Jul 15, 2025 09:52 AM
318 Views
The most awaited movie, Maalik, was the reason for my excitement, and true to it, the movie is a wonderful, action-packed crime drama. I am a huge fan of Raj Kumar Rao and never miss any of his movies, and after watching Maalik, I would say that Rao has again made everybody a fan of his acting. The movie shows the story of a young man, Deepak(Raj Kumar Rao), who rises to become a powerful gangster known as Maalik. It is directed by popular director Pulkit and produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani.
Story
The movie revolves around the lead character Deepak, who transforms from a farm worker's son to a ruthless ganglord after avenging his fathers injury, and is known as Maalik. He builds a criminal empire while navigating relationships with politicians, rival gangs, and his own family. The movie has beautifully shown the Allahabad social-political atmosphere of the late 1980s, with the theme of social injustice, caste and class conflict, and the rise of criminal elements in a politically charged environment. Though the political drama is the main theme of the movie, it also shows Maaliks relationship conflict with his wife, Shalini(Manushi Chhillar), who tries to take his husband away from his violent life.
Performance
All the characters in the movie have played a significant role in making the movie a big success, especially Raj Kumar Rao. His acting, no doubt, is noteworthy in all his movies that leave a deep impression on viewers, but in this movie, he has performed magnificently, which won the hearts of his fans like me. Apart from his character, other characters like Prosenjit Chatterjee, Saurabh Shukla, and Manushi Chhillar have also done a great job. Manushi, being the wife of Maalik, has beautifully portrayed the character of a typical Indian woman who wants to save his husband from all the problems of life.
Positive Points
1. Raj Kumar Raos Performance
Raos adoption of character was clearly visible in his acting as a gangster in the movie. It would not be an exaggeration to say that his acting was the game-changer for the movie and made it a big hit.
2. Realistic Storytelling
It's really praiseworthy how the makers of the movie have portrayed a grounded and realistic depiction of the criminal underworld, with the focus on the nexus between gangsters, politicians, and police of that time.
3. Captivating visuals and cinematography
The movie has many beautiful visuals that will catch your eye. Anuj Rakesh Dhawan, the cinematographer, is worth mentioning for his wonderful work in the movie. He has beautifully captured the Allahabad raw and rustic locals very well. The scenes look so true to the real Allahabad of that time. Apart from it, music and editing are also remarkable, which sheds light on the overall movie experience.
Negative Points
1. Predictable Plot
Though the acting of the characters is impressive, the theme of the movie is quite predictable and similar to the movies of the same genre. While watching the first half, anyone can easily predict the story and the climax, which is quite disappointing.
2. Lack of Emotional Depth
Though Raos' performance is good, somewhere I felt it was lacking the necessary swag and the emotional touch, especially in the scenes with his wife, which could be quite better. But since the criminal drama is the key focus of the movie, it can be avoided.
3. Overstuffed Narrative
The plot of the movie is good, but while watching, I felt that many plots and characters are underdeveloped, which could be either removed or fully developed.
Final Verdict
Raj Kumar Rao always becomes the key reason behind the success of any movie with his standout performance. In this movie, too, his acting is one of the top reasons for watching. The maker has done a great job with the technicalities(cinematography, editing music) of the movie, which is wonderfully reflected, but their attempt to make the movie a unique action drama failed somewhere, as the story was quite predictable. But overall, the movie is entertaining and worth watching.
