Khufiya: La taupe et l'espionne

Spy stories involving international agencies and moles is not everyone's cup of tea, Vishal Bharadwaj proves that in Khufiya. The basic story premise is believable and has some substance but not the screenplay which is lethargically paced with the usual tropes of followers through the streets, crude spy cams installed openly in most obvious of the places in suspects houses and expected behaviors and ordinary reveals which makes this a very lukewarm espionage thriller. Tabu also seems to ne jaded though adequate, but Ashish Vidyarthi , the new hero and sub heroines are wasted. Their expressions are pale and does not excite. At the most, 5/10, and that if you used to like Tabu a lot earlier. The story and screenplay need a lot more masala and reality checks to be interesting g like Special Ops etc which were solid thrillers.

Vishal Bhardwaj is one of our competent film makers and one does look forward to seeing his movies. This one is spy thriller post the Kargil war of 1999. The central character Krishna Mehra (played by Tabu ) is a special operative in R and AW who is doggedly pursuing Ravi ( Ali Fazal) suspected to be mole in the security organization. As a few of her plans go awry, she has to deal with them along with personal problems she has with her teenaged son who feels neglected due to mom's hectic schedule. Ali Fazal who lives with mother, wife and infant son also has a turbulent family life. The movie focusses on the cat and mouse game between Tabu and Ali.

Director Vishal Bhardwaj keeps the narrative at a reasonably fast and exciting pace. The audience are kept engaged with the developments. Those familiar with the working of intelligence organizations may find technical loop holes but the average person gets carried away with cloak and dagger stuff. There are surprises, secrets, agents working undercover, hush hush conversations, bugs planted, operatives listening in, watching with binoculars, clandestine meetings, surreptitious movements etc etc in plenty as the movie progresses in the comparatively long runtime of 154 minutes. Some good acting byTabu, Ali Fazal and Ashish Vidyarthi makes it watchable. Wamiqa Gabbi is the heroine who has done well while Azmeri Haque Badhon gives a good account of herself in a brief role.

Anwar Says: Vishal Bhardwaj always takes up something new and normally delivers, this time it's an espionage drama. The movie started so well and intriguing but didn't require story of Tabu's personal life at length,particularly the lesbian angle. After one hour, it has become haywire in parts. You would like the loose ends to join but it would again split.

I would consider it as a movie of new darling of OTT Wamiqa Gabbi rather of Tabbu. She has been given ample scope to shine, whether to dance on numbers of 70's or to show his pain and anguish. Ali Faizal's character is totally confused and he looked confused. In a comparatively shorter role, Azmeri Haque Badhon as ISI associate impress.

Climax is hushed up and could have been better. Vishal Saheb had the scope to present a beauty but he missed the bus. Inclusion of Rahul Ram ( Indian Ocean fame) is a good experiment and it worked. 6 out of 10 from me.

#netflixmovies #anwarsays #Espionagethriller #mole #movie2023 #tabu #wamiqagabbi #AshishVidyarthi #alifaizal #spycamera #VishalBhardwaj.

One of the best part is Wamiqa Gabbi's dance n her sex scene. What an amazing body n moves she has.

Fans of Richard Gere's The Double, Gary Oldman's Tinker Tailer.... & Hank's Bridge of Spies will enjoy this spy drama.

Ali Fazal gave a restrained but solid performance.

Tabu was jus added to make it look like female empowerment stuff. They shud have settled for an old actor whose character is retired n has much more experience than Tabu's character.

The only annoying thing is the lack of tension during the dinner scene with the mutton dish.

They cud have easily added some violence n disturbing effect.

So unlike Vishal Bharadwaj. The story and acting is below par. The dialogues are childish. Shows Vishal's clear obsession with Wamiqa, having cast her in another tepid serial Charlie Chopra, something akin to what Ram Gopal Verma did to promote his favorite stone cold actresses and everybody knows where he is now.

Very disappointing.

The dialogues lack the punch that is required. The movie seems to have been directed by a new comer. He would have done a better job.

The director has been able to gather an impressive cast but could not extract what was needed to make this movie a success.

Just avoid this movie.