Akelli Movie Review: Nushrratt Bharuccha fails to save an unconvincing survival thriller

Akelli marks Nushrratt Bharuccha's third feature film release of year. survival thriller set in war-torn Iraq is also Pranay Meshram's directorial debut with his inexperience in storytelling making itself evident in multiple moments through  over two-hour-long runtime. That being said, Akelli is t all b. However, it fails to hold interest for most part. 

3 things you need to kw

• Nushrratt Bahruccha's performance in Akelli is reminiscent of her role in socially conscious horror film Chhorii (2021).
• Turning points in survival thriller appear a little too convenient, given high-tension context.
• drawn out climax is heavily inspired by Hollywood drama thriller Argo (2012).

Hot take

Akelli's plot has everything that could make for an effective one-time watch. A lone girl in a foreign land, an emotionally harrowing backstory, a capable le and war-stricken horrors that follow. se elements make up film's backbone.

(Nushrratt Bharuccha as Jyoti Arora in a still from Akelli | Im: Zee Music Company/YouTube)

However, that is all re is to it. Meshram's directorial debut attempts to give a hard-hitting tale of an Indian woman's will to survive, but at best, emerges as a hollow and half-baked final product. 

Does Akelli live up to hype?

general expectations surrounding a film with a major political context and strong undertones of war, are high. Though Akelli did t go down -promotions route, project required a significantly stronger push to make its presence felt. Regardless, Akelli is underwhelming on all counts, save for a moment or two.

Nushrratt Bharuccha's performance is genre equate 

Nushrratt Bharuccha les Akelli as Joyti Arora, an Indian expat pushed to take up a job in politically volatile Mosul, Iraq. With almost 14 years in film industry on her side, actress is doubt a sturdy pick for role. Bharuccha's performance in Akelli however, is equate at best. More so, Nushrratt's Jyoti is almost a de ringer for her titular performance in social-horror film, Chhorii (2021).

(Nushrratt Bharuccha and Nishant Dahiya as Jyoti Arora and Rafiq in a still from Akelli | Im: Zee Music Company/YouTube)

Despite difference in genres, both Akelli and Chhorii play heavily on me of a lone girl making it out alive of a precarious situation. Sly, only differentiating factor between se two performances is wildly different contexts, with Nushrratt ding velty from her end. She is better in moments that require her to be subtle but overdoes it when it comes to displaying genuine fear onscreen. 

Unconvincing storytelling

biggest flaw with Akelli is convenient storytelling which is what ends up making it unconvincing. Nushrratt as Jyoti may be going through hell but plot has one-too-many conveniently placed breakthroughs which kills any tension built. Be it her accidentally killing he honcho at a terrorist hideout as he attempts to rape her, or her managing to cuff big boss who is set to make her his wife, later leveraging hilm to get to Iraqi forces - re is a lot that is too sudden and too soon with Akelli. 

climax should have been Akelli's core plot

Just as one is on brink of losing complete interest in film, Akelli saves itself with a surprisingly edge-of--seat climax. Much like 2012 Acemy Award-winning film Argo, last forty minutes focus on Jyoti's exfiltration from ISIS-ruled Iraq. One almost wishes that attention to detail given in making drawn out climax seem plausible was something that rest of film could have been polished with.

(Nushrratt Bharuccha as Jyoti Arora in a still from Akelli | Im: Zee Music Company/YouTube)

Here too, re are drawbacks. Case in point - very unrealistic flight ride Jyoti makes from Iraq to Baghd crled in open underbelly of plane, even as Iraqi airport is teeming with ISIS workers looking for her. However, without se details, story of her exfiltration in itself would have me for a much more impactful feature film.

Watch it or skip it

As a survival thriller, Akelli fails to deliver. Though you do root for protagonist - all credit to Nushrratt re and ne to film - overall takeaway from it is t eugh to keep audiences in ir seats, let alone make effort to go to cinemas. Akelli is best skipped. 

Bottomline 

Akelli relies heavily on its war-stricken context forgetting to flesh out film with a pulse. Nushrratt Bharuccha is equate but lacks screen presence to d weight to a poorly written story. Both director and le's inexperience in genre fail film. 

(Rating: 1.5/5)