Brahmastra Review: A film of such breathtaking magnitude, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer is unlike anything that you have seen before in Hindi cinema

Brahmastra Movie Review Rating: 4/5

Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva, a film that the entire nation waited for with bated breath, is finally in cinemas. It has been in production for several years and even braved a pandemic during its filming. Helmed by Ayan Mukerji, who previously delighted audiences with films such as Wake Up Sid (2009) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, and Mouni Roy in pivotal roles. Fans were waiting for the film’s release for several reasons, one of them being the fact that it marks Kapoor and Bhatt’s first onscreen appearance. The couple recently got married and is set to welcome their first child soon. A lot of expectations are riding on this lavishly mounted fantasy adventure drama and there is an unprecedented buzz around it. So, let’s find out whether the film is worth your time and money.

STORY: Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor), who works as a DJ and has grown up in an orphanage, is a regular guy who has just started to come to terms with the fact that he possesses some extraordinary powers. He is immune to fire and can strangely see what is happening in the world around him. During an event, he meets effervescent, ultra-rich Isha (Alia Bhatt) and falls in love with her.

Meanwhile, Junoon (Mouni Roy), an evil queen of the darkness, enters his world to find the missing pieces of Brahmastra, the most powerful weapon of all, and goes on a rampage in her mission, killing two members of a secret society called Brahmānsh that has been protecting various astras for generation after generation. If Junoon finds all the missing pieces and combines them together, the world will collapse. How Shiva comes in between the evil plans of Junoon and, at the same time, hones his powers after meeting the Guru (Amitabh Bachchan) of the secret society, forms the crux of the story.

HIGHS: Setting up a superhero universe has been a dream of many Indian filmmakers, but kudos to Ayan Mukerji who went all out to realise his dream and gives Indian cinema a film that unfailingly ticks all the boxes of a superhero flick and that has the power of entertaining all the segments of the audience, be it kids or grown-ups. What I loved most about the film is how deftly Ayan weaves references from our history into his story which is not only full of eye-popping special effects but also equally emotionally rich. He blends both reality and fantasy together into an extraordinary, spellbinding story that is thoroughly captivating. The filmmaker’s sincerity is evident in every frame.

Talking about performances, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt just light up the screen every time they come together. They look so perfect and deliver honest performances. Ranbir is one of the best talents that we have today in Bollywood and he proves his versatility yet again and rivets audiences with an emotionally-charged intense performance. The film majorly rides on his shoulders and he does not disappoint even in a single scene. He is as terrific in action sequences as he is in romantic scenes with his now better half Alia.

Alia looks gorgeous and also convincing as Isha, who plays an important role in Shiva’s journey. Nagarjuna Akkineni as artist Anish Shetty, and a member of the Brahmānsh, is terrific. He leaves a great impact with his brief appearance. Amitabh Bachchan’s casting as Guru Ji is also great. You just cannot imagine anybody else in that character. Mouni Roy as the queen of darkness is fantastic. This is undoubtedly her best performance in all the films that she has appeared in ever since transitioning to Bollywood from TV.

Overall, after watching Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva, you wonder why no one else is making films this exciting and challenging and with this scale of pictorial grandeur. It is indeed rare to see a production of such breathtaking magnitude in Indian cinema. Meanwhile, the rousing fantasy drama adventure closes with an ending that sets the stage for Brahmastra: Part 2 – Dev.

LOWS: You may find the beginning of the second half a tad bit laborious. But before it starts to lose its steam, Ayan Mukerji ushers the audience through a slew of mind-boggling sequences that go on to pave the way for a climax that one cannot get off their mind for a long time to come.

FINAL VERDICT: Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva breaks new ground and is unlike anything that you have seen before in Hindi cinema. In my opinion, there has to be absolutely nothing stopping you from watching this tasteful fantasy adventure drama on the big screen. Its story may not be as dazzling as its jaw-dropping visuals, but the film is thoroughly engrossing, imaginative, and authentically inventive. It keeps you hooked to the screen from the word go and transports you to a world you do not wish to come back from soon. I am going with 4 stars. It is indeed an unmissable watch. Go, grab your tickets now.

Watch Brahmastra trailer:

MOVIE CREDITS

Banner: Dharma Productions, Star Studios, Prime Focus, Starlight Pictures

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Runtime: 167 Minutes