Mission Majnu review: A spy thriller about India and Pakistan’s animosity during the 1970s, starring Sidharth Malhotra post his laudable performance in Shershaah, is a perfect recipe for an intriguing drama. And Mission Majnu serves it, all right, garnished with high-octane action. The fictional story is based on actual events following the Indo-Pak 1971 war and the latter secretively creating nuclear weapons. A RAW field agent, Amandeep Singh (Sidharth Malhotra), lives and works in Pakistan as a tailor called Tariq, with a mission to expose the country’s covert operation. He marries a blind girl, Nasreen (Rashmika Mandanna) and starts a family with her while being undercover.
The movie follows Amandeep’s mission, as he’s constantly subjected to insults as his father dies by suicide for being a traitor, a story that’s only given a cursory mention.
Shantanu Bagchi helms Mission Majnu with aplomb and keeps it fast-paced throughout. The director also manages to keep one on the edge of the seat on many occasions when Amandeep’s cover seems close to being blown. The milieu of 1970s Pakistan is also created appropriately.
How Tariq puts the pieces of the puzzle together, makes connections quickly and acts with alacrity is depicted skilfully. However, one cannot help but note how sketchy some of the film’s aspects are. Tariq gathers information quite easily, and some of the clues and how easily he’s rescued from dangerous situations make things seem too convenient.
Sidharth performs well as Tariq and Amandeep, especially in intense scenes. However, he is not entirely convincing in the comic parts. Rashmika Mandanna looks the part of Nasreen, and her acting is passable. Among the supporting cast, Kumud Mishra shines. Much to be written about his acting chops and track, but it would necessitate giving spoilers. Sharib Hashmi also gives a noteworthy performance as Amandeep’s partner. Mission Majnu is about Amandeep’s wit, ingenuity, and patriotism despite being mistreated, but there’s ample action too, which Sidharth pulls off well.
There’s no chest-thumping patriotism in the movie, and it stays true to its premise of the covert operation being exposed. The dialogues are worth paying attention to. The narrator describes spies as “apni mitti se duur mitti ke sipahi.”
Mission Majnu is gripping in parts, but it’s too convenient, which takes away from the narrative. While great, the action stretches in places and makes the movie seem formulaic. All in all, you will enjoy it if viewed without getting into the nuances.
