alpha lacks the spunk and grit to make a drama riveting and destabilising. It’s as glib as late, anxious shuffles to posit an enemy country’s plot that has apparently been in the works for years. Buying into this film’s lurches is a bigger ask than YRF haggling to be rewarded for mounting a female-led actioner.... full review

Thumbs down by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...Ultimately, Alpha is a botched up opportunity. It's sad but I would rather watch Deepika in Pathaan and Katrina in the Tiger series kick ass in second fiddle capacity than become toys of their own story.... full review

Thumbs down by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The film’s story, credited to Uday Chopra, and the screenplay, by Sridhar Raghavan and Soumil Shukla, has a couple of twists that enliven the parade of dull writing and repetitive action set pieces. Some of these developments are unknown even to Vikram.... full review

Thumbs down by "Sajin Shrijith ", The Week ...Universe movie, but also just another case of jumping on the bandwagon. There are, of course, going to be many logic-related questions. Don't waste your time trying to find answers. It's simply not worth it.... full review

Thumbs down by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India ...A braided, stoic Alia Bhatt, despite her baby face, delivers a sincere performance and remains committed throughout, but the film gives her very little to work with. Sharvari is reduced to a bubbly sidekick, wasting much of her potential. Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor bring strong screen presence, but even they are let down by an overly convenient screenplay.... full review

Alpha - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Yash Raj Films
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Director: Shiv Rawail
Lead Cast: Alia Bhatt
Supporting Cast: Hrithik Roshan , Anil Kapoor , Bobby Deol, Sharvari
Story: Uday Chopra
Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Soumil Shukla
Dialogues: Ishita Moitra
Cinematography: Rubais
Editor: Aarif Shaikh
Background Score: Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara
Choreography: Bosco Martis, Vijay Ganguly
Music Director: Abeer, Rohansh
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan, Kumaar, Kausar Munir, Abeer, Rohansh
Costume Designer: Aki Narula, Gunpreet Kaur Mann, Natasha Vohra, Deepali Singh Raseen
Running time: 140 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Action

Alpha - Review

meeta — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 13:56:08 +0000

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

Review

The set-up of this set-up for YRF's spy universe is as interesting as it is amusing. The execution has a certain quality that makes it unintentionally funny. It is slick in that it has western action movie sensibilities. But the story-telling is true-blue Indian with its 80s-style family-reunion-meets-abductor-villain plot and 2010s-20s-theme of aggrandising war.

Despite making you feel like you are in a battlefield for more than half the film, the film is more action than hardcore violence. And the action choreography along with the editing makes it an involved watch. Yes, despite the shoddy CGI at times.

It's partly because there are women at the helm of affairs. They are more graceful. They add an x-factor, even though the makers are not confident that they can pull the film through. Why else would they have a cameo played by a male star? Yeah-yeah, that he is from the same spy universe is a good excuse.

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt's efforts in making her Sita believable as a top-notch superhuman soldier come through. She is light on her feet and subtle in showing the effect of the suppression her character had to endure. Now, whether Sharvari playing Durga could have carried the film on her shoulders is a question mark. As a side character, though, she makes her presence felt. The scenes with the two of them have a spark that keeps the movie alive.

This has to do with their relatively fleshed out characters as well. They don’t have too many lines, so the broader story and their facial and body language are doing a lot of the heavy-lifting. This is highlighted by the contrasting dull treatment that Bobby Deol's and Anil Kapoor's characters receive from the writing department. Monotonous characters with "filmy" lines only go on to add to the 80s feel.

Same goes for the overall plot too. Falling back on the tried-and-tested finger-pointing at Pakistan is weary and lifeless. Sure, the writing tries to fill as many holes as it creates. It uses non-linearity. It makes us ask the question, "Wait! How did he know that?" and offers an answer right in time. Only that the answer seems lame and a cop-out while trying to seem clever. The glaring one remains a given, of course, "Why is Sita loyal to borders?"

Thankfully, the pace allows all this to pass by quickly. So, you aren't left with any one question for too long. And before you know it, the end credits roll with a run-of-the-mill item number. The women didn't get a chance to be glam, you see. As you watch it, you realise numbly that you aren't going to remember much from the film. Even though you might have been engaged for most of the 140 minutes. That's what it boils down to—not all bad while it lasts, not much to mull over later.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Loads, some of it gory too.
Language: Clean.
Nudity & Sexual content: None.
Concept: YRF expanding its spy universe.
General Look and Feel: Slick, smart, quick.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 2.5
Story: 2.5
Lead Actors: 3
Character Artists: 3

Dialogues: 2
Screenplay: 2
Music Director: 1
Lyrics: 1

Alpha - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Yash Raj Films
Producer: Aditya Chopra
Director: Shiv Rawail
Lead Cast: Alia Bhatt
Supporting Cast: Hrithik Roshan , Anil Kapoor , Bobby Deol, Sharvari
Story: Uday Chopra
Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Soumil Shukla
Dialogues: Ishita Moitra
Cinematography: Rubais
Editor: Aarif Shaikh
Background Score: Sanchit Balhara, Ankit Balhara
Choreography: Bosco Martis, Vijay Ganguly
Music Director: Abeer, Rohansh
Lyrics: Anvita Dutt Guptan, Kumaar, Kausar Munir, Abeer, Rohansh
Costume Designer: Aki Narula, Gunpreet Kaur Mann, Natasha Vohra, Deepali Singh Raseen
Running time: 140 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Action

Welcome To The Jungle - External Reviews

meeta — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:21:00 +0000

27 reviewers have given Welcome To The Jungle an average rating of 3.2/5.0 ^(?)

14 yays

6 nays

7 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Don't bother ^(?)

quick review:

It's cute! Not the film. No. It's cute that they felt the need to offer logic. Even cuter that there is an attempt at metaphors. Why bother? When the intent is to evade tax by making the most terrible film possible ?😉

Streaming Partner: JioHotstar

Thumbs up by Sahelee Rakshit, Bollywood Life ...If you're looking for nuanced storytelling, deep themes or meaningful cinema, this may not be the film for you. But if your idea of a good time involves switching off your brain, gathering the family and enjoying a loud, unapologetically entertaining Bollywood comedy, Welcome To The Jungle delivers exactly what it promises.... full review

Thumbs up Deccan Chronicle ...Welcome To The Jungle is a loud, chaotic, and unapologetically commercial entertainer that understands exactly what it wants to be. It offers an entertaining mix of comedy, action, adventure, and pop-culture humour, making it an enjoyable big-screen outing. If you're looking for a film that allows you to switch off your brain and simply have a good time, this one delivers exactly that. Grab some popcorn, gather your family or friends, and prepare for a fun-filled rollercoaster of madness.... full review

Thumbs up DNA ...The movie looks really good too. It is colorful and fun. The songs are good. They do not interrupt the movie. The music, in the background is good too. It makes the movie more fun.... full review

Thumbs up by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare ...Welcome To The Jungle uses these bits of unconventional tidbits to make the conventional comedy more palatable. And in all fairness, it all comes together to make one silly but entertaining film.... full review

Thumbs up by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal ...The songs of Welcome To The Jungle are strictly decent. Apart from Ghis Ghis and Ucha Lamba Kad Forever, no other song leaves a mark. Also, while Disha has tried her best in Ucha Lamba Kad Forever, we still missed Katrina Kaif a lot!... full review

Thumbs up by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...Ultimately, Welcome To The Jungle succeeds because it never breaks its own promise. It knows exactly what it wants to be and commits wholeheartedly to that vision. It is loud, chaotic, exaggerated and completely unafraid of being over the top. If you walk in expecting realism, you are watching the wrong film.... full review

Thumbs up by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, not every film needs to be profound. Some just need to entertain. Welcome To The Jungle understands that assignment from the outset and, despite an average finale, delivers enough laughs to make the ride worthwhile.... full review

Thumbs up by Twinkle Gupta, India TV ...The songs of Welcome to the Jungle are average. Apart from “Ghis-Ghis” and “Uncha Lamba Kad Forever”, none of the tracks leave a strong impact. Even though Disha tries her best in “Uncha Lamba Kad Forever”, the absence of Katrina Kaif is felt. The songs by Vikram Montrose, Anand Raj Anand and Talwinder are also not particularly impressive.... full review

Thumbs up by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...Akshay Kumar needs a mention again as he steers the climax effortlessly with a double role none expected to be this funny! I know that making fun of disabilities can never be cool, but you need to see it to believe that it is done with an absolute sense of funny intent!... full review

Thumbs up by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Frankly, this sort of screwball, slapstick stuff — whether timepass, or terrible, and this is the former — doesn’t merit a review. You enjoy it for the parts, rather than the whole, within a disjointed mess, and measure it by the number of laughs; even a few are good enough.... full review

Thumbs up Movie Talkies ...Overall, Welcome To The Jungle is an action-packed, adventurous comedy that fully commits to its chaotic vision. It’s loud, nonsensical, and unapologetically entertaining. If you’re in the mood for a carefree cinematic experience, this one deserves a big-screen watch with your family or friends. Sit back, switch off logic, and enjoy the madness—it’s a full-on blockbuster-style movie outing.... full review

Thumbs up by TITAS CHOWDHURY, News18.com ...Basically, Welcome To The Jungle throws everything at the wall, right from meta humour, slapstick and nostalgia to action and gibberish, and somehow, enough of it sticks. There’s nothing that lies beneath the noise and it may not make sense, but then again, sense was never really the point. It works best when you surrender to its wild, logic-defying energy and simply go along for the ride.... full review

Thumbs up by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...Your jaws will hurt from laughing, a complete family entertainer that brings back the magic of old-school Bollywood comedy.... full review

Thumbs up by Tanmayi Savadi, Times Now ...Welcome To The Jungle should be watched without expecting logic. Better than most comedies, this film has some excellent scenes that could eventually become meme material and cult classics.... full review

So-So by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...Making a mindless comedy is not child’s play. It’s a lot more difficult than making mindful movies triggered by murky mayhem. Welcome To The Jungle is much more on-the-ball than it was expected to be. Not all the intended laughter hits target. But there’s enough to smile over, even if you don’t want to be caught doing so.... full review

So-So by Vinamra Mathur, FirstPost ...Welcome To The Jungle works more than it doesn’t due to its self-awareness. It’s a film that fully commits to its idiocy. It stops at nothing. It halts at nothing. We may not take back anything. But a smile amid the time of gloom also works if you can’t entirely guffaw.... full review

So-So by Vineeta Kumar, india today ...The screenplay keeps changing lanes. One minute it's slapstick, the next it is action. Then romance. Then patriotism. Then terrorism. Then another explosion. By the end, the film seems as confused about its identity as the audience is about what exactly they have paid to watch. At one point, Rajpal's Dev instructs the actors in his film-within-the-film to do whatever they want, move at their own pace and build the story themselves. The irony of that now.... full review

So-So by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...The film gives an unwieldy cast the kind of freedom that only a muddled, overstuffed screenplay can. The actors stop at nothing, hamming it up like there is no tomorrow.... full review

So-So by Aishani Biswas, Outlook India ...Technically, the film looks polished enough. Ahmed Khan stages the large ensemble with reasonable confidence and manages to keep the action visually energetic. The production design is colourful and suitably larger than life, while the music blends comfortably into the film's nostalgic tone. Yet the screenplay remains wildly uneven. The first half takes too long to settle and several characters exist without adding much to the story.... full review

So-So by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...Comedy hits best when it's genuinely committed to the dishonesty at play. Welcome To The Jungle's moment of truth arrives when Akshay pleads 'Hum sab bhand hain' in the face of fear and power. If only the rest of this slog was as self-aware as this single scene.... full review

So-So by Archika Khurana, Times of India ...Welcome To The Jungle is not a flawless comedy. It is overcrowded, noisy and often indulgent. But despite its flaws, it manages to deliver enough laughs and entertaining moments to justify the ride. This is the kind of film that asks you to leave logic behind and simply surrender to the madness. If you enjoy chaotic ensemble comedies packed with slapstick humour— this jungle ride offers enough fun to keep you engaged.... full review

Thumbs down by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Overall, Welcome To The Jungle is a disappointing comedy that fails to live up to expectations. While Akshay Kumar and the supporting cast work hard to entertain, the weak screenplay, overcrowded narrative, and inconsistent humour prevent the film from becoming the laugh riot it aims to be. Fans of the franchise may find a few enjoyable moments, but the film ultimately falls short of delivering the classic Welcome experience.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...Me, I don’t have any problem with dimaag occasionally being turned into dahi when I’m at such movies, because that’s the ask. Just don’t bore me.... full review

Thumbs down by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...Skip this and re-watch 'Welcome' instead; 1.5/5 stars Khan throws everything at the wall in the hope that something sticks, and the result is a bloated mess. Patani barely gets any dialogues, Lara Dutta has an excessively loud character, and several supporting actors get only a line or two. In one scene, an exasperated Rajeev asks, "Aye, comedy chal raha hai kya idhar?" The answer is a resounding no.... full review

Thumbs down Scroll.in ...Akshay Kumar exercises his privilege as one of the film’s co-producers and has far too many scenes to himself. Welcome to the Jungle tries to weave this hogging into the script, but the severely overstretched 164-minute movie isn’t that self-aware to carry it off.... full review

Thumbs down by Kartik Bhardwaj, the new Indian Express ...Welcome To The Jungle is a ludicrous, hodgepodge of events which works only when the actors and the audience are in on the absurd. However, it is fun to see Akshay Kumar get down his saviour high-horse and improvise some funny bits. He is hilarious as an actor who wants to hog all the limelight. The meta-ness can be a tad-bit on the nose but Akshay sells it.... full review

Thumbs down by Agnivo Niyogi, The Telegraph ...Yet throughout the film, one cannot help but miss the manic brilliance that Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor brought to the earlier Welcome films. Their absence leaves a noticeable void that no amount of star power quite manages to fill.... full review

Welcome To The Jungle - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Cape of Good Films, Base Industries Group, Seeta Films, Star Studio
Producer: Firoz Nadiadwala, Rakesh Dang, Vedant Vikaas Baali
Lead Cast: Arshad Warsi , Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Akshay Kumar Parija
Supporting Cast: Shreyas Talpade , Jackie Shroff, Farida Jalal, Lara Dutta , Paresh Rawal , Zakir Hussain, Aftab Shivdasani , Tusshar Kapoor , Rajpal Yadav, Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi , Rahul Dev, Sayaji Shinde, Jacqueline Fernandez , Kiran Kumar, Raveena Tandon , Pankaj Dheer, Kiku Sharda, Johny Lever, Krushna Abhishek
Story: Neeraj Vora, Farhad Samji
Background Score: Hanif Shaikh
Choreography: Ganesh Acharya, Aadil Shaikh, Rahul Shetty, Prince Gupta
Costume Designer: Kunal Rawal, Anna Singh, Ami Patel, Shakil Prakash Shetty, Namita Alexandar, Sunakshi Rathod
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Slapstick

Welcome To The Jungle - Review

meeta — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:12:45 +0000

wogma rating: Don't bother ^(?)

quick review:

Streaming Partner: JioHotstar

Review

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is sacrosanct in Welcome to the Jungle. Language, age, objectification, racism, casteism, disabilities, to name a few. Oh, and body-shaming in all dimensions—height, width, depth—all bases covered. Everything is game to be the butt of a joke. So, every other scene in this true-blue equal opportunity offender has something problematic about it. And when it's not that, it is characters putting each other down—all with the good intentions of making the audience laugh.

Okay, before I put the entire movie down. I began laughing out loud in one scene, and it became uncontrollable for a bit. Things were getting just way too silly. Also, once you accept that the idea is that the characters berating each other constantly, some of the scenes have witty quips. But, I've never found it in myself to spend energy on considering roasting as a form of humour.

Then there is the other regular slapstick fair—loudness, slurping, people getting shot in the buttocks, and so on. Oh, and characters talking over each other. All the time. To top it off, they go ahead and make it a feature.
Character gets talked over ➡️ They lose track of what they were saying ➡️ They try to remember what they are saying ➡️ Other characters create more confusion ➡️ The first character remembers ➡️ And repeats the train of thought!
I wonder how many extra minutes this non-comedy added to the almost 3-hour film.

Speaking of which, did they just shoot a series of "item" numbers? Sure, some of them will hit the clubs regularly. But, I could spot three left over after an "explainable" one and an end-credit one. How do I know they had extra songs in their kitty? Well, they have one inexplicably follow what I am calling the "explainable" one, one before the end-credit one, and one…hold your breath…during the interval! Not just before or just after the interval, right after "INTERVAL" shows up on screen.

It is remarkable in this mayhem and some-15 oddly-written characters that you can recall some of the actors. Every one other than Akshay Kumar share screen space almost equally. His act is as insufferable as ever. Arshad Warsi stands out because he doesn't shout all the time. Jacqueline Fernandes might stay in memory a little longer than usual because her character owns how dim she is made out to be. Once you give in to the quirks written for Farida Jalal and Kiran Kumar's characters, you appreciate their performance. Also, we know Jackie Shroff is barely changing expression between films. Is he not changing makeup either? Having said that, I am not sure how much we can judge the acts, when the dubbing is off so often.

Other than that, the writing has at least one self-referential element for many actors. As usual, this feels like lazy writing though I guess forcing it in the story requires some skill too. Given that then, it is surprising to have a "Fate versus Choice" debate thrown in.

Equally commendable was the self-aware pre-end-credit-item-number item-number. Yes, as much as I complained about it. But more importantly, they wear the answer to "Why they got involved with this film?" on their sleeve. "Money." Either they get a tax write-off, or they earn money selling a film that they know is terrible. Win-win for them. Lose-lose for us, isn't it?

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Supposedly funny gun shots and fist fights.
Language: Some curse words are used.
Nudity & Sexual content: None.
Concept: A businessman wants tax write-offs, so he decides to make a film destined to flop.
General Look and Feel: Loud, caricaturish.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 0
Story: 0
Lead Actors: 0.5
Character Artists: 1

Dialogues: 1
Screenplay: 0
Music Director: 1
Lyrics: 1

Welcome To The Jungle - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Cape of Good Films, Base Industries Group, Seeta Films, Star Studio
Producer: Firoz Nadiadwala, Rakesh Dang, Vedant Vikaas Baali
Lead Cast: Arshad Warsi , Suniel Shetty, Disha Patani, Akshay Kumar Parija
Supporting Cast: Shreyas Talpade , Jackie Shroff, Farida Jalal, Lara Dutta , Paresh Rawal , Zakir Hussain, Aftab Shivdasani , Tusshar Kapoor , Rajpal Yadav, Mika Singh, Daler Mehndi , Rahul Dev, Sayaji Shinde, Jacqueline Fernandez , Kiran Kumar, Raveena Tandon , Pankaj Dheer, Kiku Sharda, Johny Lever, Krushna Abhishek
Story: Neeraj Vora, Farhad Samji
Background Score: Hanif Shaikh
Choreography: Ganesh Acharya, Aadil Shaikh, Rahul Shetty, Prince Gupta
Costume Designer: Kunal Rawal, Anna Singh, Ami Patel, Shakil Prakash Shetty, Namita Alexandar, Sunakshi Rathod
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Slapstick

Cocktail 2 - External Reviews

meeta — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:37:41 +0000

26 reviewers have given Cocktail 2 an average rating of 1.6/5.0 ^(?)

2 yays

11 nays

13 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch some day, maayyybe… ^(?)

quick review:

Philosophy and non-trivial conversations are the ends. A love triangle and non-funny jokes are the means. Hardly a shocker that the ends don't justify the time and energy spent on the means, despite some good performances and better ambience. Streaming Platform: Netflix

Thumbs up by Sahelee Rakshit, Bollywood Life ...One of the biggest strengths of Cocktail 2 is its writing. The dialogues are simple, practical and straight from real life. There is no attempt to sound overly dramatic or poetic, and that honesty works in the film’s favour. Written by Tarun Jain with story by Luv Ranjan, the film understands the pulse of today’s relationships. The conversations feel lived-in, and many moments stay with you because of how familiar they sound.... full review

Thumbs up by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...Living up to the nostalgia of Cocktail is a monumental task, but Cocktail 2 confidently creates its own identity. The script doesn’t try to replicate the Veronica-Meera-Gautam dynamic; instead, it updates the language of love, friendship, and unadulterated desire for 2026. The biggest victory of Cocktail 2 is its unapologetic maturity.... full review

So-So by Divya P, Deccan Herald ...‘Cocktail’ featured some banger music by Pritam and 'Tum hi ho bandhu' is still the most peppy track in this one as well. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran gives us sweeping shots of the exotic coastlines, enriching the film visually.... full review

So-So by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...Visually, the film is a treat. The Italian countryside has been beautifully photographed, and the production design is first-rate. Unfortunately, the shallow writing doesn't give the actors much room to shine.... full review

So-So by Lachmi Deb Roy, FirstPost ...Towards the end, the film features profound discussions about love and responsibility, emphasising that love does not require constant agreement. It’s about a habit and getting used to each other, including the bad habits, and coming back to each other despite all the differences. The movie makes you believe that despite all the differences, a long-term relationship can never be disrupted; it is indeed like an old and torn T-shirt which makes you feel comfortable and lets you sleep peacefully every night!... full review

So-So by Ria Sharma, Free Press Journal ...Visually, the film is gorgeous. Sicily's stunning locations and scenic views add a lot of charm. But beyond the beautiful backdrop, the story offers very little that's fresh. It is stuck in the past. It's another familiar Bollywood lesson on love, marriage and relationships. The plot is predictable, there are hardly any surprises, and the film often feels like a sequel that didn't really need to be made.... full review

So-So by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, perhaps the biggest issue with Cocktail 2 is that it constantly reminds you of a better film. The original Cocktail was messy too, but it had heart and characters you cared about. This spiritual successor has the gloss, the glamour, but not the emotional punch. Some drinks are best served once.... full review

So-So by Sana Farzeen, india today ...In a nutshell, Cocktail 2 is a beautiful-looking love story with surprisingly little love in it. By the end, you'll remember the songs, the locations and the outfits, but you'll probably want to forget the characters and the story.... full review

So-So by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...Ultimately Cocktail 2 comes off a bit of a cocktail itself, swinging between style and substance . It is Shahid Kapoor who carries this film with a pleasing conviction I haven’t seen in a long time. And while I missed Deepika Padukone’s wild wounded-ness, Sanon isn’t half bad herself. But there’s no getting past the conservatism which comes wrapped in this pyaar ka punchnama: for all its modern vibe, it’s the guy who gets the last word, not the gals.... full review

So-So by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies ...Cocktail 2 turns out to be more watchable than expected. If you walk in with low expectations, it can serve as a decent one-time watch. However, it’s unlikely to appeal to single-screen audiences and works better as a multiplex entertainer.... full review

So-So by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...The actors carry much of the onus. Shahid Kapoor is as steady as a rock even when the film isn't. Kriti Sanon not only enhances the sensuality quotient but also goes beyond being skin deep. Rashmika Mandanna, playing the sedate Diya, pulls off the more dramatic passages with aplomb but is often relegated to a secondary role.... full review

So-So by TITAS CHOWDHURY, News18.com ...Cocktail 2 wants to bottle the upheavals of modern love but is too afraid of spilling any of it. For all its talk of complicated relationships and emotional infidelity, it remains too safe. The designer clothes and postcard-perfect locations stand out but this intoxication is fleeting. Once the high wears off, you’re left with a rom-com that’s little romance and even lesser comedy.... full review

So-So by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...Cocktail 2 suffers from a stretched second half and occasionally relies on familiar tropes. However, just when the narrative appears to be losing steam, the film finds its footing in the final 15 minutes. The climax packs enough emotional punch to make up for some of the unevenness that precedes it, ensuring that you walk out with a smile and perhaps even a lump in your throat. Cocktail 2 may not be intoxicating throughout, but its aftertaste lingers.... full review

So-So by Agnivo Niyogi, The Telegraph ...Pritam's music and Amitabh Bhattacharya's lyrics complement the narrative effectively, even if the soundtrack lacks the instantly memorable quality associated with the original Cocktail. The songs serve the emotional flow of the story, especially during the European holiday narrative track.... full review

So-So by Dhaval Roy, Times of India ...If you enjoy relationship dramas that keep things light, musical and easy on the eyes, Cocktail 2 makes for a fun watch.... full review

Thumbs down by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...Kriti Sanon has some fun with her leggy part. But is eventually unable to pull off the various layers of subterfuge her role requires. The only hero of the show is Sicily. Sometimes you just feel like telling the silly characters to move out of the way. They are blocking the view.... full review

Thumbs down by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Cocktail 2 turns out to be a strictly average film. It has good music and attractive visuals. However, the predictable writing and lack of emotional depth prevent it from reaching the level set by its predecessor. Fans looking for a light romantic entertainer may find enough reasons to watch it once, but those expecting the magic of the original Cocktail are likely to be disappointed.... full review

Thumbs down by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...The music, despite arriving at frequent intervals, leaves surprisingly little impact. Considering the legacy of the original Cocktail and the importance of music in contemporary romantic dramas, the songs come and go without leaving behind a memorable tune or emotional resonance.... full review

Thumbs down by Anindita Mukhopadhyay, India TV ...Homi Adjania, who directed Cocktail in 2012, has helmed the sequel too. His style of filmmaking is modern and taps into the flavour of the season. While Cocktail 2 might not be his worst film, we definitely expected a better blend. The characters seemed underdeveloped and unripe, as if a teaspoon of sugar would have saved the drink. But sometimes, all you need is a teaspoon for perfection. And a teaspoon could be a lot.... full review

Thumbs down by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...Cocktail 2 is frictionless filmmaking, glib enough to provide the illusion of a good time. Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran’s photography is hideously bright and Insta-minded. The soundtrack is catchy but Pritam-by-numbers. There’s nothing at all apart from the central trio, and I couldn’t tell you a single useful thing about any of them aside from how they approach relationships. Nothing sticks, and maybe that’s the intention. Adajania won’t even commit to the contrived drama that builds before Diya and Kunal’s wedding, which Ally is attending as a ‘bridesmaid’; there’s a sudden lurch into manic comedy before Kunal tells the girls off one last time.... full review

Thumbs down by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Or, maybe, that is the ending? Obviously, I’m not gonna tell you. There’s only one way for you to find out. Order this Cocktail too. Seriously. Must I suffer this hangover alone?... full review

Thumbs down by DEBANJAN DHAR, Outlook India ...The game Diya set off has major emotional consequences which, when they inevitably happen, come as a shocker to her. Cocktail 2 makes Divya appear like a fool and Ally a loosely defined vamp. Kunal is the casualty. He is seen as someone hemmed between the machinations of the women. He’s perfectly gullible. The film keeps giving him the clean pass, pushing women into the jostling fray.... full review

Thumbs down by sukanya Verma, Rediff ...Of the three, Rashmika heaves and blows through a character that's so illogical it's almost pitiable. Kriti Sanon delivers her va va voom brief in gloriously glamorous looks. Her saucy, mischief attitude would steal a lot more thunder if Cocktail 2 wasn't so undecided about her sneaky ways. Change the background from soulful ballads to thriller scores and there's a Fatal Attraction level of obsession twinkling in her glossy eyes.... full review

Thumbs down by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The chemistry between Kriti Sanon and Shahid Kapoor is missing too. However, Kapoor fares the best in Cocktail 2, apt as the loyal boyfriend who confronts temptation with a mix of pleasure and puzzlement. Kapoor is fully aware that Cocktail 2 is all about the glory of Kunal, and acts accordingly.... full review

Thumbs down by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...But the tragedy of Cocktail 2 is that it treats its audience exactly the same way. It is a messy cupboard of a movie, but instead of feeling comforting, it just feels exhaustingly predictable. There is nothing much to look at inside!... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhangi Shah, The Week ...The film's greatest strength, meanwhile, lies in its stunning shots of itself wasn’t a great film to begin with, “Cocktail 2” makes it look like a masterpiece.... full review

Cocktail 2 - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube
Banner: Maddock Films
Producer: Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg, Dinesh Vijan
Director: Homi Adajania
Lead Cast: Shahid Kapoor , Kriti Sanon , Rashmika Mandanna
Supporting Cast: Tiku Talsania
Story: Luv Ranjan, Tarun Jain
Cinematography: Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran
Choreography: Vijay Ganguly
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Costume Designer: Anaita Shroff Adajania
Running time: 150 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Relationships, Romance

Main Vaapas Aaunga - External Reviews

meeta — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:23:05 +0000

25 reviewers have given Main Vaapas Aaunga an average rating of 4.4/5.0 ^(?)

20 yays

1 nays

4 so-so

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

At 2.5 hours, you're rooting for a 95-year-old to get answers so he can die in peace. And then you witness one of the most brilliantly done end credit scenes. I call that a movie well-made even if it doesn't engage through its runtime.

Thumbs up by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...Main Vaapas Aaunga is not a breezy experience. It commands our attention and respect for constructing a compelling case for peace and empathy at a time when movies are going all-out to propagate hatred and enmity. What Imtiaz Ali asks us in this precious film about love and amity is this: could the enemy be within us?... full review

Thumbs up by Pranati A S, Deccan Herald ...Among the many ironies of the two countries is how we can’t go there and they can’t come here, but a British citizen telling us how identical Delhi and Lahore are. Imtiaz uses it subtly to show reality’s bitter contradiction. The film also highlights the convenient politics of the British that shaped the harsh political and social landscape of the two countries.... full review

Thumbs up by Simran Singh, DNA ...Barring a few hiccups, I find Main Vaapas Aaunga Imtiaz Ali's best work. Yes, more than Jab We Met, Rockstar, and Tamasha. This film will truly make you start believing in love again. For me, this is the best love story in the last 20 years after Veer-Zaara (2004). Don't miss Main Vaapas Aaunga at any cost, and go with your grandparents.... full review

Thumbs up by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Overall, Main Vaapas Aaunga is not without flaws. The slow and somewhat underwhelming first half prevents it from reaching greatness. However, its emotionally rewarding second half, impactful performances and heartfelt storytelling make it a worthwhile watch.... full review

Thumbs up by Lachmi Deb Roy, FirstPost ...Not just cinematically, the film shines in every possible way, but it is an urgent watch because of its connection to present-day situations. To connect with every scene, you better stay glued to the big screen!... full review

Thumbs up by Ria Sharma, Free Press Journal ...Yes, the film could have been slightly shorter, especially in the first half. But that's just a small complaint in an otherwise beautiful cinematic experience. Main Vaapas Aaunga is packed with love, loss, longing and hope. It is emotional and heartbreaking. This is the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits roll.... full review

Thumbs up by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Main Vaapas Aaunga delivers something far rarer: a deeply human story. It may stumble occasionally, but when it soars, it reaches the kind of emotional heights few filmmakers today can access. By the time the credits roll, you are left with moist eyes, and the lingering ache of a story that refuses to leave you long after you have left the theatre.... full review

Thumbs up by Sakshi Verma, India TV ...As far as music is concerned, the background score by AR Rahman plays a very subtle role in conveying different emotions to the audience. At the same time, the songs add to the emotional aspect of Imtiaz Ali's movie. Together, the music and visuals create a sensory experience that elevates scenes beyond what is written on the page. Main Vaapas Aaunga album is special and should be celebrated.... full review

Thumbs up by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...For me, the film’s weaker portions are papered over by the ones that hold us, re-uniting us with a filmmaker unafraid of drama, telling us a story about memory and loss, and the power of home-coming.... full review

Thumbs up by Rajiv Vijayakar, koimoi ...A.R. Rahman, as in most cases, does a great job of the background score, but one cannot say the same about his songs. Irshad Kamil’s lyrics, however, are between pithy (mostly) and a shade abstruse, but the song, Kya kamaal hai, sung by Diljit, is a lyrical masterpiece that grips also with its unique and brilliant visuals. Mascara is catchy, but only in the mukhda!... full review

Thumbs up by Radhika Sharma, NDTV ...Imtiaz Ali has famously said he hates that his films "work" only years after release, with Laila Majnu being a case in point. Here's hoping he gets that real-time recognition with Main Vaapas Aaunga.... full review

Thumbs up by Shachi Chaturvedi, News18.com ...While promoted as a Vedang Raina and Sharvari starrer, the film has Diljit Dosanjh and Naseeruddin Shah as the heroes who remain the film’s strongest pillars throughout. Diljit, as Nirvair, holds the entire story together, and it feels like he makes us live both timelines of Keenu’s life through Naseeruddin Shah’s eyes. His punches land well, while we all feel something when he speaks about the desire to be loved like Keenu and Jiya.... full review

Thumbs up by Aishani Biswas, Outlook India ...Visually, Main Vaapas Aaunga is stunning. The cinematography captures both the beauty and fragility of memory. The recreation of old Punjab feels immersive without appearing artificial. Every frame appears carefully designed to evoke a world that exists partly in reality and partly in recollection.... full review

Thumbs up by Gayatri Nirmal, Pinkvilla ...After a long dry spell, Hindi cinema finally delivers a profound love story that will leave your heart racing and your eyes moist long after you step out of the theater. True to the Imtiaz Ali universe, the iconic tradition of a lead character eating in isolation makes a poetic return.... full review

Thumbs up by Sreeju Sudhakaran, Rediff ...Kya Kamaal Hai encapsulates exactly why Imtiaz Ali made this film. It is his mercy letter to a burning world that continues to look away while millions are killed, displaced or rendered homeless across the globe.... full review

Thumbs up by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The story’s radical edge is waiting to be unsheathed. In Kya Kamaal Hai, sung by Diljit Dosanjh and placed in the middle of the end credits, Ali dazzlingly links Partition not only to present-day conflicts around the world but also to the tendency of Indians to ignore uncomfortable realities and insist that everything is wonderful.... full review

Thumbs up by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...Rahman is shifting his musical axis, fusing his global, synth-heavy soundscape with the raw, untamed heartbeat of Punjab. It is not an easy marriage and at times gives a sense of desperation to fit in, but the friction between Rahman’s clinical precision and Punjab’s bleeding heart is precisely where the magic happens.... full review

Thumbs up by Anas Arif, the new Indian Express ...Yet, for all the familiar trademarks, Main Vaapas Aaunga may also be Ali’s most evolved film. For perhaps the first time, he is less interested in leaving home than in returning to it. He is less interested in escape than in embrace.... full review

Thumbs up by Shubhangi Shah, The Week ...Performance-wise, the film is anchored by an exceptional cast. Vedang Raina is excellent the younger Ishar, while Sharvari lends innocence to Afsana that reminds you of a bygone, simpler time. Dosanjhserves as the film's emotional bridge between past and present, grounding it exceptionally well.... full review

Thumbs up by Dhaval Roy, Times of India ...Imtiaz Ali’s signature poetic and deeply emotional storytelling, along with the powerful performances, make this a must-watch. The film’s bittersweet ache stays with you long after the credits roll.... full review

So-So by Rachit Gupta, Filmfare ...And yet. For anyone who has ever read Rumi on a sleepless night or found themselves undone by an Amrita Pritam poem, Main Vaapas Aaunga has a soulfulness that quietly gets under your skin and into the rhythm of your heart beats. The love at its core is real, rare, and worth returning for.... full review

So-So by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...For those willing to invest in its world, however, Main Vaapas Aaunga offers a sincere and moving experience. It is an unusual interfaith romance that uses the tragedy of Partition to tell a deeply human story about love, longing and the connections that survive even when time, distance and history stand in the way.... full review

So-So by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...Ali seems especially moved by the plight of refugees. The film opens with news of a devastating earthquake. The end credits have Dosanjh singing over footage of various humanitarian crises. It’s heartfelt, and a little cheesy—like everything that’s come before. There’s a small, key moment when an old man hesitates to share his Partition memories, saying they’ll be misunderstood and turned into hate. Main Vaapas Aaunga understands that the past is only worth dredging up if it can heal the present.... full review

So-So MiD DAY ...The performances are undoubtedly one of the film's biggest strengths. Naseeruddin Shah effortlessly carries the emotional weight of the narrative on his shoulders, delivering a deeply moving portrayal of a man burdened by fading memories and unfulfilled love. Diljit Dosanjh, meanwhile, lights up the screen with his natural charm and warmth, providing the film with some of its most heartfelt moments. Vedang Raina leaves a strong impression as the young Keenu, capturing both the innocence and vulnerability. Sharvari Wagh is equally stunning, bringing grace, spirit, and emotional depth to Jiya, making her presence felt despite the limited screen time.... full review

Thumbs down by Vineeta Kumar, india today ...Main Vaapas Aaunga wants to be a conversation between generations - between those who lived through Partition and those who inherited its memories. It wants to explore grief, belonging, identity and reconciliation. These are worthy ambitions. But ambition alone cannot sustain a film.... full review

Main Vaapas Aaunga - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Window Seat Films, Applause Entertainment
Producer: Sameer Nair, Deepak Segal, Mohit Choudhary
Director: Imtiaz Ali
Lead Cast: Naseeruddin Shah , Diljit Dosanjh , Vedang Raina, Sharvari
Supporting Cast: Kumud Mishra, Rajat Kapoor , Anjana Sukhani, Sahil Mehta, Vinod Nagpal, Nikhat Khan, Banita Sandhu, Rasika Agashe, Kashmira Irani, Jashn Kohli, Jaipreet Singh, Krishna Kotian, Debasree Ghosh, Nikki Narula, Naresh Asija, Shruti Sodhi
Story: Imtiaz Ali, Nayanika Mahtani
Cinematography: Sylvester Fonseca, SR Kathir I.S.C
Editor: Aarti Bajaj
Background Score: Suresh Permal
Music Director: A R Rahman
Lyrics: Irshad Kamil
Costume Designer: Sheetal Iqbal Sharma
Running time: 165 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Romance, Social

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