Cast: Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, and Nagarjuna
Director: Ayan Mukerji
As one of the most expensive Indian films to date, Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva was promised eight years ago and had an expenditure budget exceeding Rs 400 crore. Given the time and money invested in the project, designed as a trilogy, nothing less than a breathtaking spectacle unveiling on screen is expected.
If you’ve never read fantasy books like Game of Thrones or Harry Potter, this ‘astraverse’ spectacle that combines Hollywood-style superhero flicks with Hindu lore may astonish you.
Beginning
- The Brahmastra movie world revolves around a hidden group of rishis, the Brahmansh, who can manipulate various astras or weapons.
- The Brahmastra, the strongest of these astras, was split into three parts 30 years ago.
- The film begins in a comic book manner, establishing the idea, before transitioning into a highly fun appearance by Shah Rukh Khan, who portrays Mohan Barghav, a researcher in charge of the vanarastra.
- SRK quickly takes you into the realm of Brahmastra with his charisma and hilarious timing.
Build up
Junoon, played by Mouni Roy as the Queen of Darkness, is attacking Mohan because she wants a part of the Brahmastra he holds. The special effects are stunning, and just as you’re about to lose yourself in them, the film shifts to Mumbai, where its true hero is worshipping at a Durga shrine. And his gaze is drawn to a lovely young lady with a rose delicately placed behind her ear.
In the contemporary world, there is an old-fashioned, chaste romance between Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) and Isha (Alia Bhatt). Consequently, the performers do not seem all that sold on it. He’s a lower-middle-class kid with a heart of gold, and she’s a wealthy young lady. This is the extent of the characterisation.
Isha asks Shiva, “Who are you?” during their first discussion. “What are you?” says a smitten Shiva. We don’t get an answer to either until the very end. She’s departing for a celebration but ends up joining him at an orphan child’s birthday celebration in his place. Isha is taken aback by Shiva’s overture. One of the most crucial episodes in a fantasy epic is when the hero finds and tests their superhuman abilities.
Not only is the protagonist learning more about how this skill functions, but so is the audience. Under what conditions and to what degree does it work? How might it be kept under control or destroyed? In Brahmastra, Shiva appears to have known for a long time that fire cannot hurt him, but it never appealed to him to investigate why or explore it.
Everything happens within the backdrop of a pretty mundane and dull love tale, which slows the film’s pace. Although the producers make an effort to make you drop your jaw to the ground with the visual effects, the film remains a distant spectacle since we never sympathise with the characters on screen. The action moments are expertly scripted and performed.
Even if you view them without any tension or feeling of urgency, they are still entertaining. Other characters, such as Nagarjuna’s character, appear and depart without emotionally immersing you in their fate.
There is one Dumbledore (Harry potter)-character in the movie, played by Amitabh Bachchan. The lack of creativity extends beyond the narrative to how the characters are envisioned and presented.
As a result, all the ‘evil’ people are clothed in black, have heavy kajal, and speak in a growly tone. A scene of a Muslim guy getting possessed by Junoon’s black powers is likewise unneeded. The sincere pair at the centre of this enormous voyage always appears spotless and flawless in their pastel attire. Across Varanasi to Himachal Pradesh, several locations appear in Brahmastra, albeit only as postcard copies of themselves.
You are not captivated by the movie, seeing the differences in culture and location. Eliminate the VFX and music, leaving you with an uninspiring plot borrowed from multiple sources.
Final Thoughts
Like Greek mythology, Hindu mythology is also rich with entertaining narratives about deities with human characteristics and conflicts. Using these influences to build a cinematic universe is a fantastic concept. But in Brahmastra, there is a problematic lack of confidence to go full speed. As a film, it will be recognised for its technical skill, but it will not leave anybody waiting for Parts 2 and 3.
