Film: Alpha
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Bobby Deol, Anil Kapoor, Dibyendu Bhattacharya,
Director: Shiv Rawail
Rating :1.5 Moons
Storyline
‘Alpha’ revolves around a top-secret intelligence program called Alpha. The story follows Sita (Alia Bhatt), who is raised by Fateh Singh Lakhawat (Bobby Deol) and is eventually sent on a high-risk mission linked to her mysterious past. As the story unfolds, several questions emerge. Who or what is Alpha? What happened to Sita's family? Why did Fateh raise her? And will she be able to complete her mission? While the premise sounds intriguing, the screenplay never fully capitalises on it. The twists are predictable, the emotional moments fail to connect, and the film never reaches the thrill expected from a spy action drama. Worse, you don’t know who is fighting whom and why. And how a Pakistani spy can infiltrate the Indian Army and rise up the ranks pretending to be a patriot. Also, who trained Sharvari (Durga), a singing and dancing student in Spain, to be as incredible a fighting machine as her long-lost twin Sita, and why. ‘Alpha’ is full of several silly mistakes that were not expected from the franchise.
Acting
Alia Bhatt doesn't suit her role at all. As a spy, she is not convincing and often comes across like a lovely robot trying to fight heavily built and armed opponents than a highly trained secret agent. The action sequences lack impact, and some emotional scenes feel forced, with exaggerated expressions making it difficult to connect with her character. Sharvari, despite all the pre-release buzz, is equally underwhelming. Bobby Deol delivers a nowhere near decent performance and failing him is his Haryanvi accent that is inconsistent and ends up becoming more distracting than effective. Anil Kapoor, despite the technical mumbo-jumbo and technical wizardry of his character, gives the impression that he is still working on ‘Subedaar’. While Dibyendu Bhattacharya is sincere but doesn't get enough screen time.
Direction
Shiv Rawail's direction is one of the film's biggest drawbacks. His execution is weak and inconsistent. There is very little emotional connection, several scenes feel unnecessary, and the storytelling lacks logic. With a tighter screenplay and stronger direction, ‘Alpha’ might have been passable. Unfortunately, it never rises above its weak writing.
Dialogues
The YRF Spy Universe has built its reputation on sharp writing and memorable dialogues, but ‘Alpha’ doesn't come close to that legacy. Most of the dialogues feel flat and forgettable, while several punchlines fail to create any impact. The writing never gives the characters any memorable moments, making the film feel even more underwhelming.
Music
The songs are unnecessary additions and don't contribute much to the narrative. While the background score works in a few moments, the overall music is forgettable. Despite some polished CGI and visually appealing frames, the technical aspects aren't enough to save the film.
Overall
If you haven't booked your tickets yet, don't waste your time and money on ‘Alpha’. It's simply not worth it.
