Review of Raazi (2018) by Debsuvra G — 11 May 2018

In India, making a movie on Indo-Pak relations can be quite tricky, a topic filled with dichotomy. On the one hand, it is relatively easy to fall prey to rising jingoism, and on the other, a straightforward thriller without an ounce of love for one's country is a hard sell in India.

Raazi tries to maintain a balance between the two and does a reasonably good job of it. Alia Bhatt, as the lead Sehmat, landed a powerful performance that captured the evolution of her character. A young collegegoer Sehmat's life goes through an abrupt phase transition, and she tried her best to catch up - learning, improvising and often taking charge of the situation like a pro.

Jaideep Ahlawat's acting was measured and respondent. Others did not get much screen time, but Vicky Kaushal, Rajit Kapoor and Shishir Sharma - all did commendable jobs. The runtime, at two hours twenty minutes, did not seem like a stretch, backed by a tight script and competent editing.

Songs were used tactfully without burdening the pace of the movie. Overall, even without delving into patriotic sentiments, Raazi is a definite watch due to Alia's performance, an intriguing plot and a satisfying script.