Movie Poster

They don't even see us. They're all up there living, and we're stuck here in this. That's no life, bro.

# Review

I’ve heard this film being compared to the John Wick franchise in its artful violence and revenge plot. The story follows a silent protagonist (Dev Patel) as he infiltrates the seedy underworld of an Indian metropolis in order to find his mother’s murderer.

The story slowly unravels as Patel’s character gets closer and closer to his goal. The heroic arc of his character is classic and timeless but the new exotic (to Western audiences) setting adds a layer of excitement. I particularly enjoyed the symbolic Indian cultural references, such as the protagonist’s journey being likened to that of Hanuman, the Hindu god; I also liked the inclusion of the worshippers of Ardhanarishvara, the dual-gendered deity, as well as many other Indian motifs such as tabla performances and adrenaline-filled rides in a (heavily-modified) tuktuk. There are some interesting themes being explored such as classism, some political commentary, and views on religion. The themes are largely superficial and aren’t fully flushed out.

Patel is excellent as a stoic protagonist set on revenge. Pitobash’s Alphonso makes a great sidekick and character foil and Sobhita Dhulipala makes a demure love interest. Other characters, such as Sikandar Kher’s Rana, Makarand Deshpande’s Baba Shakti, and Vipin Sharma’s Alpha, are one-dimensional but fun to watch. The story isn’t nearly as satisfying as that of John Wick and the violence isn’t as tasteful or well-choreographed. Despite this, the film did strike a chord and it’s an excellent directorial debut for Patel. The shaky cinematography and strong colour themes also add a visual flair to the film.

# Conclusion

A great Indian version of John Wick.

# Overall rating: 7.8

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