Movie: Brahmastra
Brahmastra cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy, Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna
Brahmastra Director: Ayan Mukerji
Where to watch: in theaters
Review by: Russel D’Silvac
Bollywood doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to fantasy movies. While sci-fi has done surprisingly well, with the Krrish franchise as the best example and Ra One also a moderate success, Bollywood fantasy films from Ajooba to Drona, Naksha or Jajantaram Mamantaram have regularly failed to impress critics and audiences alike. Conversely, when it comes to movies based on Hindi mythology, with a Naksha and Vaah Life Ho Toh Aisi out there for every OMG and Taqdeerwala. Now comes Ayan Mukerji director Brahmastra, fully supported by producer Karan Johar who took 5 years to bring all of the above together, and promises a fictional concoction like no other. So, will the Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer become the vishal spectacle it has promised all along? The answer is an emphatic yes. So, are you excited about what to watch this weekend or this week and wondering if Brahmastra is worth your time? Scroll down for my full movie review of Brahmastra…
An evil force is at work to bring the three broken pieces of Brahmastra together and awaken Dev who once tried to destroy the world. Only Shiva, an ordinary man with latent, extraordinary secrets, can be the unwitting savior.
what’s hot
Brahmashtra is without a doubt the greatest visual spectacle to date in Indian cinema, even bigger than Baahubali and RRR by SS Rajamouli. Three goosebump moments stand out: a chase scene, the interval when Ranbir realizes the full extent of his powers, and the climax to the point where Mouni Roy is nearly victorious. This is 5 years of blood, sweat and sacrifice that has really paid off. Knowing they don’t have a Marvel-level budget, Ayan Mukerji and Karan Johar “miraculously” create a visual world that stands out despite its monetary constraints, thanks to both the best use of VFX in an Indian film to date and stunning. camera work.
The plot and folklore is also well mixed with a modern, tough tradition without sacrifice, so all age groups can have a blast. Even the songs are shot very well and never hinder the flow of the story. As for the performances, Ranbir Kapoor carries the entire film while Amitabh Bachchan and Alia Bhatt are his proficient mainstays while Mouni Roy is the ideal foil and Nagarjuna’s cameo is intense. That said, Shah Rukh Khan still steals the show in 15 minutes. Can’t wait for #BrahmastraMovie part 2.
What not
The dialogues are so youthful at times that if they were even a little better, the movie would have been almost flawless. The romantic song is also a double-edged sword as it not only acts as a catalyst for Ranbir’s powers, but also drags the story down in quite a few places. And the climax was brilliant until the romantic angle strikes again after Mouni nearly wins, but again, a major transformation in Ranbir’s avatar saves the day. I think the credit goes to Ayan because he always keeps things just when you think they are about to sink. The montage of Prakash Kurup could also have been tighter by at least 20-25 minutes.
BL verdict
The visual treat alone is worth twice the proof of admission to Brahmastra. The dialogues and romance could have been streamlined, but the fantasy world and folklore that sweeps you in are enough to ensure that hardly anyone has to walk out of the theater and say they didn’t have a good time. I’m going for 3.5 out of 5 stars.
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