New Delhi: Vishal Bhardwaj's trademark can be readily noticed in a movie even if one misses the opening titles; the filmmaker genuinely doesn't need an introduction. The Shakespearian allusions, the enigmatic female characters, the expertly composed background score, and the flawlessly composed frames are just a few things that act as the filmmaker's identifications in his works. Almost like a mole, used often for identifying a person.
Ironically, Bhardwaj's 'Khufiya' also starts with the word "mole," which in the realm of spies has an entirely distinct meaning. The most recent film is an espionage thriller that differs greatly from the typical Bollywood fare. In keeping with his style, the director blends suspense and sensuality to first enchant the audience before pulling them into a world of chaos where danger looms with an air of tranquilly.
Bhardwaj and Rohan Narula's screenplay serves as an engrossing drama and is loosely based on the book 'Escape to Nowhere' by retired R&AW member Amar Bhushan. ‘Khufiya’ is a slow burn as well, just like his past movies. One must wait for what's coming, even though the plot, which is set in 2004 against the backdrop of the post-Kargil war, has been revealed quite a bit.
In keeping with the genre, the espionage thriller features clandestine spies, hidden cameras that capture every move, betrayals, and a range of shades of grey that blur the lines between virtue and vice. The film, however, is also a heartfelt drama, a love story, a tale of revenge, and a labyrinthine plot that defies facile categorization. But that's Bhardwaj movies for you.
Despite exceptional visual work and a few notable performances, the 157-minute film has an unsteady graph. With the sole exception of Tabu acting as the narrative's heart and Wamiqa serving as its soul, it turns a marathon into a drag. 'Khufiya' is more akin to Ali Bhatt's Raazi than Shah Rukh Khan's spy thriller Pathaan, which is packed with fast-paced action. It dives right to the bottom of the massive ocean, the deep, and the dark corners of a somewhat unrewarding job of a spy, skipping any chest-thumping patriotism or a male savior rescuing the day.
At a Bangladeshi brigadier's birthday celebration, an undercover agent, Octopus (played by Azmeri Haque Badhon), is slaughtered. An insider leak from India's intelligence network served as fuel for the crime. Drives another goal, fascinatingly nicknamed Brutus, and rescues heartbroken and alcoholic agent Krishna Mehra (Tabu) from her own personal hell in the pursuit of vengeance.
KM hires Heena Rehman (aka Octopus) as a walk-in candidate while working at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Unexpectedly, she forms an intimate connection with the recruit, a relationship that is still new to her and that influences every aspect of her conduct. KM sets out on a hunt for the crafty Ravi Mohan (Ali Fazal), an Indian secret service agent who earns a meagre salary and who, along with his mother, played by Navnindra Behl, devises a scheme to aid the CIA. His actions belie his intense patriotism, despite the fact that he feels it wholeheartedly. Behl first seems to be an Indian soap opera MIL, but when she shoots her daughter-in-law to death to survive, the unexpected unfolds. The movie descends into a rut as Mohan and his family hide out in South Dakota while they wait for something to unravel.
Before all that transpires, though, Gabbi takes on the screen, apparently portrayed as a bored housewife who smokes a few doobies during her alone time and reveals what she really is while bopping to old Hindi tunes. Truth be told, you will miss Tabu whenever she disappears on the screen, with a handful of scenes in which Badhon lures you with her innocence and mystique. After her, Gabbi fills that spot in the second half with a performance that encompasses an eclectic mix of emotions. In the blink of an eye, she morphs from the betrayed wife of a fugitive husband into a loving mother and a domestic homemaker from a Fauji family.
In the meantime, Tabu, as usual, has injected the shadowy layer into her character with ease. Except for her ex-husband, she keeps the secrecy of her sexuality while owning it. 'Khufiya' has its highs and lows, but Vishal Bhardwaj and Tabu never let you down. With her effortless charisma, Azmeri Haque Badhon steals the show in the movie, overshadowing Tabu's act. Even if he delivers an earnest performance, Ali Fazal seldom comes out of the shadows when seasoned actors are around.
The flick leverages humour to hook up its own plot holes and silences in the scenes. This time, director Vishal Bhardwaj ditches the more artistic approach in favour of simplicity. 'Khufiya' demands more patience than focus.