Khufiya Review: Vishal Bhardwaj, the maestro of Indian cinema known for crafting cinematic gems like ‘Haider,’ ‘Omkara,’ and ‘Maqbool,’ has returned with ‘Khufiya,’ a Netflix thriller that, while not a unimpressive film, it does leave you yearning for more from his creative arsenal.
Bhardwaj has always had a knack for taking literary works and transforming them into something unique and relevant for contemporary audiences. However, with ‘Khufiya,’ that distinct touch seems to have dimmed. This is not to say that the film is devoid of merit; it merely feels like it had the potential to soar higher, given the talent involved.
The source material for ‘Khufiya’ is Amar Bhushan’s book ‘Escape to Nowhere.’ The film openly claims to draw inspiration from two real-life stories, setting the stage for an espionage thriller. The narrative revolves around Tabu, who portrays R&AW agent Krishna Mehra, alias KM. She recruits Azmeri Haque Badhon’s character, Octopus, for a high-stakes mission, setting off a chain of events that exposes a mole within R&AW. The prime suspect? Ali Fazal’s Ravi Mohan and his family, including his wife Chaaru, played by Wamiqa Gabbi.
While the premise holds promise, the film gets entangled in its own web as it attempts to juggle multiple elements—spy revelation, political references, and plot development. At a runtime of 2 hours and 37 minutes, ‘Khufiya‘ feels undeniably lengthy. Several scenes, including a needless montage song featuring Wamiqa, could have been trimmed down for a more streamlined experience.
Khufiya Review: A Promising Spy Thriller That Misses the Mark
In contrast, Bhardwaj’s ‘Haider’ successfully managed its extended duration of 160 minutes by weaving a compelling narrative that explored complex themes and relationships. ‘Khufiya,’ unfortunately, lacks the distinctive voice that made Bhardwaj’s earlier works so captivating.
Khufiya does keep you engrossed, sans suspense
A spy thriller demands an undercurrent of tension that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, a palpable sense of suspense that hangs thick in the air. Regrettably, ‘Khufiya‘ doesn’t quite deliver on this front. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Azmeri Haque Badhon’s performance shines amidst the film’s shortcomings. Her portrayal is both captivating and deceptive, elevating her character within the confines of the storyline. The ensemble cast, including Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Tabu, delivers credible performances, even if the script doesn’t fully exploit their potential.
Khufiya Review, the final verdict: ‘Khufiya’ is a film that aspires to be a gripping espionage thriller but falls short of its own ambition. While Vishal Bhardwaj’s signature touch is occasionally glimpsed, it feels like a faint echo of his past masterpieces. Nevertheless, for those intrigued by the world of espionage, ‘Khufiya’ may offer some moments of intrigue, even though it doesn’t quite reach the heights one might expect from the director’s legacy.