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Ramayana: Part 1 - Review

meeta — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:05:25 +0000

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

quick review:

Once you accept that you're here to watch an arguably apt over-produced, over-performed attempt at spectacle, you can sit back, enjoy the simple story you've grown up with, predict almost every line, and savour the occasional dash of dazzle.

Review

By definition, no one expects or even wants an epic to be subtle. We want to be stunned. We want to be swooned over by the visuals and the music. We want to be captivated by the action choreography. None of that happens 100% in any frame. Some of it happens slightly in some scenes. The rest of the time, it is an average experience. So, that I would've been happy to forget what I knew about the epic, became a bit too much to expect.

I looked up the budget of the film after watching the movie. One would think that with those numbers, at the very least I would not be able to make out when something that is supposed to be live action is CGI-generated, right? And the digitization of the fantastical bits is also nothing out of this world. Some bits are impressive, but they are few and far between. Other bits are tacky. More problematically, some of the music and visualisation of the wars is almost the same as the TV series, Ramayan! And so is the pacing in some of the scenes. As if a hero in an epic can move only at a certain pace.

And even as I watched this, I kept looking forward to a majestic show that never came. Everything either felt like I had seen it before or like the makers were controlling themselves, ending up with an unsatisfactory, half-baked product.

As a positive side effect, though, Ramayana turns out to be a simple telling of the story many of us have heard through our lives, and even as babies. There is a certain charm in the simplicity because it ends up highlighting the values we are to imbibe, the lessons we are to learn to help us live as model humans.

The epic is indeed a lesson in understanding manipulation, deception, rejection, and the difference between self-confidence and ego. And, of course, it underlines the importance of honesty, curiosity, questioning authority, the power of women, efficiency of process, and playfulness. It made me wonder why the story has become about the hero rather than lessons such as, "dushto ka dharam nahi hota; unka vinaash hi dharam hai." Evil has no religion or follows no moral path; destroying it is the right thing to do.

The writing also gives a lot of room to the antagonist, allowing us to get into his psyche a bit. I also liked how some of the logical creases in the story are ironed out by explaining the events as predestined. Other than that, though, the dialogue is pretty predictable. The six-year-old next to me was predicting some of the words.

The lack of lustre keeps other things that could have gone awry in check, too. For instance, the background music stays in the background. So, you aren't exposed to thumping in your ears for three straight hours.

At the same time, though, the filters added to voices were rather jarring. They adversely affected how I enjoyed the performances. Interestingly, none of them made a mark, yet I intermittently did forget I was watching this actor or that one. Other than that, they were appropriately theatrical for the genre. But hey, why-o-why does Ranbir Kapoor have his shoulders raised, especially when he's sitting cross-legged?! And the movements of the actors, especially in action sequences, seem to have been corrected digitally. Or they have that feeling about them.

Little things like these added up to make the overall experience underwhelming. And we have barely reached the halfway mark yet. Hanuman hasn't even entered the scene yet. And I dread having to watch the part that I absolutely hate about the story: Sita having to take the agnipariksha, the trial by fire that Sita has to go through.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Lots of war and fight sequences. Some of it gory and cruel too.
Language: Clean
Nudity & Sexual content: None.
Concept: The Indian mythological epic Ramayana
General Look and Feel: Fantastical

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 2
Story:
Lead Actors: 2.5
Character Artists: 2.5

Dialogues: 2
Screenplay: 1.5
Music Director: 3
Lyrics:

Ramayana: Part 1 - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Prime Focus Ltd., Monster Mind Creations
Producer: Namit Malhotra
Director: Nitesh Tiwari
Lead Cast: Yash, Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey
Supporting Cast: Lara Dutta , Vivek Oberoi , Shobana, Sheeba Chaddha, Ajinkya Deo, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet, Raghav Juyal, Saurabh Sachdeva, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan, Surabhi Das
Story: Shridhar Raghavan
Screenplay: Shridhar Raghavan, Nitesh Tiwari
Dialogues: Nitesh Tiwari, Shreyas Jain
Cinematography: Mahesh Limaye, Pankaj Kumar
Editor: Huzefa Lokhandwala
Music Director: A R Rahman , Hans Zimmer
Lyrics: Kumar Vishwas
Costume Designer: Harpreet Narula, Rimple Narula, Saniya Sardhariya
Running time: 195 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Mythology

Prahaar - Review

meeta — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 09:27:52 +0000

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

It's an intense, gripping watch. Only made me wonder how much more intense and gripping it'd be if they'd skipped the dramatisation and made it crisper.

Review

Movies based on true-life events shake me from the inside. Even if they are not very well made. And Prahaar is a reasonably well-executed, well-performed movie. As the movie runs through the events of 26 November 2008 and the case thereafter, my heart went through the time when the case was on. And, as expected, that makes it an uncomfortable watch. Which also means whatever the makers did, worked. Just that if the aim was to tell the untold story of Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, I am not sure it succeeded.

Because I won't remember much of his story, other than that he was a man's man of that vintage—dedicated to work, taking family for granted, etc. The film does a good job of showing him as a ruthless workaholic. But I am unsure whether they wanted us to empathise with the sacrifices he made in terms of his family life. They seemed like choices he knowingly made and faced consequences for. From the personal angle, that is nothing out of the ordinary or spectacularly memorable for people of his generation.

The man's unshakable resolve, to protect the Constitution and ensure the case isn't dismissed as false internationally, will stay. Now, whether the movie shows anything more than the headlines from the time, depends on how much you followed and know about the case. Because I remember some details that seem to be skipped, especially Kasab's appeals after 2009. Also, clearly some unsavoury moments that go against his public image were left out. The question is why?

Anyway, for the purpose of this movie the crux is that, despite the angst and anger, due process was followed. Now, whether we are for or against capital punishment is another matter. The proceedings might not have been as clean as portrayed in the film. The film neither denies nor confirms some aspects of the case. Also, the transition to the case shifting in favour of the public is rather abrupt. In that sense, the flow is jerky.

Surprisingly, so is Rajkummar Rao as Ujjwal Nikam. The age in his voice and gait is inconsistent. Sure, there is a telling difference between when he is in and out of the court. That seems intentional and is remarkable too. But his out-of-court persona is a tad uneven.

Fortunately, the able supporting cast—Lalit Prabhakar as Kasab, Sikander Kher as the defending lawyer, Jaideep Ahlawat as the lawyer from Pakistan and Ritvik Sahore as Nikam Jr—all hold the fort. Their performances more than cover the lapses in the story's pace and movement.

So, whether or not the film told us anything remarkably untold about Nikam's life, it is an engaging telling of bits and pieces of what went on in the courtroom. It speaks of upholding the Constitution and asks us to be wary of religious indoctrination. Those are wins. Right?

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: About the terror attacks, so there's that. Then there's training of terrorists and some graphic visuals.
Language: Clean
Nudity & Sexual content: None
Concept: The life of Public Prosecutor Adv Ujjwal Nikam around the time of the 26/11 terrorist attack trial
General Look and Feel: Intense.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 3
Story: 4
Lead Actors: 3.5
Character Artists: 3

Dialogues: 3.5
Screenplay: 3
Music Director:
Lyrics:

Prahaar - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Maddock Films
Producer: Dinesh Vijan
Director: Avinash Arun
Lead Cast: Rajkummar Rao
Supporting Cast: Ashish Vidyarthi, Ajinkya Deo, Milind Ukey, Jaideep Ahlawat , Ritvik Sahore, Sandeep Kulkarni, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sikandar Kher, Krishna Saajnani, Lalit Prabhakar, Sahil Sheikh, Nikhil Dave, Pranali Ghogare, Gaurav Chaudhary, Priyanka Bhatt
Story: Sumit Roy, Vishal Tiwari
Screenplay: Sumit Roy, Vishal Tiwari
Dialogues: Sumit Roy, Dushyant Arora
Cinematography: Avinash Arun
Editor: Charu Shree Roy
Background Score: Alokananda Dasgupta
Music Director: Pritam Chakraborty , Vishal Mishra
Lyrics: Amitabh Bhattacharya
Costume Designer: Sachin Lovalekar
Running time: 140 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Based on true life story

Drishyam The Conclusion - External Reviews

meeta — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:50:28 +0000

24 reviewers have given Drishyam The Conclusion an average rating of 4.2/5.0 ^(?)

16 yays

0 nays

8 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:

There is convenient story writing and there is convenient narrating. This supposedly conclusive episode can be blamed of both. It still gets you to shift in your seat a bit towards the climax, even if it fails to get you to the edge.

Streaming Partner: Netflix

Thumbs up by Simran Singh, DNA ...s the team promised, Drishyam 3 concludes the saga on the highest note, bidding a fitting goodbye to the franchise. Undoubtedly, Drishyam 3 will be a sure-shot, record-breaking blockbuster, the franchise's highest-grosser, and the best crime thriller of 2026.... full review

Thumbs up by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...Drishyam: The Conclusion may not have the same darkness or dramatic intensity as Jeethu Joseph’s Malayalam interpretation, but Abhishek Pathak has clearly chosen to play by his own rules. The result is a film that understands what audiences have come to expect from the Drishyam franchise while still finding new ways to keep us guessing. The first half lays the foundation. The second half builds upon it nicely. And by the time the courtroom drama reaches its final act, Vijay has one more lesson to teach us: never underestimate a man who loves his family enough to plan several moves ahead.... full review

Thumbs up by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Drishyam 3 had a tough job on its hands. The franchise has already set a certain benchmark with its first two films, so the biggest question was whether the third instalment could still keep the audience guessing. Thankfully, it does.... full review

Thumbs up by Kabir Singh Bhandari, Free Press Journal ...One of the best scenes, as expected from the trailer, is the first face off between Ajay and Jaideep. Director Abhishek makes full use of the background score throughout, and keeps the movie predominantly tight, with enough twists so that the audience cannot guess how the police will be hoodwinked again.... full review

Thumbs up by Manmath Sahu, fullhyd.com ...Overall, the movie closes the franchise on a high note and deserves a watch in your nearest theatre. But the catch is this movie is meant only for those who have already watched its previous installments, it will make no sense to others.... full review

Thumbs up by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...https://glamsham.com/bollywood/movie-review/drishyam-the-conclusion-review-ajay-devgn/... full review

Thumbs up by Anindita Mukhopadhyay, India TV ...Abhishek Pathak, who has primarily worked as a producer all his life, co-wrote and directed Drishyam 2 and 3. He understands the world of Drishyam and keeps the camerawork and pacing fairly controlled. The film also feels like a conscious attempt to give the franchise a final chapter rather than simply extend it for the sake of another sequel.... full review

Thumbs up by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...If only the film didn’t wreathe itself in ear-shattering bgm, I would have liked it even more: why do even the most confidently-told films not trust its telling? The final part gives the sense of an ending, and a beginning.... full review

Thumbs up by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...The real star is Amar Mohile’s background score. It elevates the film to the best point it could! It builds the unease and lets the silences breathe. Basrur understands that with a protagonist who barely speaks, the music has to speak for him. It heightens the chase and sharpens the reveals without ever drowning the drama.... full review

Thumbs up by Aakruti Bagla, MiD DAY ...The biggest strength of Drishyam The Conclusion is how it keeps the uncertainty around Vijay alive throughout the narrative. As Saurabh Shukla’s Murad aptly puts it, “Vijay kya karega, kya nahi, ye ya toh woh jaanta hai ya Allah.” The line perfectly captures how seldom anybody can riddle out the mystery reveal the makers have in store for us.... full review

Thumbs up Movie Talkies ...The Drishyam brand, the audience’s emotional connection with Vijay Salgaonkar and that finale should do the heavy lifting. It may not be a great film, but it is good enough to hold strongly at the box office for two-three weeks. There’s no stopping Drishyam 3 till Ramayana hits cinemas. Congratulations to the entire team in advance for a SUPER BLOCKBUSTER!... full review

Thumbs up by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...While the final reveal did not entirely work for me, it's a crowd-pleasing, largely satisfying conclusion that will stay with you. Devgn lets his eyes do the talking while playing this character he knows like the back of his hand, while Ahlawat is incredible in his pulpy role. After 10 years and three films, Vijay Salgaonkar finally bows out on a high.... full review

Thumbs up by Netra Brid, Pinkvilla ...Drishyam: The Conclusion delivers where it matters most right from the writing, performances to building the tension, and climax. Abhishek Pathak successfully expands the franchise without losing its core identity, while Ajay Devgn remains its undisputed emotional anchor.... full review

Thumbs up by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...Drishyam The Conclusion marks the moment director Abhishek Pathak cuts the umbilical cord to the Malayalam mothership and finds its feet in the grit and grandeur of the Hindi heartland.... full review

Thumbs up by Kartik Bhardwaj, the new Indian Express ...Drishyam 3 rides and relies on momentum. It is such a rollercoaster of twists, turns and thrills that you might miss the fact that you already know the destination. You trust the invincibility of Vijay and the question is never will he be able to get away with it but how will he actually pull it off. After watching the film, when I replayed it in my head it actually seemed much more straightforward... full review

Thumbs up by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India ...Ultimately, it is Ajay Devgn who gives Drishyam its emotional edge. There is an inherent niceness to his screen presence that makes Vijay easy to empathise with, even when you question his choices. His decision to bury a crime is hardly morally defensible, but Devgn makes you understand why this man believes he is doing what he has to do. His face-off with Ahlawat is unnerving.... full review

So-So by Subhash k jha, Bolly Spice ...Drishyam The Conclusion is not a bad film at all. Some of it, featuring Jaideep Ahlawat, convey a pungent slow-burn aroma. But the stubborn silences of Salgaonkar and the smirking smugness of his accomplices prove that crime in certain circumstances not only pays , it also clamours for a re-fund.... full review

So-So by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, Drishyam: The Conclusion has enough drama and nostalgia to keep the fans engaged. But for a franchise that built its reputation on making the impossible seem plausible, this one asks us to take a few too many things at face value. It has the ingredients of a satisfying finale, just not the trick to pull it off. The mystery may finally be over, but the magic of the first Drishyam remains hard to recreate.... full review

So-So by Sana Farzeen, India Target ...The music adds to the atmosphere, and the supporting cast does its job well. But eventually, everything comes down to the climax. And that is where The Conclusion stumbles.... full review

So-So by UDITA JHUNJHUNWALA, Live Mint ...There are stretches when Drishyam: The Conclusion feels over-engineered, and its 150-minute running time eventually begins to tell. But Pathak understands that the audience has come not merely to watch Vijay escape, but to watch how he might possibly do it this time. The film provides the kind of closure its premise demands. It is not without its excesses, but it knows its audience, trusts the accumulated mythology of Vijay Salgaonkar and, crucially, gives him one last game to play.... full review

So-So by CHIRAG SEHGAL, News18.com ...Drishyam 3: The Conclusion is a gripping and fast-paced thriller that understands the appeal of its franchise. It keeps you invested and benefits from strong performances, particularly from Ajay Devgn, Jaideep Ahlawat, Prakash Raj and Kamlesh Sawant.... full review

So-So by AISHANI BISWAS, Outlook India ...Drishyam: The Conclusion has enough twists, humour and performances to keep the franchise's loyal audience invested, but it does not always possess the precision that made the earlier films so memorable. Jaideep Ahlawat gives the finale a much-needed jolt, while Ajay Devgn remains perfectly cast as Vijay. The mystery may be approaching its end, but too many solutions ask to be accepted rather than worked out.... full review

So-So by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...No matter how many plates of pav bhaji they've wolfed down since October 2, his onscreen family doesn't have an iota of lived-in quality about them. For now, let's rejoice in 11 years of chronic stress laid to rest.... full review

So-So by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...Despite being quite different, both the latest Drishyam outings eventually reach the same destination. Both movies involve plotting that seems clever and dense but is actually contrived and downright silly. And both productions prove that Drishyam didn’t have enough staying power beyond a second film, whatever the language.... full review

Drishyam The Conclusion - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Panorama Studios, Star Studio
Producer: Abhishek Pathak , Ajit Andhare, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Alok Jain
Director: Abhishek Pathak
Lead Cast: Ajay Devgan , Jaideep Ahlawat
Supporting Cast: Saurabh Shukhla , Tabu , Rajat Kapoor , Shriya Saran, Prakash Raj , Neha Joshi, Kamlesh Sawant, Nishant Singh, Ishita Dutta, Ramchandra Singh, Akashdeep Sabir, Mrunal Jadhav, Ajeet Singh Palawat, Samvedna Suwalka, Jairoop Jeevan, Amir Salim Khan, Abhishek Mohan Gaikwad, Dodo Bhujwala
Story: Abhishek Pathak
Screenplay: Abhishek Pathak , Parveez Shaikh, Aamil Keeyan Khan
Dialogues: Aamil Keeyan Khan
Cinematography: Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary
Editor: Sandeep Francis
Background Score: Amar Mohile
Music Director: Rochak Kohli, Ravi Basrur, Karma
Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir, Aamil Keeyan Khan, Karma
Costume Designer: Naveen Shetty, Tanaya Oak
Running time: 150 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Suspense, Thriller

The Vvaan - External Reviews

meeta — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:42:09 +0000

20 reviewers have given The Vvaan an average rating of 1.9/5.0 ^(?)

4 yays

9 nays

7 so-so

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

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

quick review:

When mythology takes fantasy for granted it produces a Goddess that needs a man to save her; and supposedly also an item number and comic relief to make her myth commercially viable.

Thumbs up by Priyanka Gupta, DNA ...Technically, The Vvaan is on solid ground. The cinematography creates an eerie atmosphere around the forest, while the background score complements the mystery and supernatural portions. The screenplay keeps the narrative moving. The music is also good & already getting lots of love. The editing could have been a little better in some places; that would have made the movie crisper.... full review

Thumbs up by Simran Singh, DNA ...The Vvaan is an enjoyable ride, with a few hiccups. It is made with a vision of bringing the stories of the heartland with a twist, which makes it a worthy big-screen experience.... full review

Thumbs up by Trisha Gaur, koimoi ...Tanishk Bagchi, Vishal Mishra, Sandeep Shirodkar, Amit Trivedi, and Sam CD do a brilliant job with the music! The devotional pieces land so brilliantly in the background! Be it Aigiri Nandini, or Shiva Tandav Strota. Even the musical score around the Shiva Strota, with a bull coming to save the hero as he seeks help from Lord Nandi, lands beautifully, since it gets elevated with the background score!... full review

Thumbs up MiD DAY ...A visually ambitious, entertaining folklore fantasy with an intriguing Indian soul.... full review

So-So by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...The Vvaan has several elements that could have made it an exciting theatrical experience. Mystery, faith, folklore, supernatural elements, and a grand visual setting are all present. The traditional Chhath Puja portions are shot beautifully, and the music fits the festive atmosphere well.... full review

So-So by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal ...Overall, The Vvaan had the potential to be a fantastic film. The story of the movie is very interesting, and visually it is stunning, but Deepak Kumar Mishra's weak direction makes it a strictly one-time watch film. If you are a Sidharth Malhotra fan, then it is a must-watch for you!... full review

So-So by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, there was genuine potential in making a fantasy horror around a Goddess and the Chhath Puja. It could have given The Vvaan an identity of its own, rooted in a mythology that feels distinctly Indian. Instead, the film gets distracted by everything around its central idea. By the end, the Goddess, the folklore, and everything seem to be fighting for space with the comedy and songs. For a film that had such an interesting divine premise, The Vvaan eventually does surprisingly little with it.... full review

So-So Movie Talkies ...Overall, it's a pretty average watch with a mediocre presentation, but the spiritual touch in the final act surprisingly works and gives the film some much-needed life.... full review

So-So by CHIRAG SEHGAL, News18.com ...The dialogue writing is another strong aspect of The Vvaan. Several lines are smartly crafted and land effectively, particularly during the lighter and more conversational moments. The writing manages to bring out the humour without completely taking away from the film’s central narrative. Some exchanges between the characters feel natural and add personality to the scenes, while a few dialogues manage to elevate otherwise ordinary sequences.... full review

So-So by Netra Brid, Pinkvilla ...‘The Vvaan – Force of the Forest’ has the foundation of an intriguing fantasy thriller: an ancient forest, a local legend, questions of faith, a conflict between development and nature, and a protagonist forced to confront the supernatural. The film repeatedly hints at a richer story about belief, greed, tradition and the consequences of disturbing nature.... full review

So-So by Archika Khurana, Times of India ...The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest has the ingredients of a more layered fantasy thriller but never brings them together consistently. Its atmosphere, visual ambition and intriguing premise work in its favour, while rushed character development and an increasingly conventional supernatural conflict limit its impact. What could have been a nuanced tale about faith, greed, development and the consequences of disturbing nature instead becomes a moderately engaging supernatural adventure that only partially fulfils the potential of its premise.... full review

Thumbs down by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...Kantara never deviated from its roots and that became its selling point. Likewise, The Vvaan might have worked better as a modest folk mystery rooted in Bihar's traditions and village life. Instead, it borrows every familiar trick from the mass-entertainer handbook without developing an identity of its own. For a filmmaker who made ordinary village life so engaging in Panchayat, this journey into the supernatural is a disappointing detour.... full review

Thumbs down by Manmath Sahu, fullhyd.com ...All this hurts even more when you get to know that the director is Deepak Kumar Mishra. Mishra is young, and you can't call him a prolific cinematic personality yet. However, his body of work, including the Panchayat series and many TVF series, is widely acclaimed for its grounded nature and for being thoroughly entertaining. He is also a fine actor.... full review

Thumbs down by Anisha Rao, india today ...The screenplay piles on one idea after another. Deepak (Sunil Grover), a powerful local figure, wants a road built through the area in the name of development. Rishi initially supports him, while his elder brother (Anup Soni) and other villagers fear that disturbing the forest could unleash whatever has been trapped there. It is a potentially interesting collision between modern development and inherited belief, but the film never gives it enough room to breathe.... full review

Thumbs down by Jaya Dwivedie, India TV ...The idea behind The Vvaan: Force of the Forest is certainly interesting. Indian folklore, Van Devi, Chhath Puja and a mysterious forest could have formed the foundation of a distinctive fantasy film. The film also has some good visuals and visible effort from its cast. But between a good idea and a good film, the most important element is a strong story. This is where The Vvaan falters the most. A scattered screenplay, inconsistent tone, limited character development, weak comedy and a climax that fails to leave the desired impact overshadow the film's better elements.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...The Vvaan never recovers from this early blow. Nor did I, as the film kept drawing me deeper into an off-colour, off-putting mix of so-called fantasy and folklore, of the kind that involves dark forests and their resident guardian devis, and evil spirits which devour those who dare walk into their domain after dark.... full review

Thumbs down by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...The film whimsically sways from one end to the other leaving yawning gaps in the process of transitioning.... full review

Thumbs down by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...The Vvaan weaves an old-fashioned yarn of spiritual beliefs against a theme of folklore horror that detours into an action-packed, bombastic Telugu supernatural territory concluding in a part harmless, part tedious watch,... full review

Thumbs down by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The wider significance of a forest spirit as a guardian of a fragile ecology is too much for this movie to handle. The scares and visual effects are imported from the Bhool Bhulaiyaa variety of films; the cut-price mythology is inspired by Kantara. A techno version of the eulogy Mahishasura Mardini is plastered over scenes, but the prayers go unanswered.... full review

Thumbs down by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...What happens when the custodians of ecological preservation form a corrupt alliance with political forces in the name of progress? Arunabh Kumar and Ekta Kapoor combine to present the dialectic between ecological conservation and modernisation,... full review

The Vvaan - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Balaji Telefilms Ltd, TVF Motion Pictures
Producer: Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, Niraj Kothari, Arunabh Kumar
Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
Lead Cast: Sidharth Malhotra , Tamannaah Bhatia
Supporting Cast: Sulabha Arya, Sunil Grover, Maniesh Paul , Shweta Tiwari, Anup Soni
Story: Arunabh Kumar
Screenplay: Arunabh Kumar
Dialogues: Anandeshwar Dwivedi
Cinematography: Manu Anand
Editor: Nitin Baid
Background Score: Sandeep Shirodkar
Music Director: Amit Trivedi , Tanishk Bagchi, Vishal Mishra, Sam C.S.
Lyrics: Shabbir Ahmed, Manoj Muntashir, Tanishk Bagchi
Costume Designer: Niharika Bhasin
Running time: 135 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology

Drishyam The Conclusion - Review

meeta — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:07:12 +0000

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

quick review:

Streaming Partner: Netflix

Review

The house was almost full!! It was such a heartening visual. You could sense the excitement in the audience. We were certain we were in for a treat. And I am always amazed by how this buzz of expectation can work for a film in either direction. You like it because you were expecting to like it. You don't like it because you were expecting to like it. I would like to think that I could keep the influence of my expectations as close to zero as humanly possible. And thus, I would like to think my issues with the film's pace and content are in absolute terms and not due to comparisons—either with the previous episodes or with the Malayalam version.

So, in absolute terms the films pace didn't work. There's barely any movement in the story in the first 90+ minutes. It is all allotted to build up and playing with the audience's anticipation. That means all the action is rushed through the last 45 minutes or so. And if you are wondering how they managed that…I must say, rather clumsily.

Then we come to what happens in those 45 minutes. I would grudgingly accept that it is rather clever. Grudgingly because, for one, it is just way too convenient in terms of writing. If the answer to everything we question is just, "It was xyz all along," all the cat-and-mouse chase is just the writers—and not the writing—pulling wool over the audience's eyes. The characters aren't deceiving you, neither are the elaborate situations—it's just a one-line explanation. Sure, that one line is clever, but the build up seems rather unnecessary.

Secondly, it all happens too fast for us to absorb. The scurry seems intentional, so that the audience doesn't have time to catch the loopholes, if any. Especially, since the first half is so laid back and has quite a few needless sidetracks like say that of Gaitonde. Nothing is done with his character after developing it.

And then comes the "how". This would be my strongest objection. I always feel cheated when a mystery reveals itself with a character narrating how the event transpired. Too much tell, so little show. And quite unlike the first two parts.

For those who haven't watched the first two movies, the titles carry a recap. Interestingly, the second part's recap is longer and more detailed compared to the recap of the first part. As if they know that the first part has been watched and remembered more. In any case, relevant bits are strewn through the film too. Yet, I am not sure how the third film would play out if one hasn't seen the first two.

Anyway, the silver lining is that the performances might still be enough to pull the movie through. I'd like to go out on a limb and say they actually made Jaideep Ahlawat overact. But given his talent, he manages to do that well too. He gets a lot of screen time, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Same goes for Ajay Devgn who barely has any lines in the first two hours. His silence is doing all his communication. And is doing it really well too. The rest of the cast pretty much continue what they were doing in the previous episodes or appearances in other films.

I just might be these performances together that keep the film from boring you despite the fact that the story is barely moving. But it could also be because of how the audience is invested in the series and eager to know what comes next. "How will Vijay squirm out of this one?"

That would by my takeaway from Drishyam The Conclusion though. The crowd cheering when Vijay scores. Even though they know what is most likely to happen. That a film, a series at that has us locked in, is a win in itself.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Some scenes when a character is being tortured. The theme is still around murder.
Language: Clean.
Nudity & Sexual content: None.
Concept: The tussle between covering up and uncovering a murder.
General Look and Feel: Intense.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 2
Story: 2
Lead Actors: 3.5
Character Artists: 2

Dialogues: 2
Screenplay: 2
Music Director:
Lyrics:

Drishyam The Conclusion - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Panorama Studios, Star Studio
Producer: Abhishek Pathak , Ajit Andhare, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Alok Jain
Director: Abhishek Pathak
Lead Cast: Ajay Devgan , Jaideep Ahlawat
Supporting Cast: Saurabh Shukhla , Tabu , Rajat Kapoor , Shriya Saran, Prakash Raj , Neha Joshi, Kamlesh Sawant, Nishant Singh, Ishita Dutta, Ramchandra Singh, Akashdeep Sabir, Mrunal Jadhav, Ajeet Singh Palawat, Samvedna Suwalka, Jairoop Jeevan, Amir Salim Khan, Abhishek Mohan Gaikwad, Dodo Bhujwala
Story: Abhishek Pathak
Screenplay: Abhishek Pathak , Parveez Shaikh, Aamil Keeyan Khan
Dialogues: Aamil Keeyan Khan
Cinematography: Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary
Editor: Sandeep Francis
Background Score: Amar Mohile
Music Director: Rochak Kohli, Ravi Basrur, Karma
Lyrics: Manoj Muntashir, Aamil Keeyan Khan, Karma
Costume Designer: Naveen Shetty, Tanaya Oak
Running time: 150 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Suspense, Thriller

The Vvaan - Review

meeta — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:56:15 +0000

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

quick review:

When mythology takes fantasy for granted it produces a Goddess that needs a man to save her; and supposedly also an item number and comic relief to make her myth commercially viable.

Review

The Vvaan took me to the stories that are told during poojas*. Only that it doesn't do any more than I would have imagined. And therefore, I spent most of the time watching the movie in wondering about why they chose the spelling vvaan when they meant it to be van with a short-a meaning forest. Of course, obviously, they didn't want it to be pronounced like the vehicle, van. But then why not go for vann like is often done with mann. Maybe there was some astrology involved because the tagline has forest spelt with 2 Rs as in forrest. The point being that the film's title engaged me more than what was going on, on screen. That, and asking the person in the audience who was watching videos/reels out loud during the movie. Yeah. Problematic.

But, so is the film. It has problems and is problematic at many levels. For starters, it finds a lot of its humour in either body-shaming and punching down or cheap, non-sensical comic relief. There is some character revelation through sarcasm and satire, but that doesn't last too long. It pretty much follows the "tell, don't show" rule of story-telling. It believes humans protect their Gods. And then tops it off with a Goddess needing protection from a man.

The background music does nothing to elaborate the fear one should feel when the villains are on screen. The only powerful rhythm used is the well-established "mahishaasura mardini", which thankfully is used liberally. But, then you also have the commercial needs of using an item number. I guess, we are only to be grateful that it is not used as an end-credit number and is used only as a gratuitous song and dance number.

And no, we cannot even tell if any of the actors could have taken the material above what it was. They do what they have been doing in all their previous outings—from Sidharth Malhotra to Tamannaah Bhatia to Sulabha Arya to Maniesh Paul.

It is difficult to take a film seriously when it doesn't want to do so itself. You cannot make me fear for the protagonist's or his family's or his village's life when barely any of the characters have redeemable qualities. It doesn't help that what might have been discovered by our ancestors through intelligence, wisdom and logic is passed on as 'tradition'.

Well, that is what you get when the movie's priorities are clear. The makers ignore the glaring chance to have mythology support the "Save our forests from 'development'." That says a lot, doesn't it? If that agenda was intentionally set aside, the least we can have is a well-made film with a decently written story and characters.
~ ~ ~
ritualistic veneration performed at almost every Hindu festival
it is one of my favourite hymn rhythms.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Lots, and some gory too.
Language: Clean
Nudity & Sexual content: None
Concept: A forest Goddess needs protection
General Look and Feel: Bright and light

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 1.5
Story: 2.5
Lead Actors: 2.5
Character Artists: 2

Dialogues: 2.5
Screenplay: 1
Music Director: 1.5
Lyrics: 1.5

The Vvaan - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Balaji Telefilms Ltd, TVF Motion Pictures
Producer: Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor, Niraj Kothari, Arunabh Kumar
Director: Deepak Kumar Mishra
Lead Cast: Sidharth Malhotra , Tamannaah Bhatia
Supporting Cast: Sulabha Arya, Sunil Grover, Maniesh Paul , Shweta Tiwari, Anup Soni
Story: Arunabh Kumar
Screenplay: Arunabh Kumar
Dialogues: Anandeshwar Dwivedi
Cinematography: Manu Anand
Editor: Nitin Baid
Background Score: Sandeep Shirodkar
Music Director: Amit Trivedi , Tanishk Bagchi, Vishal Mishra, Sam C.S.
Lyrics: Shabbir Ahmed, Manoj Muntashir, Tanishk Bagchi
Costume Designer: Niharika Bhasin
Running time: 135 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology

Daayra - External Reviews

meeta — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 07:30:27 +0000

30 reviewers have given Daayra an average rating of 3.8/5.0 ^(?)

19 yays

3 nays

8 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:

Do you have faith in the judicial system? Are you ok with the response time? Do criminals deserve justice? Can cops play God? If a movie makes you ask so many questions, it has done something right, even if it isn't well-paced or detailed.

Thumbs up by subhash K jha, Bolly Spice ...What is truly admirable here is the varnished intentions of the narration. No one is in this for the thrills. It feels so much like life, and not in a pleasant, comforting way. And yet it is a voice that must be heard.... full review

Thumbs up by Pranati A S, Deccan Herald ...Kareena and Prithviraj deliver stunning performances. While Prithviraj’s conviction for what he believes in comes through, Kareena clearly steals the show with a layered performance. She beautifully balances the internal battle between her personal empathy and anger as a woman and the cop who abides by the law, believing that justice will prevail even when it takes time. And let’s not forget to mention her stunner introduction in pink.... full review

Thumbs up by Priyanka Gupta, DNA ...The pacing does dip in a few places, but the central conflict remains strong. Daayra is a serious crime drama that trusts its actors and writing to carry the weight of its subject.... full review

Thumbs up by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...There are no easy answers here. Daayra occasionally tilts towards one side of its argument and gives Prithviraj the more compelling dramatic journey, but its refusal to provide a final verdict is ultimately appropriate. It is a hard-hitting, earthy crime drama that understands that the most disturbing part of a terrible crime may not be the crime itself, but what society chooses to do in its aftermath.... full review

Thumbs up by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal ...Daayra has only one song that comes at the end of the film. Amit Trivedi composed it, B Praak sang it, and veteran writer and lyricist Gulzar wrote it. While Sach Ka Daayra grabs our attention, it is Ketan Sodha's amazing background score that impresses us most and creates the perfect tense atmosphere for the film.... full review

Thumbs up by Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Gulf News ...Watch Daayra for Prithviraj, and for the family that grounds this film in real grief. Just don't expect the second half to move as briskly as the first.... full review

Thumbs up by Anindita Mukhopadhyay, India TV ...Daayra is not an easy watch, and that is largely the point. It is a not a thriller but a crime drama that wants you to question the idea of justice rather than simply consume a familiar cop story. Kareena Kapoor Khan is controlled and convincing, while Prithviraj Sukumaran brings enough complexity to a morally difficult character. Meghna Gulzar once again creates a world where the answers are not handed to you. It may not be her finest work, but Daayra is still a film worth watching for the 'uncomfortable' truth it leaves you with.... full review

Thumbs up by Rajiv Vijayakar, koimoi ...Amit Trivedi’s single song is alright, ditto Gulzar’s lyrics. Full marks and more are due to Ketan Sodha’s mood background score, Saurabh Goswami’s perfectly apt camerawork and the editing scissorhands Meghna Gulzar and Charu Shree Roy, who ensure that there is not one extra frame in the narrative.... full review

Thumbs up by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...Frankly, your sympathies on the matter could swing both ways. The issue is much larger than a particular, real-life event. I have an answer. You may have another. Glad the film asks the question, and leaves it at that.... full review

Thumbs up Movie Talkies ...As a whole, Daayra is a MUST WATCH for several reasons, but your own reason may only become clear once you have finished watching it.... full review

Thumbs up by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...Director Meghna Gulzar, returning to the domain of crime, inquisition and punishment that Talvar explored, adopts an aptly workaday storytelling style enlivened by dazzling editing.... full review

Thumbs up by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...Another major qualm of mine is that we know nearly nothing about Raman's personal life. Who is he off-duty? We meet his wife thrice; she flashes a smile and leaves, adding nothing to the film. Nonetheless, despite these issues, Daayra is watchable because of Sukumaran's memorable performance and its relevant themes. Like Anubhav Sinha's recent film Assi, it unsettles and enrages you.... full review

Thumbs up by Netra Brid, Pinkvilla ...Ultimately, Daayra is a gripping and uncomfortable watch that stays with you beyond the end credits. Its most significant achievement is not providing an answer but making the audience question their own idea of justice. For viewers looking for a crime thriller, Meghna Gulzar’s film offers plenty to think about long after leaving the theatre.... full review

Thumbs up by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...What works is the gentle tone of their dialogue, which respectfully hears out each other's point of view yet holds on to one's style of taking the trash out. Its unresolved, noncommittal conclusion is exactly the sort of anticlimactic reality Daayra wants to bring our attention to. Neither justice nor revenge can undo the fate met by the world's Nirbhayas or Arushis.... full review

Thumbs up by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu ...A gritty examination of the cost of instant retribution, the police procedural, anchored by a fantastic Prithviraj Sukumaran and an unusually off-key Kareena Kapoor Khan, probes the grey area where the line between justice and vengeance blurs.... full review

Thumbs up by Sahir Avik D’souza, The Quint ...Subpar Direction In particular, Gulzar’s handling of her actors can be very hit-and-miss. Achint Kaur and Kanwaljit Singh are wasted in tiny roles. The scene with Kaur is so amateurishly staged that it comes off looking less like the undercover operation it is meant to be and more like reality TV. On the other hand, Trupti Khamkar is very watchable as a policewoman with guts and strength, one who gives chase and flattens criminals bare-handed. It is good to see Khamkar as a cop opposite Kapoor Khan again, but in a vastly different film. They were both in the caper Crew, where Khamkar was hilarious.... full review

Thumbs up by Agnivo Niyogi, The Telegraph ...That is what makes the conflict between Raman and Ajooni interesting. Daayra doesn't simply put a “good cop” against a “bad cop”. Both believe they are pursuing justice. Their disagreement is about what justice should look like when the law and conscience pull in different directions.... full review

Thumbs up by Mimansa Shekhar, Times Now ...Daayra is a riveting and significant crime drama. Meghna Gulzar treats the subject with seriousness and Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran give performances that lend emotional and moral weight to the investigation. The film's focus is pertinent for a memorable theatrical experience with honest performances, thoughtful direction and a socially relevant theme. The result is a cinema that seems timely, serious and emotionally involving. Daayra might prove a significant addition to Hindi cinema's burgeoning crop of socially conscious investigative dramas.... full review

Thumbs up by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India ...Ultimately, Daayra is less interested in asking who committed the crime than in asking what we are willing to accept in the name of justice. It examines the uncomfortable space between law and morality, procedure and closure, patience and rage. It raises the right questions, even if its central confrontation needed sharper, more evenly matched arguments.... full review

So-So by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Daayra is not an easy watch. Its subject is disturbing, and the film does not completely hide the harsh reality surrounding the crime. It looks at justice from different angles and asks where the line should be drawn when police officers are dealing with brutal criminals.... full review

So-So by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...Daayra ultimately works better as a straightforward crime thriller than as the deeper examination of justice and accountability that its opening half promises. Yet, at a time when audiences have been subjected to a steady run of disappointing films, there is something reassuring about simply getting a film that gives you a reason to stay with it.... full review

So-So by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, Daayra raises a question far more uncomfortable than the one it begins with: when the system itself becomes part of the story, where does justice really begin? The film has enough moral complexity to make that question linger, even if its trajectory and pace blunt some of its impact. By the time the end credits roll, you are left with a film that has substance and clearly wants to provoke thought, but could have used a little more fire to truly leave a mark.... full review

So-So by Shweta Keshri, india today ...The film is worth a watch, but may leave you wanting more from it than it is willing to give.... full review

So-So by Tatas Chowdhury, News18.com ...For the most part, Daayra manages to turn its gaze towards the uneasy line between revenge and justice while also examining media trials. Its ideological clash makes for a compelling idea and it could’ve given the film a far more layered moral complexity. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always put those beliefs through enough consequences to make the debate truly resonate.... full review

So-So by AISHANI BISWAS, Outlook India ...Gulzar understands the world she is examining, from the police station and the paperwork to the anger surrounding a brutal crime. More importantly, she understands what happens to people when that system fails them. Daayra leaves its central question hanging in the air: when justice takes too long, does that ever give anyone the right to take it into their own hands?... full review

So-So by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...The standout performances include a heart-tugging Kshitee Jog. Prithviraj Sukumaran sharply channels Raman’s smug awareness that whatever the outcome of Ajooni’s findings, he gets to be the hero.... full review

So-So by Kartik Bhardwaj, the new Indian Express ...Daayra needed to explore more of that. Something beyond binaries. A pain that can’t be boxed into right or wrong.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...Of the cast, Prithviraj comes off best of the lot, in a contained but effective performance, along with Jitendra Joshi and Trupti Khamkar, as junior colleagues who know exactly how to catch a fleeing criminal.... full review

Thumbs down by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...a... full review

Daayra - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Junglee Pictures , Pen Studios
Producer: Dhaval Gada, Kushal Kantilal Gada, Jayantilal Gada, Vineet Jain , Amrita Pandey
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Lead Cast: Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran
Supporting Cast: Jitendra Joshi, Kshiti Jog, Trupti Khamkar, Kanwaljeet Singh, Pragati Mishra, Prammod Sanghi, Sumali Khaniwale, Upendra Chauhan, Man Singh Karamati, Md Ashanul Haque, Aarti Desai, Satish Badal, Sumit Raina, Inzmam, Ashutosh Kumar Gupta, Biswapati Sarkar
Story: Meghna Gulzar , Sima Agarwal, Yash Keswani
Cinematography: Saurabh Goswami
Editor: Meghna Gulzar , Charu Shree Roy
Background Score: Ketan Sodha
Music Director: Amit Trivedi , Ketan Sodha
Lyrics: Gulzar
Costume Designer: Karishma Sharma
Running time: 145 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Crime

Daayra - Review

meeta — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 09:11:06 +0000

wogma rating: Watch but no rush ^(?)

quick review:

Review

A film that makes you uncomfortable. A film that makes you introspect over your beliefs. Is a film that has been made reasonably well. But the pacing is uneven enough for it to come in the way of you being completely engrossed.

The audience is spending way too much time on watching people get in and out of cars. The chase sequence is long enough for you to notice that this locality—with festively lit-up houses so close to each other—is almost empty!

Then you have scenes that make you question their existence. Like the one in which a character is asked to read English in Devanagari script. I get the satire, but it didn't relate to anything else in the movie. Same goes for a character asking another to be unbiased but behaving like they have already made a judgement in every scene before and after. This last one could be intentional, but it's distracting nevertheless.

All this would have been alright had it executed the onus it had taken on well—presenting the argument from both sides—justice delayed versus media trial; justice delayed versus police encounters. While it manages to make you uncomfortable, especially disturbing is the rape scene, the debate doesn't go beyond a coffee table discussion.

The actors aren’t able to sink too deep in their characters. Now, that could be an issue with what they were asked to do. But every expression seems disconnected from the previous one thus bringing a jerky feeling to the narrative.

Thus, you are left with something half-baked. You feel the anger, but the frustration seems superficial. The arguments on each side get you interested but don't take a deep dive. So even though I believe that no human should be allowed to take another's life, I do get enticed into thinking, "Just this once." Or "The world can do with one less dirty person. Or four." But Daayra doesn't capitalise on that to make a conversion.

I would venture that the makers want to convince in the other direction—that the law should take its course. But I'd think that the film's execution is stacked against that tilted, even if slightly, towards instant justice. It does feel like the makers want to at least pretend that they are holding things in balance. But, you can see the heart is in one place, and the head is in the other.

That sentiment can't be held against the film because it is relatable to the audience. But is it an unbiased take if the viewer can tell that? For now, though, we can be just glad that the discussion has been brought to the screen.

- meeta, a part of the audience

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Police brutality, rape, people being shot down.
Language: A few curse words.
Nudity & Sexual content: No nudity but there is a rape scene.
Concept: Questioning our faith in the judicial system. Police overreach versus justice for all.
General Look and Feel: Intense, serious, dark.

Detailed Ratings (out of 5):

Direction: 2.5
Story: 2.5
Lead Actors: 2.5
Character Artists: 4

Dialogues: 2.5
Screenplay: 1.5
Music Director:
Lyrics:

Daayra - Movie Details

Official Sites: YouTube Wikipedia IMDB
Banner: Junglee Pictures , Pen Studios
Producer: Dhaval Gada, Kushal Kantilal Gada, Jayantilal Gada, Vineet Jain , Amrita Pandey
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Lead Cast: Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran
Supporting Cast: Jitendra Joshi, Kshiti Jog, Trupti Khamkar, Kanwaljeet Singh, Pragati Mishra, Prammod Sanghi, Sumali Khaniwale, Upendra Chauhan, Man Singh Karamati, Md Ashanul Haque, Aarti Desai, Satish Badal, Sumit Raina, Inzmam, Ashutosh Kumar Gupta, Biswapati Sarkar
Story: Meghna Gulzar , Sima Agarwal, Yash Keswani
Cinematography: Saurabh Goswami
Editor: Meghna Gulzar , Charu Shree Roy
Background Score: Ketan Sodha
Music Director: Amit Trivedi , Ketan Sodha
Lyrics: Gulzar
Costume Designer: Karishma Sharma
Running time: 145 minutes
Reviewer: meeta
Language: Hindi
Country: India
Genres: Crime

Haiwaan - External Reviews

meeta — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 04:53:17 +0000

23 reviewers have given Haiwaan an average rating of 1.4/5.0 ^(?)

1 yays

11 nays

11 so-so

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

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

Thumbs up Movie Talkies ...As a whole, Haiwaan is a reasonably engaging thriller that should work better for Akshay Kumar fans and audiences looking for a straightforward suspense drama. I still wouldn't necessarily recommend going back to Oppam before watching this, because Haiwaan is accessible enough on its own. It takes its time, has its share of predictable moments, but delivers enough thrills to make the overall experience good.... full review

So-So by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice ...That said, Haiwaan has much to recommend itself: Divakar Mani’s semi-sepia lensing lends a luscious luminosity to the proceedings. The songs, though an intrusion (Wait Until Dark rendered into Wait Until The Song Ends), are pleasantly filmed.... full review

So-So by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare ...Haiwaan may not reinvent Oppam, but it remains an engaging thriller because its central character and cast keep it interesting. Priyadarshan understands that the best way to remake his own film is not to merely reproduce it. The Hindi version works when it allows its actors to bring their own personalities to familiar material.... full review

So-So by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat ...Haiwaan has a promising thriller setup and two capable actors at its centre. The combination of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan is definitely one of the film's biggest attractions, while Priyadarshan brings his experience to the story.... full review

So-So by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal ...What does wonders for Haiwaan is a mind-blowing background score by Ronnie Raphael! It surely takes the movie a notch higher. Meanwhile, when it comes to songs composed by Pritam, apart from Rangiyara, none of them leaves a mark.... full review

So-So by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times ...Overall, Haiwaan is a thriller that promises more than it delivers. The premise is strong, and the climax finally brings the tension that the film has been searching for. But getting there is a long journey. The writing is inconsistent, and too many plot points require the audience to overlook basic questions of logic. The songs further disrupt the film’s rhythm rather than enhancing it. There are flashes of a gripping thriller buried within Haiwaan, particularly in its final hour, but they are not enough. What could have been a taut thriller instead becomes an uneven watch.... full review

So-So by Shweta Keshri, india today ...Haiwaan is not a bad film. It has a good cast, a workable story, with splashes of comedy and a director who knows this material. It is simply a film that needed someone to make it tighter and cut it down to the thriller it could have been, rather than the occasionally enjoyable, ultimately unsatisfying version that has made it to screen.... full review

So-So by Jaya Dwivedie, India TV ...Haiwaan is not a film where everything goes wrong. Its biggest strengths are Saif Ali Khan's performance, Akshay Kumar's attempt at a different role, Priyadarshan's command over the story, the cinematography and the stronger thriller portions in the second half. The film's weaknesses include its slow beginning, excessive runtime, editing that could have been tighter, a villain who is not consistently frightening and songs that occasionally slow down the narrative.... full review

So-So by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV ...Textually similar, texturally different and tonally entirely its own beast, Haiwaan, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, struggles to shrug off the shadow of Mohanlal and Oppam (2016).... full review

So-So by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes ...Priyadarshan always assembles formidable casts, and this film is no different. Khan, Kumar, Yadav, Hashmi, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Rajesh Sharma leave you with no complaints, but the story itself has no surprises. You can watch it once it hits OTT, but if you expect any twists, you'll be disappointed. Haiwaan moves in circles for nearly three hours and ultimately ends up nowhere.... full review

So-So by Netra Brid, Pinkvilla ...Haiwaan has a promising hook and two recognisable stars at its center, but neither is enough to overcome a screenplay weighed down by lengthy explanations, unrealistic plot, and uneven pacing. The idea of a blind man using his other senses to outwit a criminal should have provided an inventive and tense thriller. Instead, the film repeatedly shows old tricks and asks the audience to overlook increasingly obvious gaps. Priyadarshan’s familiar visual setting flourishes, while occasional comic touches cannot compensate for the lack of sustained suspense. For viewers drawn to the Saif-Akshay reunion, Haiwaan holds some curiosity value, but as a thriller, it sees the destination long before it figures out how to get there.... full review

So-So by Renuka Vyavahare, Times of India ...Barring a few effective hide-and-seek action sequences between the two leads, Haiwaan struggles to grip. It picks up somewhat after the interval, but with a runtime of 2 hours and 44 minutes, the film ultimately stretches a thin premise far beyond its limits leaving little impact by the time it ends. The Conjuring-style finale takes the tension out of the climax, veering into unintentional humour.... full review

Thumbs down by Subhashini Ramasamy, Deccan Herald ...he movie, which is a remake of Priyadarshan’s ‘Oppam’, is one that cannot be saved even with Mohanlal’s (who played the protagonist in the original) cameo at its closing.... full review

Thumbs down by Manmath Sahu, fullhyd.com ...It's disappointing that a movie based on a strong premise goes wrong. Go watch Oppam in Hindi in HD for free, if at all you will.... full review

Thumbs down by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com ...And despite the Akshay-Saif reunion being the film’s biggest selling point, Haiwaan ultimately belongs more to Saif. He gets the stronger character and considerably more to play. Akshay, ironically, is the man the film calls Haiwaan, but it is Saif who gives the film most of its life.... full review

Thumbs down by Shubhra Gupta, indian express ...When Priyadarshan is on top of his game, all his madly-disparate moving parts somehow come together and give us a rumbustious climax. Sadly, Haiwaan is more miss than hit, more uff uff than ole ole.... full review

Thumbs down by Rajiv Vijayakar, koimoi ...The background score (Ronnie Raphael) works despite its predictability, but the song sequences do not. This is because they come up out of the blue at needless points, and Pritam does not get great situations. Ironically, the otherwise irrelevant Rangiyara works better.... full review

Thumbs down by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint ...Commercial cinema in this country needs a runtime intervention. We’re resigned to terrible films and terribly long films, but there should be some protection against long terrible films.... full review

Thumbs down by Mayank Shekhar, MiD DAY ...That said, what remains the same is the quality of performance. In this case, Saif playing the equivalent of Mohanlal — drawing you in with his spot-on mannerisms of a blind man, for an action-thriller, rather than caring too much about getting into nuances of a Maharashtrian bloke in the same role.... full review

Thumbs down by "Aishani Biswas ", Outlook India ...But a thriller cannot survive on performances alone. Haiwaan takes the moral machinery of Panch Parmeshwar, the blind-versus-psychopath premise of Oppam and the commercial instincts of mainstream Hindi cinema, then throws them together without finding a stable rhythm. The story becomes a very convenient crime drama instead of a tense study of justice, guilt and consequence.... full review

Thumbs down by Sukanya Verma, Rediff ...Be a man. Not Haiwaan.... full review

Thumbs down by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in ...Haiwaan contains the stock elements found in Priyadarshan’s movies, such as ponderous camera angles, scenes in which characters stand around like in a play, and slippages into unrequired comedy. At least the moment when Parshuram tries to wreak havoc while dressed in a nun’s habit produces the laughs.... full review

Thumbs down by Nanditha Anand, The Week ...I also spent an embarrassing amount of time wondering where the Antony Perumbavoor cameo equivalent was, before remembering that this isn’t an Ashirvad Cinema production. Apparently, even my expectations were working on autopilot.... full review

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

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

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