Berlin Review: Ishwak Singh, Aparshakti Khurana’s Engaging Chemistry Makes This Slow-Paced Thriller Bearable!
Berlin is directed by Atul Sabharwal. Read our review here.
3 / 5
I, unfortunately, could not watch Berlin during the prestigious MAMI film festival and therefore had to wait for a long time to finally see this much-talked-about spy thriller directed by Atul Sabharwal. The film is produced under the banner of Zee Studios and Yippie Ki Yay Motion Pictures. Starring Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Rahul Bose and Anupriya Goenka, Berlin is a slow-burn spy thriller that has some noteworthy performances by the star cast, and an interesting storyline but still fails to become a compelling watch due to the pace and problems in the storytelling. Read on to know more.
Plot
Berlin’s plot is set in the 90s, in the gloomy and dark city of Delhi ( the capital never looked like this in any other film). Aparshakti plays the role of a sign language expert Pushkin who is suddenly given the task of using his skills for the questioning of a deaf-mute man Ashok (Ishwak Singh) suspected of being a foreign spy. As the movie proceeds, Pushkin finds himself in a complex net of political conspiracies and lies while also being determined to dig deep and uncover the truth. The film’s major scenes happen inside a questioning room with a constant to and fro between Pushkin and Ashok. Rahul Bose is an Intelligence Officer who heads Ashok’s case.
Performances
Ishwak Singh delivers his career-best performance in this one. The actor only plays with his expressions and body language through and yet makes you empathise with the character by the end. His eyes are so expressive in the film that one cannot help but only praise the actor’s efforts in making Ashok look so convincing on the screen. Ishwak Singh effortlessly pulls off the grey character and especially stands out in moments when the character expresses grief or teases the officers during questioning. Ishwak Singh adds maturity and calmness to the character which makes it very memorable.
Aparshakti Khurana as Pushkin Verma imbibes the innocent and decent nature of the sign-language expert with conviction. He understands the layers of his characters which are uncovered gradually as the story proceeds. From being a timid guy doing what he is told by the officers to becoming this fearless man who challenges the authorities, Aparshakti makes the transition of his character look very smooth.
Rahul Bose has also delivered a decent performance in the film as the clever and corrupt intelligence officer.
The chemistry between Aparshakti Khurana’s Pushkin and Ishwaq Singh’s Ashok shared a very intense and natural chemistry during scenes inside the investigation room. There was a sense of understanding between the actors that translated well in these moments and there were some of the best scenes in the film too.
Set Design
Another interesting thing to note in Berlin is the dark and gloomy set design. It adds a lot to the eeriness of the plot eventually making you feel a little invested in the film. It also adds intensity and drama to this spy thriller, and well Delhi has never looked like this in any other film.
Interesting Elements In Plot
Berlin presents a fresh storyline in the genre of spy thriller, not the best but the attempt is to be appreciated. The film deals with the existence of political conspiracies and scandals in the 90s, enmity among bureaucrats, and unethical ways of solving cases based on personal motives. Also, this film sets aside the issue of the India vs Pakistan narrative and rather builds it around the possible attack on the Russian President.
Negative
Bad Execution
If you expect the film to keep you hooked with a nuanced story that’s playing with your mind, then you might be in for some disappointment. Berlin struggles a lot with pace too. In the second half, the film does not pick up the speed either and eventually becomes a predictable watch.
This spy thriller absolutely lacked intensity despite having potential and even a good cast. The motive of Ashok’s character to do what he did was not well-executed in the plot and therefore you hardly get impacted by his final fate. You just go like, Oh fine! It’s sad as Ishwak Singh gives it all to the character but it is hugely hampered by the writing.
Characters
The film hardly has any interesting characters except Ashok and to some extent Aparshakti Khurana’s Pushkin. Despite that, there was hardly any graph for the other characters, even Pushkin. It only remains consistent throughout without many surprises in the end (which you might be expecting). While Rahul Bose delivered a very nuanced and mature performance, his role as a senior intelligence officer was also quite cliche and ticked all the boxes of a mainstream antagonist.
Anupriya Goenka’s character could have been written better as she hardly had any dialogue in the film. She mostly delivers through her expressions only to have a bad end to the character.
Verdict: Ishwak Singh Is Impressive In This Slow-Paced Spy Thriller
Berlin starring Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh and Rahul Bose could be a gritty and unique spy thriller if more attention was given to executing the story well. The actors, especially Ishwak Singh have done a commendable job in doing justice to their characters. If you are a fan of spy thrillers and don’t mind a slow-burn thriller, then you can give this film a try. However, the film disappoints in terms of story, execution and pace if you are expecting a very engaging watch! It is currently premiering on Zee5.
First Published: September 13, 2024 10:21 PM
