Maalik

The only good thing about this film is the powerful performance by RKR. He brings intensity and depth to every scene he appears in, making his character the only memorable part. But sadly, the rest of the movie doesn't live up to the expectations. It's a typical Bollywood gangster flick with the same old plotlines, forced drama, and over-the-top sequences. The story feels unnecessarily dragged, especially in the second half, where scenes just go in circles. Despite RKR's best efforts, the film fails to leave a lasting impression. Watch it only for his acting - skip the rest.

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Why 1 star?

Script: completely predictable and uninspired.

Direction: lacks nuance or innovation.

Pacing: drags, especially post-intermission.

Characters: beyond Rao, most are one-dimensional or wasted roles.

Only the energy and charisma of Rao holds your gaze, but he's fighting a losing battle. The film does not respect your time or expectations. Maalik suffers from cliched storytelling that repeats gangster tropes without any fresh take

Rajkummar Rao's Acting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10/10) Story & Screenplay ⭐ (flat, clichéd) Editing & Pacing ⭐ (much too long) Action & Violence ⭐ (indulgent, hollow) Overall Film Quality ⭐ (unoriginal, forgettable)

Maalik is a full-fledged Rajkummar Rao showcase, with the actor stepping into the shoes of a period gangster as a Lead for the first time - and delivering a compelling performance that carries the film from start to finish. Set in an older era of crime and conflict, the film attempts to blend historical grit with emotional depth, but doesn't always succeed on all fronts.

Directed by Pulkit, Maalik draws inspiration from various period dramas, resulting in a storyline that feels familiar and, after a point, predictable. While the narrative tries to build tension and gravitas, it falls into a formulaic rhythm - and that predictability becomes one of the film's biggest drawbacks.

The screenplay takes its time in the first half, focusing heavily on character setup and world-building, but the slow pace stretches the runtime unnecessarily. Fortunately, the second half gains momentum, offering some visually engaging action sequences and emotional peaks. A particular scene showcasing Rajkummar Rao's expression work stands out as a highlight and demonstrates his range.

The cinematography and music are serviceable, complementing the tone of the film without being particularly memorable. However, certain action sequences are well-staged and inject much-needed energy into the narrative.

Performance-wise, Rajkummar Rao dominates the screen, proving once again why he's one of the most versatile actors in the industry. Manushi Chhillar, though limited in screen time, makes a striking impression with her presence and elegance. The supporting cast adds credibility to the world, each playing their part effectively.

Overall, Maalik is worth a watch for Rajkummar Rao's standout performance and some sharp moments, but its predictable plot and stretched pacing make it more of a one-time experience.

Poor character writing.

Rajkumar isn't as scary or menacing as he should have been.

Twists are unpredictable.

The whole story is about being Malik and Naukar in a cringe way.

The build up of the story could have been better. Can't comprehend the rest of the users comparing this to Satya and Vaastav .

It is far from it.

Rise and fall isn't justified.

Saurabh Sachdeva and Shukla kind of wasted is sad to see.

Such fine actors hired and given very average quality roles.

Shouldn't have a sequel .

As a Rajkumar fan this was surely disappointing.

Fight scenes could have been choreographed better too.

Maalik is a gangster drama which tries to be so much but lacks the core writing to land at that level. Although it's refreshing to see Rajkummar playing something other than his typecast and he does a good job with his looks and acting. Manushi is just decent and does her minimal job. Saurabh Shukla and Saurabh Sachdeva tend to be strong characters of this world but their characters have been written terribly and lack any context or motivation. The Maalik title score is good but hasn't been materialised well in the film and many scenes which could have been better are let down by an underwhelming background score that doesn't give them the elevation needed.

The movie's biggest flaw is its screenplay and writing. 3/3

fails to connect you with its emotions and the motivations of its characters. The first half is mostly dull and gradual, except for the interval act which creates the high the film needs. Few dialogues have been written well. Just when the movie begins to pick up grip and pace, it gets interrupted by the romantic plot between Raj and Manushi and completely forgets about the crucial event that had taken place. The action cinematography and gun fighting look good in the setup, but the audience is unable to connect with those intense emotions. Overall, Maalik comes with Rajkummar's strong act but due to a weak script, it just does not turn out to be that praiseworthy.

OVERALL -4/10.