Salakaar review: Naveen Kasturia and Mouni Roy lost in a lazy game of spies

Summary:

• Salakaar fails to build suspense or offer originality in its spy-thriller setup.

• Weak writing and underdeveloped characters lead to predictable twists.

• Flat performances and poor execution make Salakaar forgettable.

Salakaar story:

Salakaar is a nail-biting spy thriller in which events from the past and present come crashing together. The series spans two riveting timeframes and follows a courageous young Indian spy as his clandestine mission reveals long-hidden facts and national secrets. Inspired by true events, it follows the story of a renowned spymaster who, with only his wits and a mountain of information, pulls off a daring operation to neutralise the enemy and safeguard his nation's independence. Salakaar is an enthralling story of bravery, selflessness, and the dogged pursuit of one's responsibilities; it is also full of mysteries, intense action, and unwavering patriotism.

Salakaar review:

Imagine a scene wherein, at the climax, a person sitting in another country is trying his level best to rescue one of their spies from another country and the whole setup is on the runway. Does it ring a bell? Yes, you might immediately think of Ben Affleck-directed Argo (2012) or Neeraj Pandey's directorial Baby (2015) featuring Akshay Kumar in the lead role. Well, this extraction plan was done and dusted about a decade ago, and we've bitten our nails during the thrilling sequence, which ends with us heaving a sigh of relief. But Salakaar, which also treads a similar path, tries so hard to be some sort of high-stakes that a 2-hour and 39-minute-long series is nothing but the laziest work I have witnessed in the espionage genre in a very long time.

The Faruk Kabir-created series on JioHotstar is set in two timelines – one in 1978 and the other in 2025. We see in the beginning that a Pakistani general named Ashfaq Ulla (Surya Sharma) is having a secret affair with his son's teacher, Mariam (Mouni Roy). However, it quickly becomes clear that she is an Indian spy named Srishti Chaturvedi, who is on a secret mission to investigate a nuclear plant that Pakistan plans to establish.

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Back in India, Purnendu Bhattacharya portrays the NSA and remarks that what Srishti is doing in Pakistan is similar to what he did back in the 1970s. Then enters Adhir Dayal (Naveen Kasturia), who is shown as a diplomat in Pakistan but is actually on a mission to somehow stop President of Pakistan Zia Ulla (Mukesh Rishi) from setting up a nuclear plant, as it can be used for an attack on India.

The so-called mission to stop whatever is being planned begins, and to be honest, I found no moment where I could stare at the screen and anticipate any unexpected developments over the course of two hours. Probably I did give a dead stare to the screen because I was zoning out as all efforts were made to feel that nothing can be expected out of the show at all.

We see Dayal donning different looks and becoming a master of disguise to reach to the core of Ulla's plan. In the process, he transforms into an Indian whom the president can trust. However, every plan of his is so mundane that even if you try to think that it looks difficult, there's hardly any challenge displayed in doing so. The five-episode series is shorter than an average Hindi film, and the decision to make it episodic seems illogical. The entire packaging barely scratches the surface of any intended purpose, as the poor quality of work appears juvenile, so to speak.

Dayal is shown as a single father whose son Bharat (Kazim Pawaskar) goes to school in Pakistan. But that's about it; his importance stops then and there with no mere presence in the present. Moreover, we get to know that Ashfaq Ulla is the grandson of Zia Ulla, whom Dayal rescued when he was a kid. How can Srishti, Dayal's grand-niece, have an affair with Ashfaq, who is the same age as Dayal's son?

Not just that, each of the characters has been created with so many limitations by the writers, Spandan Mishra along with Kabir, that it's only to show a specific incident and nothing beyond that. There's hardly any backstory for any of the characters to link to; why have they been chosen for this specific nuclear plant? Everything is summarised in a couple of sentences, ensuring that it has no relevance to the story, which, frankly, it does not!

The series indicates that it's ending its episodes on a cliffhanger, whereas there's not even an ounce of curiosity that will spark in you to find out what's happening next. For example, Dayal reveals to India's spy intelligence that China is funding Pakistan for its nuclear project. Srishti tells Dayal the same thing in 2025, but it comes as a shock. Well, the information is the same and quite predictable in many ways. I am still wondering how it is going to have a different impact.

There's hardly anything to be discussed, even about the performances, because the storyline itself is treated like low-hanging fruit. I am unable to figure out what was so intriguing about the plot that it felt like something different was happening. But on the contrary, whatever is happening, the execution is so lame and lazy that there's not a single shining moment from the actors or from the plot as well.

And the biggest gripe I have is with the title track of Salakaar, which is a rap. Well, it's understandable, and it makes sense for it to be played during the opening and ending credits. But how does it even get placed in a sequence in the 1970s, where the moment is not even that heart-racing to have a rap in the backdrop?

Kabir, who earlier helmed Khuda Haafiz and Khuda Haafiz: Chapter 2 – Agni Pariksha, tried to create a similar rescue operation in the form of a series. But all he could do was make nothing new come out of it and make no effort to entertain you differently.

Salakaar verdict:

Salakaar might mean “advisor,” but here, it feels more like advice ignored. With twists that untwist themselves and tension that trips over its own shoelaces, this spy game barely leaves the starting block.

FAQs:

Q: What is the story of Salakaar?

A: Salakaar is a spy thriller set across two timelines—1978 and 2025—following Indian spies on a mission to prevent Pakistan from setting up a nuclear plant with Chinese funding.

Q: Who are the lead actors in Salakaar?

A: The series stars Naveen Kasturia as Adhir Dayal and Mouni Roy as Srishti Chaturvedi, with supporting roles by Surya Sharma, Mukesh Rishi, and Purnendu Bhattacharya.

Q: Where can I watch Salakaar?

A: Salakaar is streaming exclusively on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium) in India.