Tehran

An espionage film generally thrives on a competent blend of action, emotion, and skillful storytelling that highlights both the plot and its characters.

Unfortunately, Tehran, while focused on presenting investigative procedures in great detail, misses the mark on the essential elements of an idealistic storytelling. Despite featuring numerous events, none resonate as they should, lacking both visual impact and emotional depth.

It's all dull and uninspiring, which is surprising considering how the brilliant trailer had me expecting the exact opposite.

This story is based on a true-life incident involving an Indian police officer who goes to great lengths to avenge the death of a child. It delves into the complexities of global politics, showcasing how various state-level actors prioritize their own interests despite the odds stacked against them. While the story is undoubtedly inspiring, the screenplay could have been more well-crafted, making it predictable at times. However, the action sequences are visually appealing and believable, which adds to the overall viewing experience. If you're free in the evening after your work, I would recommend giving this movie a watch.

I think the movie was well thought out. The various challenges faced by the team investigating the assassinations could have been better presented.

One misguided notion the director went with was to consider the state of Georgia of the United States of America same as the country Georgia in eastern Europe where the original incident happened in Feb 2012. I am taking away a star due to this.

Tehran starts promisingly with a gripping first 30 minutes that effectively builds tension around the 2012 Israeli diplomat bombing case. John Abraham delivers his usual restrained performance, and the initial setup feels authentic with solid production values and realistic atmosphere.

However, the film quickly derails after the strong opening act. The second half-hour becomes increasingly convoluted with poor pacing and questionable plot developments that strain credibility. What begins as a promising geopolitical thriller deteriorates into typical Bollywood formula filmmaking.

The final act is where Tehran completely falls apart, abandoning any pretense of logic or coherent storytelling. The film resorts to tired Bollywood tropes, over-the-top action sequences that feel disconnected from the serious subject matter, and plot twists that make little sense within the established narrative framework.

While the Iranian actors bring authenticity to their roles and the technical aspects remain decent throughout, the script's inability to maintain its initial promise becomes increasingly frustrating. The film wastes its compelling real-world foundation with lazy writing and formulaic execution that undermines the sensitive subject matter.

Rating: 4/10 - A wasted opportunity that squanders a strong start with poor storytelling choices.

Starts with based on a true story and then goes on its own fictional way.

John Abraham is the most consistent actor having the same expression in every seen for 20 years.

Guns are freely available everywhere and you can shoot in every international country - see if it's fiction it's ok - but when u say true story then be true.

I'm surprised it was even released on OTT - looks more like a b grade tv series than a movie.

One man's personal vendetta for some absolutely astoundingly weird reason by putting international relations on the brink and making tons of innocents lose their life to avenge one innocents life.

The director and John rewrote history how they felt - to put it in one word pathetic attempt at an espionage thriller.