I can’t help but make comparisons whenever I watch a hijack-hostage movie because the bar that Sonam Kapoor’s Neerja set for hijack dramas is too high to meet. In order to understand the plot of Chor Nikal Bhags, starring Yami Gautam and Sunny Kaushal, you must compare it to Neerja in terms of technical details, the kidnappers’ actions, and their motivations. Let’s clarify. No, it doesn’t really rise to that level. Is it bad, though? Of course not!
Chor Nikal Ke Bhaga Review: Yami Gautam delivers yet another fine performance.
Chor Nikal Ke Bhaag, directed by Ajay Singh, may not have a lot of content, but it definitely keeps you interested and engaged until the very end. The hero fights the bad guys, the girl is hurt and heartbroken, the cop is smart and knowledgeable but can’t defeat the hero, and performances by the supporting cast are blended with elements of a Hindi commercial movie. There is plenty of room to perform, but once their part is finished, they quickly vanish. There are some simple gifts available when events appear to be fairly predictable, but when the real story is revealed, you’re in for a surprise, and thankfully it’s never too late.
Ankit Sethi (Kaushal), who is severely hurt due to a broken nose, is questioned by the police about the hijacked flight at the start of the heist thriller. Neha Grover (Gautam), a flight attendant, then recalls her initial encounter with Ankit and flashbacks of their romance. The couple planned to steal the diamond worth 120 crores after learning that Ankit must repay a sizable loan of 20 crores; however, when the plane is hijacked, their plans are foiled. At 40,000 feet in the air, how are they supposed to handle these unwanted visitors? Do they ultimately succeed in stealing the diamonds? Or does his plan involve something else that not even he is aware of…
The segments of Chor Nikal don’t feel excessively drawn out or long at just under two hours. You only discover there were numerous unanswered questions once the curtain fell and you began to analyse it. Even if the hijackers occasionally appear unprepared for the task and confused, I really enjoyed how Singh depicts the atmosphere on the flight when the passengers are in a panic. Shiraz Ahmed, Amar Kaushik, and Raj Kumar Gupta are listed as the writers, yet none of the dialogues have that punch. The actors are doing a good job, but the quality of their lines is only passable. When the screenplay is weak, Singh’s skillful direction takes over and helps you ignore the errors. Gianni Gianelli’s cinematography is powerful, and in- and outside-the-plane mid-flight images add to the mayhem. Although Charu Thakkar inserts a few parts here and there, they don’t suddenly appear in the finished film. He assures a sharp cutting.
It is encouraging to see the female lead’s role in a script with predominantly male characters be well written and highlighted. She is absolutely perfect as her character, and Gautam kills it in every frame. She is self-assured and exudes a swag that is difficult to ignore despite her character’s various facets and colours. While she is acting weak, her emotions appear real and under control, but when she is acting sassy to the fullest, she goes all out and exudes an equal amount of confidence. Although Kaushal gives him good remarks, he delivers an adequate, not outstanding, performance on his own. When it comes to his on-screen appearance, there is still plenty to be done. Several times, he simply goes too far, and in the next second, he shows little interest in what is going on. The on-screen romance may have been crucial to moving the plot along, but don’t look for any chemistry between the two of them because it is only there for show.
Although Indranil Sengupta as Air Marshal Sushandhu Roy may have contributed significantly to the overall plot and storyline, he is wasted. He does his part in what little screen time he has, but it’s at best a half-baked performance. It’s always a pleasure to watch Sharad Kelkar in his role as RAW Deputy Sheikh. Once again, he nails the seriousness in his voice and the ease with which he plays the part, and he does not let us down. I truly wish he had been given more screen time, particularly when he starts questioning the crew and passengers after the hijacking.
The plot of Chor Nickelodeon Bhaag is intriguing and worth watching. It entertains you, keeping you riveted to your screens with plenty of tension, and ends with a finale that you could have missed. Netflix is currently streaming the movie.