For a country whose history is steeped in turmoil with its nearest neighbour, the question that arises after 76 years of independence is this: Will we, as Indians, ever be able to portray Pakistan in a light other than that of the enemy? Perhaps, the time to change that narrative has finally arrived.
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An honest review of ‘Mission Majnu’
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Yet, Sidharth Malhotra’s new film, Mission Majnu, cleverly evades the question by jumping 50 years in the past, to a time when tensions between the two countries were rife, with both nations competing to outmanoeuvre each other with its nuclear prowess. Don’t get me wrong, I was absolutely surprised by this nail-biting thriller drama but could we have moved past the age-old hatred? Absolutely. Read on for the full review.
Sidharth Malhotra as a RAW agent in ‘Mission Majnu’
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What this Shantanu Bagchi film gets right are the characters—an antagonistic Indian phone operator, the quick-witted fellow RAW agents, the involved politicians. Through actual montages picked from the 1970s, cinematographer and editors Bijitesh De, Nitin Baid and Siddharth S.Pande are able to stitch together a running backdrop seamlessly.
Malhotra, who is the focal point of the film, running high on the success of a patriotic endeavour like Shershaah, brings his characteristic charm as the doe-eyed Tariq. In his double life as a tailor and a spy, he falls irrevocably in love with Nasreen, a luxury most agents do not have. Yet, it is his attempt to shield her from the atrocities of his job that really brings out the kind of sacrifices we, as common people, are blissfully unaware of. Mission Majnu is a testament to that indelible spirit.
The dialogues, cast performances and direction in movie
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By the end of the film, a few elements worked their magic on me. Be it Sharib Hashmi, someone we’ve revered as the adorable sidekick JK in The Family Man, or Kumud Mishra with his cinematic brilliance, it is the performances that illuminate this film. Sidharth, too, has come a long, long way from Student of the Year and for that, he must be applauded.
Additionally, it is the seamless direction that works as the final tonic in this gin cocktail. We are taken through a volatile period in Indian history through actual clips and made-up ones, in a manner that blurs the lines between real and fiction. It’s a testament to the skill Bagchi brings to the table, especially as a newcomer navigating the already saturated market of Bollywood cinema.
Here’s my only complaint about the film
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The only piece of the puzzle that I felt did not fit is Rashmika. While her character was part of the sub plot in the overarching storyline, I did not see the spark that everyone has suddenly associated with her following the success of Pushpa: The Rise. Her attempt at playing the blind Nasreen is lost on the screen and appears as the only weak link in this twisted game of India vs Pakistan. Also, she is impeccably dressed in ironed kurtas and appears mostly with salon-like hair which I found was a bit of a stretch.
Additionally, the fact that India did create a nuclear missile before this tug of war escalated is conveniently mentioned only in the first few seconds of the opening montage. The argument that Pakistan is honing the same skills is highlighted to the point that it forms the crux of the film. I’m not here to fight the facts but maybe someone needed to point towards the triggers we set up in the process as well.The stereotyping is so much, it hurts.
My final verdict on ‘Mission Majnu’
I fully urge people to go watch this film on Netflix. While you might not come out with a renewed sense of patriotism, you’ll definitely be glad a good Bollywood film has finally arrived! After you are done, tell us what you thought of Mission Majnu in the comments below.
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