Mirzapur: The Movie Review – Nostalgic, Entertaining & Full of Bhaukaal
Prime Video disrupted the Indian OTT landscape when it began releasing original productions back in 2017. But the real “Bhaukaal” arrived a year later with Mirzapur.
The series changed the way Indian audiences looked at gore, violence, and crime dramas on streaming platforms. What followed was a massive fan following, three successful yet bittersweet seasons, countless memes, and some truly iconic characters.
Now, the Mirzapur gang has finally made its way to the big screen with Mirzapur: The Movie.
But was bringing Mirzapur to theatres actually necessary, or is this simply another cash grab riding on a popular franchise?
Let’s decode it.
What’s Mirzapur: The Movie About?
Mirzapur: The Movie is neither a prequel nor a sequel. Instead, it tells a parallel, previously untold story set during the events of the first season.
A new challenger, Babban, played by Ravi Kishan, is rising through the ranks and eyeing the throne of Mirzapur. But can Kaleen Bhaiyya (Pankaj Tripathi) and his team, including fan favourites Guddu Pandit (Ali Fazal), Bablu Pandit (Jeetendra Kumar) and Munna Tripathi (Divyendu), neutralise the new threat and retain their hold over Mirzapur?
You’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
I am diving right into the review now.
What Works?
The Performances
One of the biggest attractions of Mirzapur: The Movie is the return of the OG cast from Season 1. More importantly, several characters who met their fate in later seasons are back on screen.
And then there’s Ravi Kishan, who joins the franchise as the new big bad.
The movie relies heavily on its performances, and Ravi Kishan absolutely nails his role. He brings the right amount of menace, swagger, and unpredictability to Babban.
But the biggest cheer from the fans will undoubtedly be reserved for Divyendu.
After missing him throughout much of the third season, seeing Munna Tripathi back on screen feels like a proper homecoming. And Divyendu makes the most of every second. Whenever he appears, he instantly adds energy to the scene.
Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal are equally comfortable slipping back into their iconic mannerisms as Kaleen Bhaiyya and Guddu Pandit.
However, one major casting decision doesn’t quite work, and I’ll get to that later.
Entertainment Value
The makers clearly understand what the Mirzapur audience wants.
At over three hours, the movie has a surprisingly long runtime. Yet, it rarely feels unnecessarily stretched or boring.
The pacing keeps the entertainment factor alive, and the film feels less like a completely new chapter and more like a celebration of everything fans have loved about Mirzapur over the years.
Comedy and Iconic Dialogues
Despite being a crime drama packed with violence, Mirzapur has always had a strong comic side, and the movie doesn’t forget that.
A particular racing sequence is easily one of the most entertaining moments in the film and will probably become one of the major talking points among fans.
The film also brings back several iconic dialogues that have become meme material over the years. Thankfully, their recreation doesn’t feel forced and results in plenty of seeti-maar moments inside the theatre.
The introduction of a new character who repairs punctures in the second half also delivers an unexpectedly hilarious sequence.
The Look and Feel
Mirzapur: The Movie is clearly made on a bigger scale and budget, and it shows.
The use of modern camera techniques, larger set pieces, and real locations gives the film a more cinematic look than the original series.
This is also where the theatrical experience works in its favour. Watching the familiar characters and larger-than-life moments on the big screen does add something to the overall experience.
The Music
The original Mirzapur series wasn’t exactly known for a huge soundtrack. However, some of its songs became hugely popular.
“Varoon”, one of the show’s viral hits, gets a beautiful recreation in the movie.
There are a few more tracks, including “Do Numbari”, which appears during a crucial sequence and does exactly what it needs to do—it pumps you up.
But the real surprise comes during the end credits, when “Sanson Ki Mala” plays. It is an unexpected choice, but somehow fits the mood perfectly.
What Doesn't Work?
Jeetendra Kumar as Bablu Pandit
Don’t get me wrong. Jeetendra Kumar has been one of my favourite actors since the TVF Pitchers days.
But unfortunately, he simply doesn’t fit into the role of Bablu Pandit.
Almost every scene he appears in feels like we’re watching Sachiv Ji from Panchayat rather than Bablu Pandit. And that inevitably makes you miss Vikrant Massey even more.
I still don’t understand why the makers couldn’t convince Massey to return. But the bigger problem is how Bablu has been written in the movie.
The character is given an almost superhero-like ability, which feels completely out of place. The innocence, vulnerability, and conviction that Vikrant Massey brought to Bablu are missing here.
It is one of the film’s biggest casting and writing missteps.
A Flat Screenplay
Once the adrenaline wears off after the movie, one question immediately comes to mind:
Was this film actually necessary?
The story begins shortly after Episode 6 of Season 1, but the problem is that we already know where these characters are eventually headed.
We know what happens to them. We know how Season 1 ends. And, most importantly, we know about that haunting Shakespearean finale.
That takes away a lot of the suspense.
The movie doesn’t really deliver enough shocking twists or edge-of-the-seat turns to compensate for this problem.
However, one thing I appreciated was the attempt to give certain characters new shades. Some of these character developments actually add dimensions that I wish the original show had explored more.
Interestingly, the movie also reduces its dependence on excessive violence and abuse and focuses more on motherly love, relationships, and respect for women; areas where the original series often struggled.
That was a welcome change.
That Weird Ending
As mentioned earlier, we already know the eventual fate of most of these characters.
But the climax of Mirzapur: The Movie tries to shake things up.
There is an unexpected team-up and the beginning of a rather unusual friendship that I honestly had trouble digesting.
It’s like making Batman and the Joker best friends. IYKYK.
As a loyal Mirzapur fan, I would have preferred the makers to maintain the clear distinction between the good, the bad, and the ugly rather than unnecessarily introducing more grey shades into certain relationships.
Sometimes, leaving things black and white is better.
VFX
The climax also relies heavily on VFX to enhance one particular character.
Unfortunately, the visual effects are noticeable, and not in a good way.
The work feels rushed and undercooked, which is particularly disappointing in a film that is otherwise clearly made on a much bigger scale.
Will There Be a Mirzapur: The Movie Sequel?
Honestly, I have no clue!
The movie contains several scenes after the end credits that connect it back to Episode 7 of Season 1. While the intention is understandable, the execution feels somewhat forced.
Several characters are given abrupt endings, while some loose ends are deliberately left open.
So, yes, there is definitely room for another instalment.
And with rumours of Mirzapur Season 4 already doing the rounds, it wouldn’t be surprising if this isn’t the last time we see these characters.
Final Words
Mirzapur: The Movie is an entertaining and nostalgic ride made primarily for the hardcore fans of the franchise.
At times, it feels like the makers are trying to make up for the rather disappointing third season by bringing back everything fans loved about the original.
And honestly, it works—to an extent.
The returning cast, Divyendu’s Munna Tripathi, Ravi Kishan’s performance, iconic dialogues, comedy, and the larger-than-life theatrical treatment make this a fun watch.
But the film also comes with its fair share of dents. The flat screenplay, questionable casting of Jeetendra Kumar as Bablu, the strange climax, and some underwhelming VFX prevent it from becoming the full-blown Mirzapur comeback fans were hoping for.
Still, if you’re a hardcore Mirzapur fan, just like me, this is one franchise outing you should experience in a theatre.
Because sometimes, you don’t go to watch a movie for the story.
You go for the Bhaukaal.
Rating:
What do you think about this film? Do let us know in the comments below.
Avik
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