'KHUFIYA' MOVIE REVIEW: WHERE'S THE THRILL?
Celebrated writer and director Vishal Bhardwaj's latest movie, which happens to be a spy thriller, is out on Netflix. This time he has drawn his inspiration from the 2012 book 'Escape to Nowhere' by former R&AW Chief of Counter Espionage Unit Amar Bhushan. Bhardwaj has cinematised the fictional account of the real story of an Indian intelligence agent who, despite being under surveillance, disappeared into thin air, possibly with the help of American support.
The movie gives an introductory note to simplify the plot, which reads, "After the Kargil War of 1999, a fierce underground battle was underway between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and India to influence the outcome of the next elections in a neighbouring country. Loyalties were challenged, and betrayals became common."
Before the movie that stars Tabu as a secret agent alongside Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Ashish Vidyarthi in key roles opens in Dhaka in 2004, there is a brief, titillating description of an 'asset' of Indian R&AW by another senior R&AW operative. Why, we ask. 2004 was the time when India and the neighbouring countries were still reeling from the aftermath of the Kargil War. Krishna Mehra (Tabu), a dedicated member of the Research & Analysis Wing, serves as the focal point of the story as it develops. She must negotiate the perilous landscape of espionage while juggling the difficulties of her dual lives as a secret agent and a lover. She is tasked with finding the elusive mole responsible for leaking India's crucial defense secrets.
The 'bigger player' that entered the game is the United States, which uses the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to indirectly influence Afghanistan's politics. Fazal's Ravi is selling India's top secrets vis-à-vis the location of Indian agents to the CIA in a desultory fashion, and when he finally reveals his motivation behind the act, the reasoning is so ridiculous that it doesn't add up with the deceit he has committed, no matter how rough he cuts up. The reason behind his mother's involvement in the espionage also remains open-ended. The subdued character is played by theatre doyen Navnindra Behl, who is the mother of Indian film director and screenwriter Kanu Behl.
The only character that appeared to enliven on screen was Charu, Ravi's wife, played by Jubilee fame Wamiqa Gabbi. Charu is an army child but still doesn't have the brain power to be cognisant of the deception taking place right under her nose. Nevertheless, the character does have layers that are laid bare when she's alone, swooning to old melodies, or when she expresses her emotional as well as mental suffering with a soundless scream later in the movie.
The thriller begins strong, but as we move further, the plot sways many times, bringing in the unresolved emotional issues with Krishna Mehra. The viewers are exposed to unnecessary details about the personal life of Mehra, while too many times the story brings about the context of her sexual interest in women. At one point, she is discussing her not coming out of the closet before her 19-year-old son with another R&AW agent who's on a mission from the intelligence agency. The repeated derailment from the search for the fugitive leads to confusion as to who exactly is the protagonist here and, moreover, what the protagonist is on the lookout for.
The movie is not cluttered with needless characters or bloodshed; however, there are a couple of violent scenes, including that of a slit neck and of a body submerged in a bathtub full of blood. Farhad Ahmed Dehlvi's cinematography is what manages to keep you glued to the screen. Apart from this, one cannot miss the cameo by music composer Rahul Ram as a godman singing modern bhajans (not losing touch with his real-life character?).
It's safe to say that if you have been a follower and admirer of Bhardwaj's previous works, you'll be in for a disappointment, only to ask, What happened to Vishal Bhardwaj's midas touch? The movie misses so many marks when compared with Bhardwaj's previous exemplary work. One of his most well-known and accomplished adaptations is the Shakespearean cinematic universe. His three movies, Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider, are adaptations of the plays Macbeth, Othello, and Hamlet.
KHUFIYA: Streaming on Netflix
Cast: Tabu as Krishna Mehra; Ali Fazal as Ravi Mohan; Wamiqa Gabbi as Charu Mohan; Ashish Vidyarthi as Jeev; Atul Kulkarni as Shashank.
The movie gives an introductory note to simplify the plot, which reads, "After the Kargil War of 1999, a fierce underground battle was underway between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and India to influence the outcome of the next elections in a neighbouring country. Loyalties were challenged, and betrayals became common."
Before the movie that stars Tabu as a secret agent alongside Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Ashish Vidyarthi in key roles opens in Dhaka in 2004, there is a brief, titillating description of an 'asset' of Indian R&AW by another senior R&AW operative. Why, we ask. 2004 was the time when India and the neighbouring countries were still reeling from the aftermath of the Kargil War. Krishna Mehra (Tabu), a dedicated member of the Research & Analysis Wing, serves as the focal point of the story as it develops. She must negotiate the perilous landscape of espionage while juggling the difficulties of her dual lives as a secret agent and a lover. She is tasked with finding the elusive mole responsible for leaking India's crucial defense secrets.
The 'bigger player' that entered the game is the United States, which uses the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to indirectly influence Afghanistan's politics. Fazal's Ravi is selling India's top secrets vis-à-vis the location of Indian agents to the CIA in a desultory fashion, and when he finally reveals his motivation behind the act, the reasoning is so ridiculous that it doesn't add up with the deceit he has committed, no matter how rough he cuts up. The reason behind his mother's involvement in the espionage also remains open-ended. The subdued character is played by theatre doyen Navnindra Behl, who is the mother of Indian film director and screenwriter Kanu Behl.
The only character that appeared to enliven on screen was Charu, Ravi's wife, played by Jubilee fame Wamiqa Gabbi. Charu is an army child but still doesn't have the brain power to be cognisant of the deception taking place right under her nose. Nevertheless, the character does have layers that are laid bare when she's alone, swooning to old melodies, or when she expresses her emotional as well as mental suffering with a soundless scream later in the movie.
The thriller begins strong, but as we move further, the plot sways many times, bringing in the unresolved emotional issues with Krishna Mehra. The viewers are exposed to unnecessary details about the personal life of Mehra, while too many times the story brings about the context of her sexual interest in women. At one point, she is discussing her not coming out of the closet before her 19-year-old son with another R&AW agent who's on a mission from the intelligence agency. The repeated derailment from the search for the fugitive leads to confusion as to who exactly is the protagonist here and, moreover, what the protagonist is on the lookout for.
The movie is not cluttered with needless characters or bloodshed; however, there are a couple of violent scenes, including that of a slit neck and of a body submerged in a bathtub full of blood. Farhad Ahmed Dehlvi's cinematography is what manages to keep you glued to the screen. Apart from this, one cannot miss the cameo by music composer Rahul Ram as a godman singing modern bhajans (not losing touch with his real-life character?).
It's safe to say that if you have been a follower and admirer of Bhardwaj's previous works, you'll be in for a disappointment, only to ask, What happened to Vishal Bhardwaj's midas touch? The movie misses so many marks when compared with Bhardwaj's previous exemplary work. One of his most well-known and accomplished adaptations is the Shakespearean cinematic universe. His three movies, Maqbool, Omkara, and Haider, are adaptations of the plays Macbeth, Othello, and Hamlet.
KHUFIYA: Streaming on Netflix
Cast: Tabu as Krishna Mehra; Ali Fazal as Ravi Mohan; Wamiqa Gabbi as Charu Mohan; Ashish Vidyarthi as Jeev; Atul Kulkarni as Shashank.
- shiwaninailwal
- Mar 5, 2024