'Mission Majnu' - A Netflix Movie Review

MISSION MAJNU is a patriotic commercial film that tells the story of an Indian spy in Pakistan during the time when India had conducted nuclear tests in 1974. The film revolves around the spy's mission to find out more about Pakistan's atomic bomb facility and the whereabouts of the scientist who's spearheading it. The spy, Amandeep Singh aka Tariq, works as a tailor and has successfully created his image of a good-natured simpleton. He falls in love with Nasreen, a blind girl, and both get married. His mission is not easy as he needs to be very careful that the Pakistani army or the intelligence does not find out the truth about him. His tragic past and love story make the film more engaging.

Parveez Shaikh and Aseem Arrora's story is excellent and has all the ingredients required for a patriotic, commercial film. Sumit Batheja, Parveez Shaikh, and Aseem Arrora's screenplay is very gripping and written in such a way that one doesn't get a déjà vu of any of the similar films in this space. Shantanu Bagchi's direction is praiseworthy, and he keeps the viewers captivated, raises the tension levels, and infuses humor well.

The film starts well, explaining the context, and picks up once Tariq's mission begins. The scene where he smartly extracts information from the Brigadier and A Q Khan's neighbor are memorable sequences in the first half. The train sequence and the scene where Sharma apologizes to Tariq stand out. The finale is nail-biting and moving.

Sidharth Malhotra delivers yet another fantastic performance after SHERSHAAH, and Rashmika Mandanna has a fine screen presence. Sharib Hashmi, Kumud Mishra, Zakir Hussain, Avantika Akerkar, and Avijit Dutt leave a mark. Shishir Sharma, Mir Sarwar, Rajit Kapur, Parmeet Sethi, and Manoj Bakshi have limited roles but perform very nicely. Sumit Batheja's dialogues are conversational and applause-worthy.

The film has little scope for action, but the director ensures that there's an abundance of drama and thrill. The humour is well-infused, and the romantic track of Tariq and Nasreen is cute. On the flipside, the whole Israel angle is not explained properly, and some developments are difficult to digest. Nonetheless, the film is an engaging watch, and the manner in which Tariq tries to find out about the atomic bomb is the best part of the film.

In most Bollywood action espionage stories, the way RAW agencies operate is often spoon-fed to the audience, leaving me bewildered. Mission Majnu, the new "Deshbhakthi" package, starring Sidharth Malhotra, is yet another jingoistic action drama that relies on cliches. Unfortunately, the movie's writing lacks depth and fails to humanize the spy character, resulting in a lackluster creation that capitalizes on hyper-nationalistic sentiments.

The movie follows Tariq Hussain, an undercover RAW agent trained to gather information on Pakistan's nuclear ambitions after India's nuclear power status. The mission requires absolute secrecy, making it challenging for India to gather enough evidence to expose Pakistan's intentions to the world. Mission Majnu showcases how India's agents in Pakistan helped their country gather proof to reveal the truth.

The clues Tariq finds during his investigation and how he manages to crack the case with minimal elements like a western toilet or hair samples are genuinely fascinating. If the movie were made by someone like Shoojit Sircar, it would have been a smart espionage thriller that focused on intelligence rather than the over-the-top action of agents. However, the writers, Aseem Arora and Parveez Shaikh, try to stretch the core story, resulting in a lack of character development and a generic spy thriller. The visual effects and action choreography fail to elevate the film's quality.

Sidharth Malhotra's portrayal of a naive Pakistani tailor turned spy is unconvincing, and his over-enthusiastic performance can easily raise suspicion, which is not ideal for a spy. Rashmika Mandanna's role is limited to a pretty face who sings, smiles and cries, while Sharib Hashmi and Kumud Mishra's roles, while significant to the story, do not challenge them as actors.

The movie's main issue is how it portrays Pakistani officials as foolish, making things convenient for the heroes. RAW agents would likely find the ease with which Aman gathers information from a higher-ranking Pakistani official irritating, oversimplifying their job. The film also includes the usual dose of patriotic dialogue, making it easy to distinguish between fact and fiction in the script. The production design is lazy, as seen in the plug points visible in a train set in the 70s.

Initially intended for theatrical release, Shantanu Bagchi's Mission Majnu is a misfit for a direct-to-OTT release. The movie's broad strokes and unexciting structure make it clear why Ronnie Screwvala opted for the safe mode. However, if you enjoy patriotic dramas and have not grown tired of the recent parade of such movies, you can give Mission Majnu a try.