Khufiya (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – Krishna Mehra who is an operative at Indian spy agency known as R&AW. She is assigned to track down the mole selling India’s defense secrets, while all along grappling with her dual identity as a spy and a lover.

My Take – Over the years, Vishal Bharadwaj has well proven his talents as a storyteller, particularly with his effectively brilliant adaptions of William Shakespeare tragedies, and small town stories, but for his latest, a Netflix release, he takes up a new challenge by divulging into the shadowy world of spies and international agencies, while exploring sensitive themes of geopolitics and personal relationships.

Resulting in a slow burner espionage drama that does the intricate dance of secrets, love and betrayal, and considering the talent of the filmmaker, offering a roller coaster of emotions and suspense, keeping the audience hooked from start to finish.

Loosely based on retired R&AW official Amar Bhushan‘s 2012 novel, Escape to Nowhere, here, director Bhardwaj and co-writer Rohan Narula‘s screenplay turns the material into an intriguing, riveting drama that abides by the rules of the genre without letting itself be totally hamstrung by the limitations that tried and tested methods often impose.

Yes, despite containing the trademark Vishal Bharadwaj touch, the film never manages to reach the heights of some of his best works, yet, directed with a commendable lightness and being magnificently well-acted, the 157-minute long thriller succeeds in delivering on all fronts as it unfolds across three countries, with the identity of the third coming as a revelation.

Beginning in 2004, the story follows Krishna Mehra aka KM (Tabu), a senior intelligence operative at the Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW), who finds herself in a distraught position when an agent of hers, Heena, aka Octopus (Azmeri Haque Badhon), ends up getting killed at the hands of Brigadier Saqlain Mirza (Shataf Figar) of the Bangladesh Army, who had been the target of the mission.

With a confirmation that a mole tipped him off, KM is designated to lead a surveillance operation by her senior, Jeev Bonda (Ashish Vidyarthi), to look into a junior colleague at the agency, Ravi Mohan (Ali Fazal), who seems to have caught attention particularly due to how his lifestyle does not match his salary.

Believing that his wife, Charu (Wamiqa Gabbi), a cherubic middle-class homemaker might also be complicit, KM sets up Project Brutus not just to nab the perpetrator, who has been using the HQ copier way more than the average corporate freeloader, but also to nab his puppeteer red-handed. As one would hope, the intricacies of the plot become more captivating with each unexpected twist, and the layers of the story add depth to the narrative.

The film excels in its portrayal of the intelligence community’s inner workings. The attention to detail in depicting the methods and technology used by R&AW adds authenticity to the narrative. It offers a glimpse into the high-stakes world of counterintelligence and the lengths to which spies go to protect their nation’s secrets. Director Bhardwaj skillfully taps into the geopolitics between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in the post-independence era, highlighting the significance of relations with Bangladesh during that period.

Beyond its role as an espionage thriller, the film also explores the journeys of two strong women and their pursuit of unconventional paths to achieve their goals. The empathetic nature of KM is the humanizing element here. She is playing a character who is pretty much playing this leader/mentor figure to two women who are willing to associate with her out of necessity. The film is particularly engaging in the first half as KM and her team employ strategic methods to apprehend the mole red-handed.

On the flip side, Charu is an unassuming woman who adores her son and enjoys a quiet smoke when solitude envelops her. In those moments, she moves to the rhythm of her own sensuality, finding contentment in her simple life. However, her world plunges into turmoil following her involvement with Ravi.

Unfortunately, this one too is not exempt from minor shortcomings. Some viewers might find the complexity of the plot a bit challenging to follow, especially during the film’s more intricate moments. Additionally, the film’s runtime is on the longer side, and there are moments where the pacing could have been tighter. Plus, the equation between KM and her family and how Ravi’s mother, Lalita (Navnindra Behl), became such a person probably needed more exploration.

Nevertheless, the film’s standout feature is its exceptional cast, with each character convincingly portrayed, holding the narrative together even during moments when the plot loses a bit of momentum. Tabu is at her routine best. She holds the viewer’s undivided attention whenever she’s on screen. Refined acting chops aside, her enigmatic screen presence and the role of a spy are a match made in cinematic heaven.

Wamiqa Gabbi excels in her role, holding her own with commendable fashion. She is consistently on top of her character, which undergoes a dramatic tonal shift halfway through the film.Ali Fazal, essaying the role of a man who allows himself to be manipulated fully mindful of what he is letting himself into, delivers a measured performance.

Azmeri Haque Badhon delivers an outstanding performance despite her limited screen time. Navnindra Behl packs a mean punch as Ravi’s mother Lalita. Ashish Vidyarthi brings his trademark sophistication to his role. Atul Kulkarni makes a likable cameo. On the whole, ‘Khufiya’ is a gripping espionage thriller bolstered by its remarkable performances and direction.