Berlin

Berlin is a welcome departure from the typical, over-the-top Bollywood spy thriller.

This is an unexpectedly engaging film, a slow-burn espionage drama that trades high-octane action for a claustrophobic, cerebral battle of wits.

The film's greatest strength lies in its performances, particularly Ishwak Singh, who delivers a truly captivating, career-defining performance as a deaf-mute suspect. His silent portrayal is so expressive, it makes the dialogue-heavy scenes between him and Aparshakti Khurana, who is equally impressive, genuinely riveting.

While the film's unique premise and stellar acting are its selling points, it isn't without its flaws. The pacing is a bit uneven, with the narrative sometimes meandering into an information overload that can make it difficult to follow.

Despite these stumbles, the film's unique artistic direction and commitment to its atmospheric, subtle storytelling make it a worthwhile watch for those who appreciate a spy story with more psychological depth.

"Berlin" is a special film in Bollywood's context. Rarely are films made this perfectly. An edge-of-the-seat spy thriller, it stands out because it isn't the typical action-packed spectacle. Instead, it offers a more grounded and realistic portrayal of espionage, where the tension comes from intense interrogations rather than over-the-top stunts. "Berlin" beautifully captures that gritty, psychological battle that plays out in the world of spies.

The casting is flawless. Aparshakti Khurana delivers a career-defining performance, showcasing his versatility like never before. Rahul Bose, a seasoned actor, brings gravitas to his role, while Ishwak Singh and Kabir Bedi add depth and complexity to the narrative. Anupriya Goenka's presence, though understated, is powerful and impactful.

Beyond the performances, the film's production design is impeccable. Every set, every location feels meticulously crafted, immersing the audience in a world of shadows, secrets, and suspense. The script, too, is tight and engaging, with dialogues that reveal just enough to keep you hooked without giving away too much.

In a time when Bollywood is often criticized for formulaic storytelling, "Berlin" is a breath of fresh air. It's smart, intense, and beautifully crafted-a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Movie Review: Hindi Film Berlin streaming on Zee5!!

Berlin is an espionage thriller, set in 1993 , a few days prior to the visit of the Russian president to India, a deaf- mute person Ashok (Ishwaq Singh) is arrested for being a spy. He is the only person who might have a clue to an assassination plot that threatens to derail the entire fabric of Indian politics.

Pushkin ( Aparshakti Khurana), a sign language expert is brought in by the Bureau chief Sondhi ( Rahul Bose) to interrogate Ashok . As the interrogation proceeds , the thin line between guilt & innocence blurs. Things are not what they seem and there is something sinister brewing in the backdrop !!

A mind bender in the true sense . A gripping faceoff between Aparshakti & Ishwaq is the highlight as both try to get an upper hand in the interrogation!! The effort put in by the lead characters, especially their proficiency in sign language shows, as they breeze through the interrogation like 2 specially abled persons talking effortlessly ! Impressive indeed 👍 🙂!

Another aspect showcased brilliantly is the intense rivalry between 2 top security agencies in India , the Bureau & Wing , their disjointed way of working and reluctance to collaborate for the greater good of the country!! Sad State of affairs indeed !!

And finally, how is the name Berlin relevant in the context of the narrative ??

The climax too is out of the world that will blow you away!!

If you're a fan of edge of the seat thrillers, this Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwaq Singh, Rahul Bose starter is definitely recommended!!

Going with 3.5/5 for this one.. Adios 🙂!!

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A very interesting thriller with very unusual cinematic treatment. On the backdrop of a spy story, this delves deeper into human pysche and politics within intelligence department.

The direction is such that it does not reveal clearly what is the motive. What starts as a story about unveiling an assassination attempt on Russian President's visit in India actually turns out to be an internal political slugfest. Director Atul Sabharwal is at his best when it comes to working on a story heavy on political state-of-affairs. However, its not your regular suspense-thriller plot. Forget being a who-dun-it or even a why-dun-it, for a very long part in the film, the audience keeps wondering what-is-happening. Until the entire mystery unveils layer by layer in the penultimate moments. Even here, there isn't easy spoonfeeding of information and the audience has to be discerning enough to grasp the overall narrative. Thereby the treatment is not like a regular thriller but the director wants you to learn things on your own. Thankfully amidst this, the storytelling does not turn abstract though it has its moments of ambiguity.

Performances are a mainstay with Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh and Rahul does in absolute form. The slow burn pacing can be overlooked thanks to the speed up facility in Zee5 OTT app.

BERLIN is a very slow,dull & dreary movie with competent performances by almost everyone except the main accused Ishwak Singh and Rahul Bose,with both giving very good and restrained performances. Aparshakti gave an above average performance with no one being particularly brilliant. Although the film at 2hrs 4minutes was not long as regular Hindi movies,it should have been trimmed about 15 mins more.

Although it had a fairly decent script its biggest drawback was its very very slow pace. If the pace was a bit faster and the movie could have been edited a bit more tightly and crisply it would have been a much better film.

6/10.