Maalik Review Rajkummar Rao's Crime Saga Fails to Shine

 

Film Review: Maalik – Rajkummar Rao’s Gangster Drama Lacks Originality

Release Date: 2025 | Director: Pulkit | Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Manushi Chhillar, Swanand Kirkire, Prosenjit Chatterjee

Pulkit’s Maalik attempts to reimagine Rajkummar Rao as a brooding Allahabad gangster (1988–1990) but drowns in clichés. Rao plays Deepak, a farmer’s son turned ruthless "maalik" (master), whose rise involves blood-soaked vengeance against societal oppression. Yet, despite Rao’s physical transformation and slow-motion swagger, the film offers nothing new to the Hindi heartland crime genre.

Predictable Arc: Deepak’s journey from college athlete to bullet-dodging don feels recycled (Scarface echoes, minus the grit).

Underwritten Characters: Manushi Chhillar’s Shalini and Prosenjit Chatterjee’s cop Prabhu add little depth.

Lengthy Runtime: At 152 minutes, repetitive violence replaces narrative innovation.

Swanand Kirkire steals scenes as the cunning, triple-crossing Balhar.

Technical prowess: Anuj Dhawan’s cinematography and Zubin Sheikh’s editing lend slick polish.

Verdict:

"Rao struggles to transcend the script’s limitations, performing rather than embodying the role. Maalik is a masterclass in wasted potential—Kirkire’s Balhar outshines the ‘master’ himself."

In Theaters Now | Runtime: 2h 32m