Netflix’s Mission Majnu is another spy thriller — ‘inspired by true events that unfolded post India’s first nuclear weapon test in Pokhran. Pakistan sought to create its own covert nuclear programme and how Indian spies stopped the adversary forms the crux of the film.
Directed by Shantanu Bagchi, the 129-minute film begins documentary-like and gives glimpses of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima explosions. The focus soon shifts to RA&W officer Tariq Ali aka Amandeep Singh, played by Siddharth Malhotra, in Rawalpindi. Tariq is disguised as a tailor’s apprentice and gets married to Nasreen, a blind Muslim girl played by Rashmika Mandanna.
Back home in India, the government has changed and decided on a different, more friendly strategy of interacting with Pakistan. But the R&AW chief (Parmeet Sethi) continues the mission with his men in the neighbouring nation. There’s too much chaos and confusion which lead to a familiar climax, yet the scene manages to give you goosebumps. Upon learning that several R&AW agents are living in Pakistan, the shootout that follows killing almost everyone on the radar is a rather well-shot sequence.
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Insipid and uninspired plot
The film may be ‘inspired’ by real events, but it definitely lacks imagination of the kind that makes spy thrillers a thrill to watch. Despite being free of jingoism, Mission Majnu at no point has edge-of-the seat moments. The screenplay by Sumit Bhateja, Parveez Sheikh and Aseem Arora is below average. It adds nothing new to the plethora of spy thrillers, both films and shows, that have been made so far.
Things fall into place almost breezily for Tariq and Pakistani secret-keepers appear complete novices. They give away any information to anyone. Information gathering by Tariq feels more comic than intelligent, be it sourcing details from a roadside vendor or securing the order for stitching new uniforms for his boss.
A backstory often seen in Indian spy movies, where the protagonists’ father is a traitor, doesn’t add any depth to the film’s plot. Moments of tension come far too late in the film and the climax, while good does not make you go ‘woah’.
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Average performances
Notwithstanding the memes flooding the internet on the Pakistani mannerism given to him, Siddharth Malhotra does a decent job. But there is not much difference between Tariq Ali the tailor and Amandeep the spy. The unidimensional aspect is the biggest disservice to the actor’s abilities. Rashmika is more prop than character. The chemistry between them is sweet, but not poignant at any point.
Siddharth Malhotra is assisted in his spy endeavour by Aslam (Sharib Hashmi) and Maulvi, played by Kumud Mishra. The duo manage to make you laugh and also invest in a film that otherwise does not inspire much investment. Parmeet Sethi as RA&W chief R.N. Rao does his bit well.
A Netflix release is a smart move by the makers because the movie may not have attracted an audience in theatres. It can be a one-time watch if there is nothing better to binge on the weekend. But OTT has better spy thrillers.
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)