Maalik

Maalik tries to swagger into the world of gangster epics but ends up as a formulaic slog that offers nothing new beyond a strong central performance by Rajkummar Rao. With its familiar tropes, a dragged-out second half, and a total lack of narrative surprises, the film is yet another forgettable entry in the overpopulated gangster-politics crossover space. The treatment lacks freshness, and the tonality feels uneven.

There is absolutely nothing in the storyline that hasn't been done and done better in countless gangster films before it. The screenplay has a few serviceable moments, but for the most part, it trudges along predictably. There's little to no narrative tension, and the film leans heavily on archetypes instead of creating compelling characters. If you're a die-hard fan of gangster dramas and can overlook predictability in favor of gritty performances, you might find some value here.

Rajkummar Rao, as always, gives it his all. He slips into the role of a hardened gangster with convincing intensity, and even when the film falters, his performance remains grounded and compelling. Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Shukla, and Swanand Kirkire delivers decent performance. Anshumaan Pushkar is a pleasant surprise. Coming off his powerful performance in 12th Fail, he delivers another nuanced act. Saurabh Sachdeva and Prosenjit Chatterjee start strong, with menacing screen presence, but their arcs fade quickly into predictable caricatures. Huma Qureshi's item number is as forgettable as it is unnecessary.

Direction 2/5 Acting 2.5/5 Dialogues 2/5 Story 2/5 Screenplay 1.5/5.

Maalik is a gangster drama which tries to be so much but lacks the core writing to land at that level. Although it's refreshing to see Rajkummar playing something other than his typecast and he does a good job with his looks and acting. Manushi is just decent and does her minimal job. Saurabh Shukla and Saurabh Sachdeva tend to be strong characters of this world but their characters have been written terribly and lack any context or motivation. The Maalik title score is good but hasn't been materialised well in the film and many scenes which could have been better are let down by an underwhelming background score that doesn't give them the elevation needed.

The movie's biggest flaw is its screenplay and writing. 3/3

fails to connect you with its emotions and the motivations of its characters. The first half is mostly dull and gradual, except for the interval act which creates the high the film needs. Few dialogues have been written well. Just when the movie begins to pick up grip and pace, it gets interrupted by the romantic plot between Raj and Manushi and completely forgets about the crucial event that had taken place. The action cinematography and gun fighting look good in the setup, but the audience is unable to connect with those intense emotions. Overall, Maalik comes with Rajkummar's strong act but due to a weak script, it just does not turn out to be that praiseworthy.

OVERALL -4/10.

Why 1 star?

Script: completely predictable and uninspired.

Direction: lacks nuance or innovation.

Pacing: drags, especially post-intermission.

Characters: beyond Rao, most are one-dimensional or wasted roles.

Only the energy and charisma of Rao holds your gaze, but he's fighting a losing battle. The film does not respect your time or expectations. Maalik suffers from cliched storytelling that repeats gangster tropes without any fresh take

Rajkummar Rao's Acting ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (10/10) Story & Screenplay ⭐ (flat, clichéd) Editing & Pacing ⭐ (much too long) Action & Violence ⭐ (indulgent, hollow) Overall Film Quality ⭐ (unoriginal, forgettable)

Mallik has an interesting premise and moments of solid drama, but the overall execution feels uneven. The performances are sincere, especially from the lead, but pacing issues and predictable plot twists weaken the overall impact. The music is decent and the visuals capture the mood, yet the film doesn't quite rise above mediocrity. Worth a watch if you like character-driven stories, but don't expect anything groundbreaking.

Mostly actors performed great. BUT Prosenjit Chatterjee was wasted. Repetitive after interval. BUT cinematography is perfect. I was reaallllyyy exited because of the trailer but the movie disappointed me a bit. But the great thing is that Rajkumar tried something different and he shines in it. The story has FLAWSSSSS but Maanushi's performed was too good in compare to his older works like samrath prithviraj. AND I LOVE THE GUY WHO WAS THE MENTOR OF MANOJ KUMAR SHARMA IN 12TH FAIL IN THIS MOVIE. SWANAND KIRKIRE sir was a add on in the film. But film was not able to explain the conflict between RAJKUMAR and SAURABH SHUKLA well and this point was stretched a bit. Overall fun watch for first time.