The Narrative:
Yudhra is a classic action movie that takes action to a whole new level. It has been a long time since Bollywood movies took action seriously. With Yudhra, you will be on the edge of your seat from the first minute itself, with super realistic fight sequences and high-stakes drama. This is the first movie for Siddharth Chaturvedi as a lead protagonist and man he doesn’t disappoint. Throughout the duration of two hours and thirty minutes, it is his role of Yudhra, a vengeful, hot-headed undercover that glues you to the screens.
The Insights:
Yudhra, an ex-prisoner is assigned the task of dismantling one of the strongest drug cartels in the country which gives him an opportunity to avenge his parents’ death. The cartel, led by Firoz(played by Raj Arjun) and Shafiq(played by Raghav Juyal) is responsible for Yudhra’s parents’ deaths which brings a layer of emotion in the revenge plot. The star-studded support cast with Gajraj Rao and Ram Kapoor are brilliant. The film perfectly switches between action-packed sequences and light-hearted, vulnerable scenes. Yudhra’s love interest Nikhat(played by Malavika Mohanan) transforms our hero from a psycho fighter to a calm and composed undercover.
The film kicks off very strongly, you are taken by surprise by the intensity of the scenes. Everything looks realistic. The casting, the backdrop, and the cinematography are top-notch. Even the dialogues by Farhan Akhtar and Akshat Ghildial are a welcoming change from the everyday, cliched Bollywood conversations we are used to. Siddharth’s performance as a hot-headed ex-prisoner is compelling and powerful without going over the line. Apart from the action scenes, the actor also portrays the soft, vulnerable dialogues perfectly and carries the storyline.
The biggest X-factor of this film is Raghav’s role as Shafiq. He has taken his acting to a whole new level after the Kill movie. They should have given him more screen time and he would have done more justice to the role. Despite all these positives, the film falls short in the second half and everything becomes predictable. I felt like the plot had so much more potential that the writers failed to bring out. The climax is not as powerful as the first half, and you already know what is about to happen. The film loses its distinctive vibe and feels like any other Bollywood action movie at times.
Final Thoughts:
All-in-all, Yudhra is a one-time watch for the fans of decent action movies. If you are not a fan of Siddharth Chaturvedi or his acting, you will surely become one after this. Also, do not miss this film in the theatres for its brilliant soundplay and visuals. Raghav’s acting is also worth watching as he is truly establishing himself as a convincing villain. If the ending was not rushed and the screenwriters focused more on working out the main plot, it could have been one of the best action movies in recent years. If you are looking for an engaging action watch with your friends and don’t mind a subpar climax, go for Yudhra- you won’t be disappointed.