brahmastra movie review times of india

• India Today
• Business Today
• Reader’s Digest
• Harper's Bazaar
• Brides Today
• Cosmopolitan
• Aaj Tak Campus
• India Today Hindi

Brahmastra Part 1 Shiva Review: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt's Astraverse can take on the MCU

At a time when hollywood titles like lord of the rings and house of the dragon are dominating the visual effects space, ranbir kapoor and alia bhatt's brahmastra is a gentle reminder that india too isn’t behind. read our review..

Listen to Story

• Brahmastra Part One: Shiva released in theatres on September 9.
• The film marks first collaboration of Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
• Brahmastra is a trilogy directed by Ayan Mukerji.

Cast & Crew

Ranbir Kapoor Actor

Alia Bhatt Actor

Amitabh Bachchan

Nagarjuna Akkineni

‘Click!’ Alia Bhatt’s Isha loves capturing memories. Every time Isha wants to make note of a memory in her mind, she says 'click'! Ayan Mukerji’s indigenous effort to create India’s very first multiverse franchise has many such ‘click-worthy’ moments. Visually, Brahmastra Part One: Shiva is one of the finest offerings from Bollywood in a very long time. I don’t remember the last time a car chase scene or a VFX segment in a film had me ditch the phone and invest in what’s happening on the big screen. In an age where our attention span is directly proportional to the novelty the graphics team offers, Brahmastra scores BIG.

Setting up a superhero universe isn’t easy. You have to first lay the foundations and establish the belief system for your protagonist. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) works because you have faith in your superheroes. When Thor strikes that hammer or when the words ‘Avengers Assemble’ are spoken, you suspend every logical belief and invest in what you are witnessing on the big screen. In Brahmastra, Ayan has invested an entire first half in setting up a premise for our leads, Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) and Isha (Alia Bhatt). Ayan’s Astraverse is Made in India. The references from our history are woven in beautifully to give the story an emotional appeal.

Brahmastra’s pitch to sell a ticket might be its lead pair, Ranbir and Alia’s chemistry, but where it actually excels the most is in its Astraverse bits. The story begins with Shiva meeting Isha and falling in love with her. Along the way, he confesses he has a relationship with fire. It doesn’t hurt him, but it scares him. His superpower is also his biggest liability. Before the film breaks for intermission, we are introduced to the Astraverse and its key players. Shiva’s nemesis Junoon (Mouni Roy) is out to get pieces of the broken Brahmastra to finally awaken and please Lord Bramha Dev. Along the way, we also learn of Shiva’s backstory and his mother Amrita, who had a command over Jal Astra. Information overload? Worry not, all this info is explained and presented in a way that doesn’t harrow or make you feel overwhelmed.

Brahmastra might be a desi dish, but its flavours are definitely borrowed from a western kitchen. The Astra Gurukul led by Amitabh Bachchan gives you a Professor X of X-Men feel. Every time Shiva twitches and has visions, you can’t help but remember Frodo going through a similar fate on his journey with the Ring to Mount Doom. While Amitabh Bachchan might not sport a long, grey beard, he mentoring Shiva has shades of Dumbeldore watching over Harry Potter. The comparisons are many, but they don’t feel duplicated or like cheap imitations. The action scenes, especially one involving a car chase and another big moment in the climax, are perhaps the first for any Indian film. Terrific work on not just the thrill but also pushing the envelope and trying something new.

Performances are a mixed bag. Ranbir Kapoor, coming off a weary Shamshera, is nimble on his feet in most of the scenes and brings the much-needed zest to the film. ‘He’s giving me Bunny feels‘ said a friend next to me (an ode to Ayan’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani) in the first half. Alia’s Isha has spunk, her eyes unconditional love for Shiva. Their love story, though, is perhaps the weakest link in this otherwise solid offering. He calls her the ‘button’ to ignite his superpower, but the premise feels wonky.

Nagarjuna’s character, despite his limited screen time, has a solid impact. Mouni Roy as the villain is terrific and breaks the Naagin stigma with this career-altering performance. Amitabh Bachchan as Guruji commands the screen presence required for that role. But the real seeti-maar moment in the film comes in its first 10 minutes with Shah Rukh Khan’s stellar cameo.

Where the film falters is in its rushed narrative. Ayan has a lot to establish, share and make us understand in this first chapter, so the first half feels super rushed. The love story, the flashbacks to Shiva’s childhood and some of the action scenes feel long-drawn and overwhelming. Some dialogues stand out like a sore thumb, especially the ‘Kaun ho tum (Who are you)?' bit which Shiva gets asked multiple times by Isha.

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva is a solid effort as the first chapter in this trilogy. Ayan ends the film on a cliffhanger with a tease of what’s to follow.

At a time when Hollywood titles like Lord of the Rings and House of the Dragon are dominating the visual effects space, Brahmastra is a gentle reminder that India too isn’t behind in the VFX game and has some of the best work in this genre. Ayan’s message of love defeating darkness and despair couldn’t come at a better time! Brahmastra Part One: Shiva is a visual feast worth your time. Don’t skip this one. Published By: Nairita Mukherjee Published On: Sep 9, 2022 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ | Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt's Brahmastra earns Rs 18 crore in advance booking

• Profile Settings
• February 2021
• January 2021
• December 2020
• November 2020
• October 2020
• September 2020
• August 2020
• Bollywood Movies
• Hollywood Movies
• Finance and Technology
• Filmfare Awards Marathi 2024
• Filmfare Awards Bangla 2024
• Filmfare Awards Assamese 2024
• Filmfare Awards 2024
• Filmfare OTT Awards 2023
• Short Film Awards 2023
• Filmfare Femina Bhojpuri Icons
• Filmfare Awards South 2022
• Glamour & Style Awards 2019
• Filmfare Awards Punjabi 2019
• All Winners

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva Review

Brahmāstra Devesh Sharma, April 15, 2023

• Brahmāstra Movie Review
• Times Of India

critic's rating:  3.5/5 The legend of the Astras is told at the start of the film. They are a gift from the universe and are derived from natural elements (Earth, Wind, Water, Fire). These armaments are disguised as everyday objects that bestow supernatural powers on those wielding them. Sages of the order Brahmansh and their progeny have been guarding the secret of the weapons since ages. Among the astras, the most powerful weapon is Brahmastra, said to carry both the power of creation and destruction within itself. The sages thought that if awakened it could destroy the earth itself and used all their powers to stop that from happening. To protect the world, the Brahmansh split it into three pieces, scattered around India and guarded by three guardians. The film then cuts to the present day. DJ Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) is a happy-go-lucky young man who keeps seeing visions of death and destruction. He comes across Isha (Alia Bhatt), a super rich girl at a Durga Puja pandal and finds an instant connection. They keep bumping into each other and the film looks all set to be another poor guy meets rich girl romance. But instead of employing the usual tropes, director Ayan Mukerji sends them on a rip-roaring adventure which literally has the fate of the world at stake. Because the director is attempting to create a Marvel or a DC universe of his own, the present film can be said to be an origin story. Hence, what the astras are and what the astraverse is all about is repeated again and again to make the audience become aware of the new concept. It's a three part adventure, with the story continuing in two further parts. Hence, while the reiteration kind of jars the pace of the film, the director perhaps felt it was safe to get the basics sorted in the first film and prepare the viewers for what's coming next. It's a sheer delight in terms of the visual splendour it offers. Be it the Pooja scenes, the Varanasi sequences or the climax set in the Himalayas, you can't take your eyes off the screen. The special effects are truly world class.  The training sequence where Shiva learns to control the fire element is one of the best seen in the superhero movies and the ending is out of this world indeed. The level of detailing which has gone into creating each sequence is mind-boggling. Suffice to say that this is pioneering work indeed and something which our industry hasn't seen before. Those making fantasy films in India will see it as a gold standard in years to come. The fight choreography too is a delight to watch. The high speed chase sequence in the hills will make even Rohit Shetty clap in appreciation. And the fights containing astras are at the Marvel or DC level. Nothing looks out of place. The film took five years to make but given the level of what has been achieved here, the waiting period looks justified. It's not that the film isn't without glitches. The timelines are a little off, the story could have been less convoluted and the dialogue less stilted. But these are minor glitches when you compare them to the grand scheme of things. Since it's a Dharma film, it has to have good music, and Pritam has made sure of that. There's a reason why talented actors have always been cast in fantasy and superhero films and Ayan doesn't deviate from the winning formula. Amitabh Bachchan offers gravitas to the proceedings in his role as the guru. And the man can make fight sequences look poetic, even at the age of 80. Nagarjuna burns up the screen with his screen presence and we wish there was more of him to see in the film. Another superstar, who will not be named, offers his own brand of charm and intensity to the film. Ayan needs to somehow make sure of his presence in the next installments as well. Mouni Roy exudes both mystery and menace as the villain of the piece. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor look like they're literally made for each other. They can just be in the frame doing nothing and you'd still watch them. It's like watching Raj Kapoor and Nargis creating their magic together. What we need is to cast them together in an out and out romantic film and let's hope SLB or Karan Johar do it soon. Alia offers sass and spice to the mix and matches Ranbir's intensity in every frame. Her eyes pour out love in every frame, which kind of becomes her superpower. Ranbir has the hardest job of them all as most of his reactions aren't towards fellow actors but to props and green screen. He's literally reacting to thin air and makes it look convincing. The last 15 minutes, where Shiva's full powers come into force, is filled with multiple layers of visual effects and Ranbir makes it believable because of his intensity. Watch the film for its visual appeal and for the burning chemistry between Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. A stage has now been set and let's hope Ayan Mukerji doesn't take five years more to bring out the next installment.

Trailer : Brahmāstra

Rachana dubey, september 9, 2022, 1:39 pm ist.

Brahmastra Story: Shiva, a young DJ in Mumbai, discovers that he’s born with a special power that makes him immune and akin to fire. He gradually discovers the secrets behind his own existence that are also tied to a string of mythological incidents. How that changes the course of his life forms the rest of the narrative. Brahmastra R eview: A young, orphaned DJ, Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor), leads a happy life, full of light, around a bunch of orphaned kids. His special connection with fire - it doesn’t inflame him - and a host of visuals that appear before him periodically when he shuts his eyes, suck him into a world of superpowers. While there’s a mythological background to this, it also, gradually, connects Shiva to the story of his parents, which changes the course of his life. His search for love and light puts him on the path to destroy evil forces, and discover his true potential. With comic-book-styled visuals, and Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone, the film sets up its premise and the origin of its universe in an interesting manner. Brahmastra: Part One: Shiva relies heavily on two aspects - its visual effects and the love story of its lead pair, Shiva and Isha, played by Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. The film scores a great deal on visual effects. It’s well-thought out, top-notch and effective in most places. For instance, the culmination of the pre-interval scenes is a spectacle. The film borrows from Indian mythology and folk tales, which is fantastic. The effort and passion invested in creating the universe in this film, replete with minute detailing, are worthy of appreciation. And while doing so, the makers lovingly doff their hats to movies like the Harry Potter franchise. The film shines in divisions like the VFX. The film’s colour palette has been created thoughtfully, and the depiction of the astras created out of the powers of nature and mythological characters is beautiful. The action choreography, especially in the chase sequence before interval, deserves whistles and claps, too. Watching artistes like Nagarjuna and Amitabh Bachchan playing pivotal parts to the T is a delight, but not much of a surprise. They’ve done it a zillion times before. Nagarjuna in his limited screen time is quite effective. And Mr Bachchan appears comfortable in the skin of his character, performing action scenes with ease. Ranbir’s effort to add emotional gravitas to the proceedings is visible. He tries really hard to take the audience beyond the superficial layers of this film with the way he’s played out Shiva. It would have been great if Alia Bhatt and Mouni Roy’s characters were also developed with the same passion as Ranbir’s for them to have that lasting impact. There’s not much attention paid to the secondary characters either, which is unlike anything director-writer Ayan Mukerji has done so far. Even though Brahmastra: Part One: Shiva had the potential and the room for it, the film doesn’t score brownie points for the love story of its lead couple which forms the thrust of the narrative here. In fact, it doesn’t seem plausible from the word go which weakens the film at its core in a big way. As a result, the larger story playing out in the film also feels weak and the screenplay suffers, too. The dialogues aren’t able to salvage much either. Towards the latter part, the runtime begins to feel tedious. The narrative could have been balanced better between the two halves of the film. And though the songs are pleasing to the ears, at times, their presence affects the momentum of the narrative. The line between great and good lies in a believable, character-led story that emotionally engages you. The most imaginative worlds created by cinema’s geniuses eventually rely on the writing to keep everything else glued perfectly in their places. With all its pluses, nothing makes up for the emotional deficits that Brahmastra suffers. If that had been paid more attention to, it would have gone a long way in making the proceedings more praise-worthy. Also See: 'Brahmastra' box office collection day 1: Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's film records fantastic opening all over

• Most Popular

Nominations for the RR Kabel Filmfare Awards Marathi 2024: Full list out

Get ready for the RR Kabel Filmfare Awards Marathi 2024: Details inside

Lawrence Bishnoi Gang reportedly behind firing at Salman Khan's home

Ananya Panday twins with AbRam Khan in white KKR jerseys; Details Inside

Radhika Merchant’s pink and white bridal shower, Janhvi Kapoor attends

Alia Bhatt shared a picture with Ranbir Kapoor on their second anniversary

From Consoles to Screens: Here are Some Video Game Adaptations that we Dig

COVER STORY: "I would love to play a negative role," confesses our February 2024 cover star Ayushmann Khurrana

Site Blocked

In order to access website you need to accept our cookie policy. View cookie policy . Accept

• Daily BO Update
• Daily Breakdown
• Hits & Flops
• All Time Grossers
• Highest Grossers
• Highest Openers
• Highest Weekend
• Best of Overseas
• Hollywood Highest
• Fact-o-meter
• Entertainment News
• Bollywood News
• Television & Web
• Fashion & Lifestyle
• Bigg Boss 17
• Hollywood News
• What To Watch
• Bollywood Movie Reviews
• Hollywood Movie Reviews
• All South Movie Reviews
• Tamil Movie Reviews
• Telugu Movie Reviews
• Kannada Movie Reviews
• Malayalam Movie Reviews
• Marathi Movie Reviews
• Web Series Reviews
• Music Reviews
• Box Office Reviews
• Trailer Reviews
• BO Filmometer
• Stars’ Power Index
• Directors’ Power Index
• 100 Crore Club
• Worldwide 200 Crores+
• Profitable Films
• Recommended Movies
• Upcoming Movies
• Released Movies
• Web Stories
• About Koimoi

Home » Movies » Bollywood Movie Reviews

Brahmastra Movie Review: ‘Montage Of Epicness’, India’s Answer To Every Marvel Movie Ever Ft. Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt!

Brahmastra has pro-level vfx bundled with enough mythology to keep things interesting..

Star Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy, Dimple Kapadia, some otherworldly VFX & cameos of men/women who must not be named

Director: Ayan Mukerji & his dedication to steering a ship for such a long time almost brought a generational gap in the cinematic approach of his audience

What’s Good: It’s a treat for your eyes, ears & mind!

What’s Bad: Many won’t get a chance to see this in IMAX.

Loo Break: You might miss some visual spectacle as there are enough of them at regular intervals.

Watch or Not?: Watch it on the best screen possible, preferably IMAX!

Available On: Theatrical Release

Runtime: 166 minutes

Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) is a DJ who took Anu Malik’s quote “Tu aag laga dega” way too seriously & discovers he’s the master of fire, nothing can burn him (apart from watching his current wife dancing to his ex’s song but that’s the story for some other day). Shiva doesn’t come with any official IP rating but he’s pretty non-flammable & has a bittersweet relationship with fire.

To extinguish the light of righteousness, there has to be something wrong to balance both sides and here we’ve Junoon (Mouni Roy) who’s just a pawn played by her master. Junoon is on her way to collect the lost pieces of ‘Bramahstra’ – the weapon of weapons, which will unlock world-ending capabilities to the one who owns it. Junoon wants her for its master, Shiva is somehow connected to it as its guard & helps its original possessors in Guru ( Amitabh Bachchan ), Artist (Nagarjuna) & the man who must not be named.

Brahmastra Movie Review: Script Analysis

Just imagine you’re a superhero genre fan in India & I tell you to compose a story retaining the ‘desi’ elements but also ask you to mix your favourite moments from International films from the same genre as well, this is the closest product you’ll get to your imagination (until you, of course, don’t bring Christopher Nolan kinda storytelling to the picture). Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra.one walked, so this could run!

Ayan Mukerji has rightly focused more on the screenplay than the story because every frame is a painting. I tried to filter out one ordinary frame & failed because of the way this is shot, the makers have made sure to retain the grandeur throughout the scenes which in a way also cleverly hides the simpleton nature of the script. It’s everything you can predict but would still have fun because you can’t know the way it would be presented to you.

The masters behind this visual p*rn are a perfectly curated team by Ayan in V. Manikandan (Cinematographer, Ra.one), Pankaj Kumar (Cinematographer, Tumbbad ), Sudeep Chatterjee (Cinematographer, Dhoom 3, Gangubai Kathiawadi ), Vikash Nowlakha (Camera Department, Black) & Patrick Duroux. The best of all the worlds come together to create this big-screen dessert. The camerawork synced in with an almost perfect CGI infuses life even in lifeless scenes leaving practically no space for dull moments. It’s like, if there’s nothing interesting happening in a scene, you’ll either have something to listen to (brilliant BGM by Simon Franglen, detailed discussion ahead) or something to visually admire the whole time.

All this doesn’t mean it’s a perfect 5/5 product, there are let-downs & some of them are: weak dark side, second half initially crawls but gradually picks up as it goes ahead, the scope to add ‘high points’ was tremendous but missed to maintain the ‘story structure’, Hussain Dalal’s dialogues (at times) doesn’t match the gravity of efforts of the rest of the team.

Brahmastra Movie Review: Star Performance

Ranbir Kapoor would probably be the second-last choice I would pick as a superhero in Bollywood (the last would be Arjun Kapoor) owing to his ‘vulnerable’ side of acting capability, but Ayan exactly saw the same quality and rightly imagined him as Shiva. The amount of charm he brings to this character makes you connect with his problems & hence getting you invested in the story. This also just touches the base of the ‘superheroic’ trait of his character & it’ll hopefully develop further in the upcoming instalments which will surely happen.

Alia Bhatt touches extreme ends with Isha as at times you’d see a seasoned actress delivering tough lines, but then there are scenes where she just forcefully ‘enacts’ things eliminating the natural flair. Her pairing with Ranbir Kapoor saves the day as the ‘reel-real’ elements work completely in the favour of the couple.

Amitabh Bachchan as Guru doesn’t have much to do apart from unlocking Shiva’s potential. He might have an important role in the backstory of these characters which could unfold further, but as of now he just added some extra depth to the storyline.

Nagarjuna’s ‘Nandi Bail’ super-power came across as one of the coolest things you’d watch on big-screen. Yes, he as an actor doesn’t have much to contribute to the story but his character even in limited scenes looks uber-cool & might attract a colossal amount of seetis/taalis. Mouni Roy was FOR SURE cast after watching her performance in Naagin & it was a decent decision to present her as this demonically cool baddie. She doesn’t go over the board despite her character having all the traits of letting her travel miles in the land of hamming. Dimple Kapadia is just there, why? Doing what? Even I couldn’t really figure out, might be for the future parts. There are multiple cameos (rather few hints) and they’re as grand as one would have rather hoped.

Brahmastra Movie Review: Direction, Music

Ayan Mukerji has done it, he has decoded the formula of sci-fi-my i.e. science-fiction-mythology & that’s what makes Brahmastra what it is. When I say this is an answer to every Marvel movie ever, I’m not comparing ANYTHING, it’s just my way of saying “if I ever have to recommend an Indian film to a Marvel fan who’s alien to our cinematic world, this would be it (earlier it was Ra.one, which wasn’t a great recco tbh).

Simon Franglen’s (Seven, Avatar, Titanic) orchestral background score has GOOSEBUMPS written all over it. If the visuals of the film are ‘every frame is a painting’, then the background music is ‘every sound is a symphony’. The way pieces from Pritam’s songs are converted into these colossal orchestra tracks blends in amazingly well with the visuals. None of the songs interrupts. An unreleased song ‘Rasiya’ became an instant favourite & I hope Pritam releases this soon.

Brahmastra Movie Review: The Last Word

All said and done, Brahmastra has pro-level VFX bundled with enough mythology to keep things interesting. It contains everything that the best-looking Indian film should have with some obvious flaws.

Four stars!

Brahmastra  Trailer

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva releases on 09 September, 2022.

Share with us your experience of watching Brahmastra Part One: Shiva.

Yet to watch the latest Aamir Khan starrer? Read our Laal Singh Chaddha Movie Review here.

Must Read: Raksha Bandhan Movie Review: Akshay Kumar’s Humour Overweighed By Aanand L Rai’s Drama!

Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Telegram

RELATED ARTICLES

Ramayana: Ranbir Kapoor Says No To CGI For His Lord Rama Look?

Jailer 2: Title Of Rajinikanth Starrer Is Inspired From This Hit Song?

Ranbir Kapoor & Salman Khan End Their Feud? Alia Bhatt Turns The Peacemaker As Insider Claims, “It’s Not Like A Dushmani…”

Check this out.

When Jackie Chan Was Bullied In School For Being Poor &...

Tiger Shroff’s Rise As An Action Star From Heropanti To Bade...

Amar Singh Chamkila: Is The Murderer Still Alive? Here’s What Happened...

“Johnny Depp Was The Worst Guitarist,” Says An Eminent Record Producer,...

Pranav Mohal’s Varshangalkku Shesham: From Release Date To Trailer, Cast, &...

Joker: Folie à Deux: Breaks ‘Barbie’s Record & Becomes Warner Bros’...

Don't miss.

Taylor Swift Allegedly Turned Down Nearly $10 Million Offer To Perform...

Fallout Review: Amazon Prime Video Brings One Of The Biggest Video...

When Johnny Depp Was Allegedly Caught Flirting With Ex Vanessa Paradis...

Love, Sex Aur Dhokha 2 Trailer Review: Ekta Kapoor & Dibakar Banerjee Are Bringing Bold & Dirty Digitally Drugged World, Will It Have A...

Amar Singh Chamkila Movie Review: Imtiaz Ali Weaves Magic On Screen With His Vibrant Take On Chamkila & Amarjot’s Life And Art

Bridgerton Season 3 Trailer Review: Penelope & Colin’s Friends To Lovers Chemistry Sizzles; New Suitors, Breakups Tease Betrayal & Passion As Whistledown Returns

Fallout review: amazon prime video brings one of the biggest video game franchises live with a production quality that only jeff bezos can afford.

• Privacy Policy

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva’ Review: A Dense Start to a Promising Trilogy

Proma khosla.

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

Superhero movies and romantic comedies agree: Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It compels iconic heroes as well as wayward lovers, resets the moral compass and cleanses the soul. That is the ethos behind “Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva,” the first installment in a Bollywood trilogy from director Ayan Mukerji. The film is both sci-fi/fantasy and Bollywood romance, an ambitious introduction to a mythological cinematic universe with the expected hiccups of building a massive world from scratch. It’s an admirable attempt and unmissable theatrical experience for any Bollywood fan.

“Shiva” sets up Mukerji’s “Astraverse” saga, in which a group of humans protect the sacred light of the universe in its various forms, called Astras: Water, earth, wind, and the film’s fire — but also animal powers, like the bull or monkey. The Brahmāstra is the last of these energies, carrying the essence of all of them, broken into three parts and kept separate to ensure the world’s safety. This and the other Astras are entrusted to and kept secret by an Illuminati-esque group known as the Brahmansh.

Related Stories ‘Disappear Completely’ Review: Netflix’s Vicious Spanish-Language Horror Recalls ‘Drag Me to Hell’ ‘Intercepted’ Review: Phone Calls from the Front Lines Score a Haunting Ukrainian War Doc

The film explains all of this up top (though better than most because it’s narrated by Bollywood’s biggest superstar Amitabh Bachchan), but too early; after the introductory sequence we switch to Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor), the ordinary-yet-extraordinary hero of this story, and for the next hour both he and we need barely think of anything as trivial as world-saving Astras, because there’s a girl.

Shiva falls hard and fast for Isha ( Alia Bhatt ) for reasons neither he nor the film can quite articulate. The real-life couple’s on-screen debut does not translate to the best career chemistry for either (which is fine and normal and actually speaks well of their acting ability with other scene partners). A lot of “Brahmāstra” hinges upon the notion that Shiva and Isha’s connection is as powerful as any Astra, but it feels less like two people falling in love than two people who watched too many Bollywood movies and mistook happenstance for destiny. When Shiva begins experiencing disturbing visions and spurts of power which reveal him to be the fire Astra, Isha joins him to find out what it all means.

On paper, “Brahmāstra” is not an explicitly Hindu film. The idea of Astras is rooted in Hindu mythology, but tweaked for Mukerji’s vision. The film is still rife with Hindu imagery and themes: the name Isha being a form of Lord Shiva’s wife Parvati; Sanskrit chants and song lyrics; the image of Isha and Shiva walking around a fire (part of the Hindu wedding ceremony); characters praying regularly and celebrating the Hindu festivals of Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Kali Puja. Only the villains have no discernible religion.  

But the central themes — the coexistence of light and dark, and the triumph of good over evil — are universal. They are as intrinsic to Hindu texts as to Harry Potter, to “Lord of the Rings,” Star Wars, “Avatar: The Last Airbender” — any sci-fi fantasy epic you can name that “Brahmāstra” will likely resemble at one point or another.

Sadly, the film’s godless villains are painfully flat. Their leader is Junoon (Mouni Roy), whose entire identity is her scarlet-streaked hair and coal-black eyeshadow. A villainess could be an excellent showcase for any female actor, but not one so conspicuously underwritten and performed (the aforementioned eyeshadow is doing most of the heavy lifting). Junoon’s squandered potential is a shame, and ironic considering how well she could have played out in the hands of someone like Bhatt herself.

For as much as the film seeks to lift up Shiva and Isha, the latter is criminally underutilized. It’s a step up from most portrayals of a romantic interest in a superhero movie, but disappointing given Bhatt’s known capability in films like “Raazi” or the recent “ Darlings .” Isha is literally boiled down to Shiva’s “button” — the force that drives him and unlocks his fire powers, a tool in his hero kit. She’s smart, brave, and loyal, standing firmly at his side even without any Astras of her own, but constantly in need of saving — at least through Shiva’s eyes. Kapoor himself doesn’t bring much to the role, nor does the role lend itself to innovation and challenge. The physical prowess he brings to dance sequences translates to stunt work and what can only be described as fire bending, but Shiva is otherwise indistinguishable from the puppy dog sad boy archetype all but synonymous with Kapoor’s leads (some of which Mukerji also directed).

The cast is otherwise bloated; the leads’ forgettable friends disappear after the first segment, in which they are overwhelmingly eclipsed by a group of children in Shiva’s care. Once he shows up halfway through the film, Bachchan is a welcome grounding presence, striking a perfect balance between stern and benevolent as Guruji, but a handful of other disciples at his ashram are easy to lose track of and weigh this section down.

Mukerji’s script keeps the story focused and moving, even with a few intermittent dumps of exposition. The comedy is notably strongest, with sharp jokes popping up in between banal romantic and dramatic dialogue — though some of this may be lost on non-Hindi speakers. The resultant tone is a little disorienting as the film tries to balance its emotional bildungsroman with appropriate levity, but it works overall. To that end, the first act moves quickly, but pacing is inconsistent and the finale too drawn-out.

“Brahmāstra” is one of the most expensive Indian movies ever made, with an estimated budget of 410 crores or over 50 million dollars. The investment pays off with dazzling CGI of the Astra’s light powers, similar to the visuals on “Ms. Marvel.” Since there’s no real-life comparison for how godlike light power would look, “Brahmāstra” gets to create its own visual language, packed with brightness and saturation matched in the lush cinematography and coloring. The film’s editing can be heavy-handed bordering on chaotic, but anyone who has ever watched an Indian soap opera will feel right at home.

Pritam’s soundtrack manages to dull his own talents as composer and the versatility of singer Arijit Singh. “ Kesariya ” and “ Deva Deva ” are more alike than different, barely clearing the slipping bar for originality in a Bollywood music scene increasingly populated by remixes and any old song autotuned and retitled “2.0.” “ Dance Ka Bhoot ” is at least charming and folksy, serving to introduce Shiva’s character through Kapoor’s formidable dance talent. Composer Simon Franglen’s background score, while serviceable, lacks the distinction necessary for a film of this magnitude, and might have benefited from more Indian classical influences given the film’s themes.

“Brahmāstra” throws a lot at its audience, especially with the rules and history of the Astras, which wasn’t necessarily needed in “Part One.” After all, it’s not like audiences understood the intricacies of Infinity Stones back when they were introduced in “Age of Ultron.” The film accomplishes most of what it sets out to do, such as building out Shiva’s history and path forward, and the look and feel of Astraverse combat and training. The second half of the film hits some predictable but satisfying twists, leading up to a reveal that will have to wait until “Part Two.” Much like other big blockbusters, it leaves audiences wanting more.

“Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva” is now playing exclusively in theaters.

Most Popular

You may also like.

Filed under:

Brahmāstra: Part One does the Marvel superhero epic without Marvel

Disney’s Indian superhero blockbuster arrives to the US in hopes of an international crossover

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Brahmāstra: Part One does the Marvel superhero epic without Marvel

In its broad outlines, the new worldwide theatrical release Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva has a number of attributes American viewers may associate with Indian blockbuster cinema: It has a vibrant color scheme, includes several splashy musical numbers, and runs fairly long, with a built-in space for an intermission. American theaters may skip that part, since 160-minute run times have become near-standard length for big-ticket American blockbusters. And a big-ticket American blockbuster is what Brahmāstra also resembles. Specifically, it recalls 2021’s Marvel epic Eternals , though it lacks the contemplative tone director Chloé Zhao attempted to bring to that film. Brahmāstra is sillier, chintzier, and unavoidably more fun.

It’s also an actual corporate cousin to the Marvel movies, because it was produced by Star Studios, once co-owned by the companies Star India and 20th Century Fox, and now yet another Disney subsidiary. Brahmāstra is the most expensive Hindi production ever, though the exchange rate places its budget around $51 million. This is also the exact price range that gets American studios nervous, where movies fall between cheaper, lower-risk offerings and mega-budget tentpoles. Like so many other would-be blockbusters, Brahmāstra has its eye on a cinematic universe, with “Part One” featured in its title and “Part Two” inevitably teased by the story’s end.

Perhaps the most Hollywood aspect of Brahmāstra is the sense that this confidence may be misplaced. Writer-director Ayan Mukerji opens his movie with a torrent of exposition about the Astras, Eternals-like beings imbued with the power of elements or animals. They’re also members of the Brahmānsh, a group sworn to protect humankind from the dangers of the Brahmāstra, a magic stone that can be wielded as a world-ending weapon.

The weapon has been split into pieces, and a relatively mild-mannered DJ named Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) becomes ensnared in the race to find them. Initially armed only with his ability to “find the light” in a cruel world, Shiva will need to unlock his own heretofore untested fire-harnessing power in order to face off against the evil Junoon (Mouni Roy).

It takes a while for Shiva to be sent off on his quest, and that’s one of the best things about Brahmāstra . Though there isn’t much grown-up depth to Shiva’s blossoming relationship with his rich-girl crush Isha (Alia Bhatt), their introductory flirtation gets more space than most superhero romances do in their entirety. This includes a couple of musical numbers ranging from music-video huge to single-room intimate, allowing both Kapoor and Bhatt to play sweetly besotted, even downright moony, where even the more relationship-minded Eternals felt more businesslike. There’s no faux-bickering between de facto colleagues here; Isha throws herself into Shiva’s derring-do because they are in love , even if sexuality remains a seemingly remote idea.

The deeper Brahmāstra gets into its mythology (and running time), the murkier it gets. This is true of both the story, which reloads its exposition dispenser for another round in the second half, and the visual effects, which are largely of the colorful-light-beam variety. The visual design is yet another Eternals parallel, though at the same time, this $50 million production has a fairly stunning quantity of effects — and sometimes the quality is surprisingly good, too.

Technically, they aren’t as impressive as what’s on offer in many Hollywood blockbusters, but given their vivid color and the movie’s cartoony sensibility, the cheaper flourishes don’t stick out as sorely as they would in this movie’s more expensive counterparts.

Brahmāstra was shot on and off over the course of four years, in part due to COVID-19 pandemic delays. While it would be a stretch to say those delays are visible on screen, exhaustion does set in during the movie’s final hour. Revelations about Shiva’s absent family and the large-scale battles over the big McGuffin just can’t compete with the charm of those earlier sequences, where two earnest young people are whisked away on an adventure in full faith that they can actually help each other.

When Mukerji isn’t throwing dance-number parties or energetically running through standbys like the powers-training montage, he’s subject to the same zip-zap fatigue that mars plenty of Marvel and DC movies. Though the movie attempts to circle back to its love story, it nearly drowns out its characters with noisy promises about what might go down in the potential sequel.

Big-canvas, effects-heavy Indian film had a moment in the U.S. earlier this year when the Telugu-language hit RRR became a big-screen attraction and object of film-geek admiration. Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva seems unlikely to inspire similar devotion. In North America, at least, it feels like it’s been plugged into the release schedule as a stopgap, at a time when moviegoers are about to enter a month or more without spectacle-fueled big-screen productions. Anyone suffering from severe summer-movie withdrawal might want to seek this one out, so long as they prepare themselves for a familiar summer sensation. The film pops, then fizzes and fades: It’s a firecracker of a movie, for better and worse.

Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva debuts in theaters on Sept. 9.

• International
• Today’s Paper
• Join WhatsApp Channel
• Movie Reviews
• Tamil Cinema
• Telugu Cinema

Brahmastra movie review: Despite its razzle-dazzle, Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt film fails to entertain

Brahmastra movie review: despite all those non-stop computer graphics, the opulence of the sets, the starry array, the film’s commitment to its subject, we never really buy into it completely..

Part fantasy, part mythological, part action-adventure, part desi superhero saga, there’s a lot going on in ‘Brahmastra Part One-Shiva’, Ayan Mukerji’s long-in-the-making mega tentpole which is meant to be a trilogy. It has been in the news for all kinds of reasons, but mostly because it is meant not just to entertain us, but to pull Bollywood out of the doldrums it is in right now. On the first count, at least, it flubs massively.

Here’s how the promise, held out by this much-anticipated Dharma production, stacked up. Never-seen-before-special effects. No disputing that claim. I can only think of SS Rajamouli’s ‘Baahubali’ which can compare. One of Bollywood’s most winsome couples, both on and off screen, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt . Bookended by the surprise presence of Shah Rukh Khan and the one and only Amitabh Bachchan , and a middle lifted by the affable Nagarjuna. Could anything be better? Turns out, it could have, and should have, but it isn’t.

Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) is a modern-day deejay, getting thousands upon thousands of Durga pooja devotees to dance to his tunes, as the film opens. Everything is big, and it becomes bigger and bigger, as the film goes on. The pandal is huge, and as the camera pulls back, the extent of its staggering size becomes apparent. The screen is drenched in colour, song and dance. And then comes the meeting of eyes-and-heart of our hero and his love, Isha (Alia Bhatt), and… our heart doesn’t skip a beat, even as the beats around the two get more and more frenetic.

And that truly is the problem with the film, which is meant to be the most expensive Bollywood has produced. Despite all those non-stop computer graphics, the opulence of the sets, the starry array, the film’s commitment to its razzle dazzle, we never really buy into it completely. I had to work hard to fall into it, and I kept falling out of it. Straight up you can see why: the film gets imprisoned in clunky writing which leads to confused patches, and its uneasy tone switches, which never lets the film settle. Why is there a ‘tapori’ element to Shiva’s dialogues to start with, and where does it go? Why do his BFFs disappear without giving us a reason? If the bad guys have super powers, why do they use man-made machine guns? Why does some of the humour appear forced? Questions, questions. And oh those on-the-nose product placements, which includes Mac laptops and Jio cellphones. Really?

Shiva is meant to be an orphan whose origins are tied to the ‘astraverse’ that Mukerji has created. Once upon a time, the weapon of all weapons, the Brahmastra was divided into three for safe-keeping, and its custodians charged with keeping the universe in place. But along comes an ambitious being who wants it all, and who unleashes his dark forces upon our world. The target is, naturally, our hero Shiva and Isha, another name for his faithful Parvati, and a small subsect of people (Brahmansh) quietly residing in the high reaches of the Himalayas, as defenders of the faith, and warriors armed with weapons with primal powers. Shiva has a strange connection with fire (agni): will he be able to save the world from the marauders, led by the hot-eyed, red-lipped Junoon (Mouni Roy, who marches through the film in flowy black robes, glint-eyed and growly) and her two henchmen?

There are enough bones here for our own Marvel universe, suffused with the gods and goddesses borrowed from our vibrant, rich mythologies, and the very special humans with super powers that they must learn to control and unleash. One of the better portions involves Shiva being put through his paces by the elder Guru (Amitabh Bachchan), as he (Shiva) plays, literally, with fire, and the screen lights up. Ranbir Kapoor is, always light on his feet. The luminous Alia Bhatt does some lighting up of her own. He says: ‘jal gayi tum mere pyaar mein’ (hard to translate this, but the closest would be ‘you’re burning with love for me’), and she says : ‘kabki’ (long back), and you smile past the cheesiness of the exchange, remembering their real-life romance which should have seeped into their reels but doesn’t. In his cameo, Shah Rukh Khan (his name, we are told pointedly, is Mohan Bhargav, in a nod to his ‘Swades’ character?) brings some of his goofy charm to the table. But, ultimately, nothing is new enough, and these cardboard characters can’t make us care, as they run for their lives in a climax that goes on for so long that it becomes exhausting.

Films so stuffed with special effects need to maintain a balance between parts which are meant to astonish us with their wares, and the parts which allow it to slow down and breathe. The VFX is non-stop (at one point, a troll-like army appears, and disappears), the blaring music keeps wanting to bludgeon us into submission, and we are left yearning for magic.

A character asks Shiva, ‘yeh sab kya ho raha hai tumhare saath’ ( what is going on with you’?). Replace ‘humaare’ with ‘tumhaare’, for the right question.

Brahmastra movie cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy, Nagarjuna Akkineni Brahmastra movie director: Ayan Mukerji Brahastra movie rating: 1.5 stars

Tavleen Singh writes: Corruption as an election issue Subscriber Only

How AI could make smartphones great again Subscriber Only

Markets touch new high, but the shadow of war looms Subscriber Only

Why Paris-bound Indian shuttlers should happily shoot insta reels Subscriber Only

Spring flavours: A taste of regional new years Subscriber Only

The art of reality: A look at Gobardhan Ash Subscriber Only

Imtiaz Ali on collaborating with Diljit Dosanjh Subscriber Only

Latest fiction and non-fiction books to read Subscriber Only

Ramachandra Guha on author-editor chemistry Subscriber Only

• Ranbir Kapoor

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea against the High Court’s decision to uphold his arrest in the excise policy case, on Monday, April 15.

More Entertainment

Best of Express

Apr 15: Latest News

• 01 Lok Sabha polls 2024: Retaining Ramtek seat a challenge for Shinde-led Sena
• 02 Olympic qualification: With women’s 10m air pistol bronze, Palak Gulia makes it 16 out of 16 pistol/rifle quotas for Paris Games
• 03 Shinde calls Sena UBT ‘Uth Bas Sena’, takes a dig at Thackeray
• 04 Can country where 80 crore people survive on free ration become ‘vishwaguru’: Akhilesh
• 05 Man held in Chhattisgarh for using abusive language against PM Modi
• Elections 2024
• Political Pulse
• Entertainment
• Movie Review
• Newsletters
• Gold Rate Today
• Silver Rate Today
• Petrol Rate Today
• Diesel Rate Today
• Web Stories
• Expresso Live
• Premium Stories
• Express Shorts
• Health & Wellness
• Board Exam Results

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Civil War Link to Civil War
• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• The First Omen Link to The First Omen

New TV Tonight

• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Our Living World: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• The Spiderwick Chronicles: Season 1
• Conan O'Brien Must Go: Season 1
• Orlando Bloom: To the Edge: Season 1
• The Circle: Season 6
• Dinner with the Parents: Season 1
• Jane: Season 2

Most Popular TV on RT

• Fallout: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Fallout Link to Fallout
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Fallout : What It Gets Right, and What It Gets Wrong

CinemaCon 2024: Day 3 – Disney Previews Deadpool & Wolverine , Moana 2 , Alien: Romulus , and More

• Trending on RT
• Best TV 2024
• Play Movie Trivia
• CinemaCon 2024
• Popular Movies

Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva Reviews

While the special appearances may pull in the crowd initially, it doesn’t keep them happy.

Full Review | Nov 2, 2023

Maybe Brahmastra would have benefited from a small screen release. At least the issues wouldn’t have been so visible.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Jul 20, 2023

Felt like a bunch of music videos without a compelling story drawing them together

Full Review | Dec 31, 2022

Though it is a bit muddled at parts, the grandeur of the execution is entertaining to watch.

Full Review | Nov 18, 2022

It is a wholesome entertainer with an original plot, aspiring to become a massive franchise.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 2, 2022

Director Ayan Mukerji manages to craft a big, universe-shaking epic that doesn’t feel exactly like everything else out there. I brought along a friend who’d never seen any Indian cinema before but who loves a big spectacle, and they were bowled over.

Full Review | Oct 28, 2022

I have little investment in the world it teases or its mythic weapons — if there’s a sequel, I will be hard pressed to remember what happened in the first film...

Full Review | Sep 21, 2022

This musical fantasy is a jam-packed extravaganza that offers viewers the best of Bollywood.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 20, 2022

Despite all those non-stop computer graphics, the opulence of the sets, the starry array, the film’s commitment to its subject, we never really buy into it completely.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Sep 20, 2022

There are several soft spots in Brahmastra but lack of ambition isn’t one of them.

Full Review | Sep 19, 2022

Watch the film for its visual appeal and for the burning chemistry between Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. A stage has now been set and let's hope Ayan Mukerji doesn't take five years more to bring out the next installment.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 16, 2022

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva gets the pyrotechnics right but fumbles in creating an emotionally involving alternate reality.

Full Review | Sep 16, 2022

Bhrahmastra: Part One – Shiva is a tantalising prospect of a great, long-overdue Indian superhero franchise. But it needs a bit more fine-tuning in its storytelling and better visual effects to truly stand on its own.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 16, 2022

Ayan Mukerji has such little respect for the audience that he feels the need to spoon-feed every last drop of exposition so loudly that by the time you’re exiting the theatre, dazed silly, you will be thinking to yourself in Sanskrit.

Full Review | Sep 14, 2022

The writing is fine as far as the world-building goes, but the dialogues sink the movie. You have to expect poor writing when you're going to watch a big-budget Hindi film. It's a given at this point. But even by that standards, 'Brahmastra' is terrible.

Brahmastra is superficial in its Hindu-ness, its MCU-ness, its Potter-ness, its Bollywood-ness and its humanity.

Full Review | Sep 12, 2022

“Brahmāstra” gets back to larger-than-life storytelling, openly embracing the crazy and fantastical, and piquing our imaginations while Mukerji impresses us with his.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 12, 2022

Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva overwhelms your senses with a relentless aural and visual assault. I can appreciate the vibrant cultural aspects, but the entire experience becomes grating by the total lack of subtlety and flimsy script.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Sep 12, 2022

Like all movies of this ilk, there’s a cyclical nature to the film’s narrative rhythms that moves endlessly between defeat and success. It's still just fill-in-the-blanks "superhero" franchising masquerading as something more singular.

A visual spectacle but also a mess of a movie with shallow characters, messy storytelling and a lot of baffling filmic choices.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/10 | Sep 10, 2022

• Hi, My Account Subscriptions --> My KT Trading Contact Us Privacy Notice Sign Out

Mon, Apr 15, 2024 | Shawwal 5, 1445

Dubai 20°C

• Expo City Dubai
• Emergencies
• Ras Al Khaimah
• Umm Al Quwain

Life and Living

• Visa & Immigration in UAE
• Banking in UAE
• Schooling in UAE
• Housing in UAE
• Ramadan 2024
• Saudi Arabia
• Philippines
• Cryptocurrency
• Infrastructure
• Currency Exchange
• Horse Racing
• Local Sports
• Entertainment
• Local Events

Dubai World Cup

• Track Notes
• Big Numbers
• Daily Updates
• Arts & Culture
• Mental Health
• Relationships
• Staycations
• UAE Attractions
• Tech Reviews
• Motoring Reviews
• Movie Reviews
• Book reviews
• Restaurant Reviews
• Young Times

Supplements

• Back To School
• Eid-Al-Adha
• It’s Summer Time
• Leading Universities
• Higher Education
• India Real Estate Show
• Future Of Insurance
• KT Desert Drive
• New Age Finance & Accounting Summit
• Digital Health Forum
• Subscriptions
• UAE Holidays
• Year of the 50th
• Latest News
• Prayer Timings
• Cinema Listings
• Inspired Living
• Advertise With Us
• Privacy Notice

KT APPDOWNLOAD

'brahmastra' review: ranbir and alia’s love story distracts from this vfx heavy superhero spectacle, the fantasy/adventure is the first in ayan mukerji's ambitious trilogy.

Ambica Sachin

• Follow us on

Top Stories

Embracing the bright side: A guide on how to cultivate optimism

The power of solitude: Why you should go on a solo trip

How to get your kids to read: Essential tips for parents

Published: Fri 9 Sep 2022, 1:19 PM

Last updated: Sat 10 Sep 2022, 9:42 AM

Fire cannot burn him. Darkness cannot defeat him. Love cannot harm him. Welcome to the new age Bollywood superhero Shiva (a handsome and carefree Ranbir Kapoor) whose nimble footed ‘Dance Ka Bhoot’ act and club bopping music belies his true destiny in Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra: Part One -Shiva.

Like most modern day romances we presume, he falls head over heels for a pretty girl at the local Pooja mandap – (Isha played by a luminous Alia Bhatt) - and the duo embark on an impromptu adventure that sees them flit from Bombay to Varanasi and the Himalayas in a quest to fulfill his destiny.

Up in a cozy cottage tucked away on the dizzying hillside of Himachal Pradesh, Guruji (a dapper Amitabh Bachchan whose baritone voice alone deserves special credit) the guardian of the most powerful Astras of all, Brahmastra, trains young superheroes to channel the power of nature - fire, wind, serpent - even as he convenes open air meetings with a highly secretive society entrusted with protecting the universe from the ill effects of the Brahmastra.

Among them oddly (for an actress of her stature she is not called upon to do or say anything substantial) is the silver haired Dimple Kapadia who flits in and out in a military size helicopter while her elderly peers commute on horseback and cars to the secretive Ashram.

But alas Junoon (a suitably effective, kohl-rimmed, red-eyed Mouni Roy) and her team of part comic- part menacing villains - Raftaar and Zor - are on a mission to get their hands on the three potent pieces of the Brahmastra to awaken the power of their dormant lord, Dev.

Mind you, for super villains seemingly in possession of earth shattering superpowers, it’s a bit baffling to see Junoon and her sidekicks slum it out in a common truck as they drive up to the Himalayas.

In Ayan Mukerji’s ambitious mythology-meets-modernity tale of a ‘DJ turned Dragon’ compelled to awaken the fire within to put out the darkness around him, Bollywood gets one of its first original fantasy universe based on ancient Hindu mythology.

Overtones of X-Men and Marvel superhero figures hang over the Astraverse where VFX heavy action sequences and spectacular pyrotechnics take centre stage. But can some truly world-class fireworks and dizzying light show distract from cheesy dialogues and a super simplistic concept of how love can overpower evil in this world?

Alia and Ranbir’s youthful earnestness powers this Brahmastra journey, no doubt, aided with some croon worthy numbers like Kesariya. But their love story peaks at the most inopportune moments in the plot. It leaves us wondering if this is meant to be a fantasy film or a modern day love story of two single attractive people who fall in love at first sight, embark on a cross-country journey hardly 24 hours into the ‘relationship’ and end up making romantic overtures to each other in the midst of some extremely nail biting action sequences.

Brahmastra is definitely a must watch to feast on some breathtaking action sequences and VFX that will have you glued to the screens. Kudos to Ayan for bravely attempting to take Bollywood into a fantastical new universe.

But don’t go in expecting any earth shattering story line since the movie seems to have primarily been made to dazzle your eyes than tug at your heart strings.

Brahmastra does attempt to take the high ground by juxtaposing unbridled passion with soul encompassing love; Life affirming light with death akin darkness; Pre ordained destiny versus free spirited choice etc. But all that is lost beneath the razzmatazz.

With all due credit to great performances by Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy and even the ‘surprise’ superstar cameo along with an underutilized Nagarjuna, the glimpse we are provided of the upcoming sequel of the trilogy, on the lord of darkness, Dev (whose muscular back is reminiscent of a certain frenzied hero) and the mysterious Amrita, looks more appealing.

Blame it on the fact that Bollywood has spoilt us over the years by presenting larger than life human heroes who can pummel a dozen bad guys to submission with nary a scratch on their air brushed physiques, walk through fire, survive falls from dizzying heights and even stop bullets in their tracks.

So as much as it may be a sight for sore eyes, a buff Ranbir Kapoor dancing around giddily in the middle of a field in awe of his fire harnessing power, doesn't impress us much.

Brahmastra is out in UAE cinemas from today

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy

Rating: 3 out of 5 (for effort)

• [email protected]

More news from

Uae: 13-year-old filipina battles life-threatening disease, parents seek help amid mounting bills.

Fatima's second foster parents are rallying for their daughter despite financial strain due to the absence of her residency visa, health insurance

health 3 hours ago -->

US will not take part in Israeli counter strike against Iran, says Biden

The United States will continue to help Israel defend itself, but does not want war with Iran

asia 4 hours ago -->

UAE: Unstable weather continues, with rains over some areas on Monday

Temperatures can go as low as 16℃ in the mountains, and up to 37℃ in the internal region

uae 4 hours ago -->

uae holidays

Next long holiday in UAE: 5-day break for Eid Al Adha; likely dates revealed

The festival falls approximately two months and a few days after Eid Al Fitr, as per the Islamic calendar's lunar-based system

uae holidays 6 hours ago -->

UAE: Why divorces are more common during January

An expert reveals that there is a 80% spike in separations during the beginning of the year

uae 6 hours ago -->

School, supermarket, game rooms: Inside UAE city sheltering Palestinians evacuated from Gaza

The humanitarian complex had previously hosted Afghan refugees in 2022

IPL 2024: Rohit ton in vain as Chennai beat Mumbai

Set 207 for victory, five-time winners Mumbai finished on 186-6 even though Rohit raised his ton in 61 balls at his home in Wankhede Stadium

cricket 12 hours ago -->

Arteta tells Arsenal to show 'character' after title blow

Arsenal's defeat, their first in 12 league games, sees them remain second, two points behind City

football 13 hours ago -->

Type your keywords

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Brahmastra Part One: Shiva

A DJ with superpowers and his ladylove embark on a mission to protect the Brahmastra, a weapon of enormous energy, from dark forces closing in on them. A DJ with superpowers and his ladylove embark on a mission to protect the Brahmastra, a weapon of enormous energy, from dark forces closing in on them. A DJ with superpowers and his ladylove embark on a mission to protect the Brahmastra, a weapon of enormous energy, from dark forces closing in on them.

• Ayan Mukerji
• Hussain Dalal
• Amitabh Bachchan
• Ranbir Kapoor
• 1.9K User reviews
• 32 Critic reviews
• 57 Metascore
• 32 wins & 41 nominations

• Anish Shetty

• Mohan Bhargav

• Savitri Devi

• Tiger - Shiva's Friend

• Ali - Shiva's Friend

• Shaina - Isha's Cousin
• Sunny - Isha's Cousin
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Burning Questions With Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia The film was announced in 2014, at that time it was slated to release on Christmas 2016.After multiple delays it's release date was further pushed to Independence weekend 2019,then further to Christmas 2019,then Summer 2020 and then also further pushed to 4th December 2020.Due to Corona Virus Outbreak in India it was further pushed away.Now it has been claiming that it will release on 9th September 2022.Thus making it one of the most delayed films in indian cinema.
• Connections Features Agneepath (2012)
• Soundtracks Kesariya (Hindi) Music by Pritam Chakraborty Lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya Performed by Arijit Singh

User reviews 1.9K

• mohinderchugh
• Sep 9, 2022
• How long is Brahmastra Part One: Shiva? Powered by Alexa
• September 9, 2022 (United States)
• Sikkim, India
• Dharma Productions
• Double Negative (DNEG)
• Prime Focus
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• ₹4,100,000,000 (estimated)
• Sep 11, 2022
• $50,164,785

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 47 minutes
• Dolby Atmos
• IMAX 6-Track
• Dolby Surround 7.1
• Dolby Digital
• 2.39:1 (IMAX 3D)
• 2.39:1 (Standard Version)

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed

Subscribe Now! Get features like

• HT Newsletters
• Weather Today
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Print Ad Rates
• Code of Ethics
• Subscription - Terms of Use
• Latest News
• Entertainment
• Arvind Kejriwal News Live
• Lok Sabha election 2024 live
• Election Schedule 2024
• Win iPhone 15
• IPL 2024 Schedule
• IPL Points Table
• IPL Purple Cap
• IPL Orange Cap
• AP Board Results 2024
• The Interview
• Web Stories
• Virat Kohli
• Mumbai News
• Bengaluru News
• Daily Digest

Brahmastra release highlights: Early collections rival Sooryavanshi; film to have Ranbir Kapoor's career-best opening

Brahmastra is finally in theatres after years of wait. After getting glowing reviews for its VFX and the chemistry between lead couple Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, the Ayan Mukerji sci-fi spectacle also showed a promising start at the box office, with analysts predicting it to be Ranbir Kapoor's career-best opener. 

Brahmastra to have Ranbir Kapoor's career best opening

Trade analysts are predicting Brahmastra to earn ₹ 35-40 crore on day one, making it the best opener in Ranbir Kapoor and Ayan Mukerji's career. Read full box office early analysis here

Shanaya Kapoor thanks Ayan Mukerji for the ‘experience’

On Instagram Stories, Shanaya Kapoor thanked director Ayan Mukerji ‘for creating this experience’. She added, “history has been created,” adding that Brahmastra was a ‘world of its own’.

Hrithik Roshan takes his kids to watch the film

View this post on Instagram A post shared by yogen shah (@yogenshah_s)

Hrithik Roshan and his sons Hridhaan and Hrehaan were spotted by paparazzi outside PVR Juhu on Friday afternoon as they reached there to catch a show of Brahmastra.

Munawar Faruqui calls Brahmastra a film ‘we should be proud of’

Comedian and reality show star Munawar Faruqui shared his review of Brahmastra on Instagram Stories, calling it “an Indian film which we should be proud of”.

Sona Mohapatra defends Brahmastra

When a troll tweeted about film being offensive to Hindu deities, Sona replied, “Mahadev’ Durga? Did a new incarnation come into your dreams last night & tell you this? Cus Devi Durga Ma, my personal fav is least bothered about which film star is doing what. Did you care to hear my song Mangal Gaan? Ever share the positive of what artists do for culture?”

Early collections rival RRR, Sooryavanshi in mass pockets

As per a BoxOfficeIndia.com report, the early collections of the film in the ‘mass pockets’ of central India and Bihar circuits are rivalling the numbers of hits like RRR (Hindi) and Sooryavanshi.

Pooja Bhatt calls film an ‘ exhilarating experience’ 

Actor Pooja Bhatt tweeted praise for her sister Alia's film, saying, “ #Brahmastra is an absolutely exhilarating experience! Magical, moving & dazzling to the eye & the spirit! Haven’t seen effects of this scale & calibre in an Indian film to date. Raised the bar in every which way. Kudos and salutations to the ENTIRE team.”

Morning shows report healthy 50% occupancy

The morning shows of the film have reported a healthy occupancy of 40-50%, easily the highest figures for any Hindi film since the pandemic struck. As per trade sources, the numbers will grow as the day progresses

Arjun Kapoor watches the film

Actor Arjun Kapoor was spotted at PVR Juhu before he went inside to catch a show Brahmastra, along with a few other Bollywood celebs.

Alia Bhatt dedicates film to audience

Sharing Ayan Mukerji's post on Instagram Stories, Alia Bhatt wrote a note for the audience: “Our film…is yours now” 

Ayan Mukerji thanks his team for the journey

In an Instagram post, director Ayan Mukerji, wrote, “ With Love and Light…Gratitude for the Journey, and Hope for the Future…Our Entire Team, and I, proudly present our work in Cinemas today…! And with many different emotions, hand over the movie to its’ rightful owners - Our Audiences!”

Kara Johar gives film to audience

“All the love and light that the #Brahmastra team has worked on is now YOURS! Book your tickets and experience it all on the big screen - IN CINEMAS NOW!!!!,” Karan wrote in an Instagram post.

Varun Dhawan watches show

Actor Varun Dhawan was seen at a movie theatre in Bandra, watching the movie along with other celebrities. 

Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan catch a show

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were seen at a movie hall with their son Taimur for a screening of the movie. They wore matching black outfits for the movie outing.

Brahmastra advance bookings 4th highest

Brahmastra has recorded the fourth highest advance of all time for Hindi films with ₹ 28 crore (nett), behind only KGF 2 ( ₹ 42.5 crore), Baahubali The Conclusion ( ₹ 37.5 crore), and War ( ₹ 29.5 crore)

Final screen count

Taran Adarsh has shared the final screen count for Brahmastra. “#Brahmāstra *final* screen count... ⭐ #India: 5,019 ⭐ #Overseas: 3,894+ ⭐ Worldwide total: 8,913 screens.”

Brahmastra reactions: Lacks the ‘scriptastra’

Trade analyst Atul Mohan tweeted, “#Brahmastra Misses The Target. You had all the Astras (money, starcast, vfx...) to make this a great cinematic experience except for Scriptastra.”

Alia Bhatt's maternity fashion

Check out a photo gallery of all the looks rocked by mom-to-be Alia Bhatt during the promotional tour for Brahmastra here.   

Ayan Mukerji felt ‘bad' that Alia-Ranbir were not allowed inside Ujjain temple

Ayan Mukerji has spoken about the entire drama around his visit to Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple on Tuesday. The filmmaker and Alia Bhatt with Ranbir Kapoor, were set to visit the temple for darshan ahead of the release of the movie. However, the actors could not enter because of protestors outside the temple. Read full story here.

Taran Adarsh calls it ‘disppointing’

Film trade expert Taran Adarsh isn't impressed. “#OneWordReview... #Brahmāstra: DISAPPOINTING. Rating: ⭐⭐ #Brahmāstra is a king-sized disappointment… High on VFX, low on content [second half nosedives]… #Brahmāstra could’ve been a game changer, but, alas, it’s a missed opportunity… All gloss, no soul," he wrote in a tweet.

Akhil Akkineni tweets

Akhil Akkineni tweeted about Brahmastra, “The mammoth epic finally arrives at the movies today. Wishing this passionate team all the best. Your efforts and dedication to making this project come to life is phenomenal. #Brahmastra Can’t wait to watch the film.” He is the son of Nagarjuna, who has a special role in the movie.

Fans on social media discuss cameos

Fans of the movie are sharing their reaction to all the cameos they spotted and loved in the movie. Those who are yet to watch the film are advised to steer clear of Twitter and Instagram.

Ranbir Kapoor on advance bookings

The advance booking numbers of Brahmastra may be soaring but Ranbir Kapoor advises not to take them too seriously before the film releases. Read full story here.

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt met fans

At the film's screening on Thursday in Mumbai, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor met fans and shook hand with them.

Shanaya Kapoor attended screening

Shanaya Kapoor and her brother Jahaan Kapoor attended the screening for Brahmastra on Thursday.

Brahmastra final advance booking figures

For opening weekend- ₹ 33 crore (Hindi- ₹ 29 crore, Telugu- ₹ 2.9 crore, Tamil- ₹ 28 lakh). For day one- ₹ 17.71 crore (Hindi- ₹ 15.54 crore, Telugu- ₹ 2 crore, Tamil- ₹ 15 lakh).

HT review out

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are electric in this Ayan Mukerji spectacle. The film is a treat for long-waiting fans of Hindi cinema. Read our full review here.

Opening day predictions

Trade analysts predict a ₹ 30 crore opening day for Brahmastra, easily the highest for any Bollywood film in the pandemic-era and the best since War (2019). The numbers can go higher still given the early reviews and word of mouth

1 million tickets sold so far

As per HT sources, almost 1 million tickets have been sold for the movie by Thursday night in advance bookings. 

Ranbir visited Lalbaugcha Raja

Ranbir Kapoor visited Lalbaughcha Raja in Mumbai with Ayan on Thursday to pray for the success of his movie. Videos and pictures from his visit were shared online.

Mahesh Bhatt, Shaheen attend screening

Mahesh Bhatt was spotted with Shaheen Bhatt at the screening for Alia's Brahmastra.

Positive reviews by international media

Film critic Courtney Howard tweeted, “#Brahmastra is a wildly entertaining jump start to a planned trilogy. Western cinematic influences readily comingle with pure Bollywood spectacle. @aliaa08 is luminous & #RanbirKapoor is charismatic.”

Spoilers fill Twitter, Instagram

Fans are advised to steer Twitter and Instagram with care. A few people have shared a bunch of spoilers from the movie on social media. 

First reactions trickle in

HT film critic Monika Rawal gives a glowing first reaction: ‘No wonder it took #AyanMukerji years to finally bring #Brahmastra to life. A true labour of love, you witness the magic in every frame. Fab VFX. The light & fire is sure to add sparks at the box office. #RanbirKapoor is earnest, #AliaBhatt endearing. Must watch.’ The full review will be out at 10 am.

Trade experts weigh in

Film trade expert Sumit Kadel wrote in a tweet, “If #Brahmastra turns out to be a good & engaging movie then no force can stop it from becoming HIT at the box office.Undercurrent & excitement for this film amongst audience is excellent, superlative advance is the testimony of it.Last Bollywood film which had such hype was #WAR.”

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt spotted at Brahmastra screening

Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor attend Brahmastra special screening on Thursday. Karan Johar, Ayan Mukerji, Neetu Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor also spotted. Read full story here. 

Brahmastra advance crossed ₹23 crore for opening weekend

Brahmastra took a running start at the box office with record advance booking numbers for a Bollywood film in the pandemic era. Read full story here.

• Ranbir Kapoor
• Amitabh Bachchan
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Subscription

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

'brahmastra' verdict: twitterati lauds ranbir kapoor and alia bhatt-starrer, calls it a 'visual classic'.

Impressed with the film, many fans predicted that the superhero flick will "create new records" at the box-office.

‘Brahmastra’ clocks Rs 23 cr in advance ticket sales, Ranbir-Alia starrer surpasses ‘RRR’ bookings

Claps all around, people are proud that we now have this kind of film in bollywood truly a visually cinematic exper… https://t.co/GTBhxnDynm — Kabir (@justKabirr) 1662676599000

Ranbir Kapoor gets candid about 'Shamshera', says film failed because content was not good

#Brahmastra #BrahmastraReview is a visual CLASSIC from start to end. Ayan's conviction ✅. Ranbir is the show-stea… https://t.co/ZDnCPtkqjF — Lokesh (@LokeshAnalyst) 1662651042000

#BrahmastraMedia Screening ended A friend who saw says this is something Bollywood has never produced.It will be… https://t.co/PmOXpi8tr6 — Anand Abhirup #VedhaArmy📌 🧡 (@SanskariGuruji) 1662648749000

#Brahmastra for me is a visual spectacle.. Well written.. Well directed.. Bas dialogues cringy feel hote hain.. But… https://t.co/0GBFNFFRKc — MohitVerse (@comicverseyt) 1662706489000

Brahmastra's promotions: Ranbir Kapoor speaks perfect Telugu at event, gets applause. This is what he said

MASS KA BAAP, FAULAD KI AULAAD - SHAH RUKH KHAN !!King @iamsrk entire theatre was cheering on your dialogue deli… https://t.co/6WNb0dgSvx — Zalzala 🔥 (@SRKZalzala) 1662708975000

#OneWordReview...#Brahmāstra: DISAPPOINTING.Rating: ⭐⭐#Brahmāstra is a king-sized disappointment… High on VFX, l… https://t.co/kLxa7iiMXo — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) 1662701553000

#Brahmastra A Subpar Fantasy Adventure that had a interesting storyline/setup but is hampered by weak writing and s… https://t.co/Z3kgqk8ykW — Venky Reviews (@venkyreviews) 1662682318000

One word Review: MESS#Brahmastra: 🌟½ (1.5/5)#BrahmastraReview Right from the opening scene lacking in connect… https://t.co/nSGPYDF5eN — Light Yagami (@Light_Yagamind) 1662664592000

#Brahmastra    - Rating ⭐️½This film is a personification of DISASTER. Horrible VFX & direction, not even a sing… https://t.co/2wHVx5nzTq — Sumit KadeI 🗨️ fan (@beingskd786) 1662697950000

How much is Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt starrer 'Brahmastra' expected to earn in first week of release? Know here

Read More News on

Better returns than stock, gold? Rolex, the new asset class for investments that transcends time.

Meesho is taking a road less travelled to keep up in its fight with Amazon, Flipkart

India is abandoning this healthy habit in droves

Where is Flipkart’s long-in-the-making IPO?

Turnaround Trouble: Why Thierry Delaporte is the third CEO to fail at turning around Wipro

Weekly Largecap Top Picks: These stocks scored 10 on 10 on Stock Reports Plus

Find this comment offensive?

Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action

Reason for reporting:

Your Reason has been Reported to the admin.

To post this comment you must

Log In/Connect with:

Fill in your details:

Will be displayed

Will not be displayed

Share this Comment:

Uh-oh this is an exclusive story available for selected readers only..

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

To read full story, subscribe to ET Prime

₹34 per week

Billed annually at ₹2499 ₹1749

Super Saver Sale - Flat 30% Off

On ET Prime Membership

Unlock this story and enjoy all members-only benefits.

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Stay Ahead in the New Financial Year

Get flat 20% off on ETPrime

90 Days Prime access worth Rs999 unlocked for you

Exclusive Economic Times Stories, Editorials & Expert opinion across 20+ sectors

Stock analysis. Market Research. Industry Trends on 4000+ Stocks

​Get 1 Year Complimentary Subscription of TOI+ worth Rs.799/-​

Stories you might be interested in

We've detected your location as Mumbai . Do you want to switch?

Accurate city detection helps us serve more contextual content

• You are in (Delhi) Change City
• ETimes Home
• Web Series Trailers
• Movie Reviews
• Movie Listings

Visual Stories

• Did You Know?
• Bigg Boss 17
• Relationships
• Health & Fitness
• Soul Search
• Home & Garden
• Women's Day Special

Entertainment

• Music Awards
• Bhubaneshwar
• humburgerIcon humburgerIcon humburgerIcon

• Gubbi Mele Brahmastra
• Cast & Crew
• Movie Review
• Users' Reviews

This dark comedy revolves around how Venkata Krishna Gubbi rescues his lady love from a local don.

Gubbi Mele Brahmastra Movie Review

• Times of India

Gubbi Mele Brahmastra - Official Trailer

Gubbi Mele Brahmastra | Song - Yenanno Helalu Hogi (Lyrica...

Gubbi Mele Brahmastra | Song - Swaagatam Krishna

Gubbi Mele Brahmastra | Song - Yenanno Helalu Hogi

Gubbi Mele Brahmastra | Song - How Is The Josh

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Get reviews of the latest theatrical releases every week, right in your inbox every Friday.

Thanks for subscribing.

Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox.

Deepak 94 1390 days ago

Uday Santra 1416 days ago

Harjinder Kaur 1418 days ago

Titu 1418 days ago

Happytimes user 75 1421 days ago.

Punjabi Kudi style guide ft. Parineeti Chopra

10 health benefits of consuming melons

Wise words by Leonardo da Vinci that will inspire you

10 walking mistakes people often make

Karisma Kapoor's latest summer fashion essentials are bookmark-worthy

Jiya Shankar’s top 15 gorgeous looks

9 hidden gems to visit near Manali

Feeling Monday blues? Let Malavika Mohanan's stylish clicks inspire you

Take summer fashion cues from Rakul Preet Singh's wardrobe

South celebs celebrate Tamil New Year and Vishu; see pics

• Entertainment /
• Movie Reviews /
• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor. Share
• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor.
• This is the second time Arjun Kapoor is playing a double role, the first being Aurangzeb (2013).
• The song ‘Yamma yamma’ from ‘Shaan’ is sampled in the song ‘Partywali Night' for the film.

Choose your reason below and click on the Submit button. This will alert our moderators to take action

• Foul language
• Inciting hatred against a certain community
• Out of context/Spam
• Copied from article

Screen Rant

Brahmastra part 2 confirmed: cast & everything we know.

Brahmastra Part 2 is set to be the sequel of the 2022 Hindi-language action fantasy film and some news about its release has been forthcoming.

• The Brahmastra sequel, Brahmastra Part 2, is confirmed and will be even bigger than the first.
• Director Ayan Mukerji announced plans for Brahmastra Part 2 on Instagram, with a release date planned for December 2026.
• Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh are confirmed to return star in Brahmastra Part 2, as Shiva and Dev, respectively.

Brahmastra Part 2 (officially titled Brahmāstra: Part Two – Dev ) is the promised follow-up to the 2022 Hindi-language fantasy action film and the filmmakers have slowly teased out when fans can expect the sequel to be ready. The first Brahmastra , pointedly titled Brahmastra Part 1 – Shiva , is the first part of the planned Āstraverse , a series of Hindi movies that combine Hindu mythology with all the explosive energy, massive dance numbers, and heightened emotions only Bollywood can produce.

Bollywood movies are appearing on streamers like Netflix , with these excellent films becoming more popular with North American audiences who are used to standard Hollywood fare. 2023 was a great year for Bollywood movies and the Āstraverse kicked it off with Brahmastra Part 1 – Shiva premiering in late 2022 and becoming the highest-grossing film in India for the year (via BOI ). Unsurprisingly, the announcement of Brahmastra Part 2 came only a few months later.

Tollywood Vs. Bollywood - What Is The Difference? Everything You Need To Know

Brahmastra part 2 latest news, ranbir kapoor said the film is "heavy" into the writing stage.

Recently, the star of Brahmastra , Ranbir Kapoor, ran a Zoom meeting with fans of the movie to discuss filming and script writing updates (via India Today ). According to Kapoor,

"Brahmastra Part 2 is heavy into writing. We are working on it all the time. It’s just last week that Ayan [Ayan Mukerji, the director of the Brahmastra franchise] narrated the film to me and he has gone 10 times bigger than Part 1 – his idea, his thought, the character. He is working on War 2 right now. So the plan is to finish War 2 by mid-next year and we start shooting hopefully by the end of next year or the beginning of 2025. But definitely a lot of work is already been happening on the film."

So, while there is no definitive timeline for Brahmastra 2 , the series star is confident that the film will soon be on the way. Kapoor also spoke about how the creative team used audience feedback to prepare the next story,

"We understood the kind of criticism for the film, what worked for it and what didn’t. So we have put everything into consideration, the dialogue and comments on Shiva and Isha's missing chemistry. A lot of criticism was constructive and we have taken that into our stride and we are trying to understand that and go beyond that."

Ayan Mukerji, Kapoor, and everyone else involved appear to have considered the importance of the fanbase to the franchise and intend to honor their expectations in the sequel.

Brahmastra Part 2 Is Confirmed

Director ayan mukerji announced plans for the sequel on his instagram account.

Since Part 1 was part of the title of the first film, it was always assumed there would be a second. Director Ayan Mukerji confirmed that Brahmastra Part 2 was in production when he posted on Instagram in April 2023, outlining his plan for the franchise and confirming that a second film would arrive in December 2026 .

Brahmastra Part 2 Cast

Ranbir kapoor and ranveer singh are confirmed to appear.

So far, only two actors have been confirmed for Brahmastra Part 2 : Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh. Kapoor is returning as the lead character Shiva , a man who possesses the astra (a supernatural power in Hindu mythology and the word from which the universe title comes) of fire. Kapoor is a prolific Bollywood actor who has starred in major films like Animal as Ranvijay Singh/Aziz Haque and Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar as Mickey.

Dev, Shiva's father who awakens at the end of Brahmastra Part 1 , will be played by Ranveer Singh (via News18 ). Singh is best known for his roles in Simmba as Inspector Sangram Bhalerao and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani as Rocky Randhawa. Other actors who could return for the sequel include Alia Bhatt as Isha Chatterjee, Amitabh Bachchan as Raghu aka 'Guruji', and Nagarjuna Akkineni as Anish Shetty.

Brahmastra Part 2 Story

The story for Brahmastra Part 2 has not been announced yet but the first film ended on a cliffhanger that will most likely be the focus of the sequel. At the end of the first movie, Shiva gains control of the titular Brahmastra, but in the process, his legendary and mystically powerful father, Dev, is released from imprisonment in a stone statue.

Brahmastra Part 2 is sure to see Shiva facing off against the father who abandoned him to keep Dev from using the Brahmastra power to take over the world. Ayan Mukerji announced in April 2023 that he would be working on Brahmastra Part 3 alongside Brahmastra Part 2 . So, whatever happens in the second film will likely be to set up the final act of the trilogy.

Watch Brahmastra Part One — Shiva On Disney+

Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva

Select a City

• Nashik Times
• Aurangabad Times
• Badlapur Times

You can change your city from here. We serve personalized stories based on the selected city

• Edit Profile
• Briefs Movies TV Web Series Lifestyle Trending Medithon Visual Stories Music Events Videos Theatre Photos Gaming

Janhvi Kapoor and boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya get goofy in new UNSEEN pictures from Radhika Merchant's bridal shower

Salman Khan firing case: Mumbai police track down the owner of the bike used by a gangster in shooting; Deets inside

After Pooja Bhatt, Sanjay Gupta condemns shooting outside Salman Khan's home as 'Act of Cowardice'

Karisma Kapoor's latest summer fashion essentials are bookmark-worthy

Salman Khan firing case: Police car stationed outside actor's house missing on morning of attack; Anti Terrorism Squad and National Investigation Agency initiate inquiries

EXO dazzles fans with vibrant fan meeting, showcasing their timeless charm on their 12th anniversary

Movie Reviews

Ooru Peru Bhairavakona

Kuch Khattaa Ho Jaay

Aakhir Palaayan Kab Tak...

The Holdovers

Singapore Saloon

Indian Police Force Sea...

Movie listings.

30 Hours Survival: Gau...

Detective Nysa

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan...

The Lost Girl

Ek Kori Prem Katha

Visual Stories

Punjabi Kudi style guide ft. Parineeti Chopra

Prarthana Behere to Pooja Sawant: Marathi Actresses Who Stunned In Floral Outfit

Feeling Monday blues? Let Malavika Mohanan's stylish clicks inspire you

Take summer fashion cues from Rakul Preet Singh's wardrobe

South celebs celebrate Tamil New Year and Vishu; see pics

Bhagyashri Borse captures hearts with lovely selfies

​Ashika Ranganath's infectious smile—simply irresistible

​Vibrant Pictures of Raashii Khanna​

Mollywood celebs observe Vishu

Filmfare Awards

National Awards

Oscar Awards

Zee Cine Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Animal Preview: Ranbir Kapoor and Sandeep Reddy Vanga are set to shake up the box office hierarchy

• Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar

‘Kuttey’

Gunshots fired at Salman Khan’s house in Mumbai

Salman Khan's residence attacked: CCTV footage of the shooters appears online; forensic team gathers evidence

Randeep Hooda on Swatantrya Veer Savarkar's success, Meitei Wedding and India's position in the world

Salman Khan targeted by trolls for wearing printed pants at Sohail's Eid bash; internet calls him, 'OG King of Chappri'

Abhishek Banerjee on Stree 2! Says that the audience is expecting a lot higher from the film

Fans express concern over Shah Rukh Khan's health after viral video from Anand Pandit's daughter's wedding reception

'Civil War' knocks off 'Godzilla x Kong' to declare victory at box office with $25.7 million opening

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' box office collection Day 10: Monsterverse saga maintains grip over Indian box office for second consecutive weekend

'Godzilla x Kong' maintains box-office dominion in second consecutive weekend; Dev Patel's 'Monkey Man' scores $10 million opening

Epic battle at the box office: 'Godzilla x Kong' vs. 'Monkey Man' vs. 'The First Omen'

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' box office collection Day 7: Monsterverse film ends week 1 oh high with Rs 58 crore haul

'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' box office collection Day 6: Adam Wingard directorial storms past Rs 55 crore mark in India; worldwide collection soars past $200 Million

'Tillu Square' box office day 4: Mallick Ram directorial collects Rs 5.50 crore at the ticket windows

'Hanu-Man' box office collection day 19: Prasanth Varma's original Telugu superhero movie faces diminishing effect

'Hanu Man' box office collections day 13: Prasanth Varma's film mints 215 crore worldwide

'Guntur Kaaram' Day 11 collection: The Mahesh Babu film maintains its box office success by minting a whopping 119 Crore

Nagarjuna's 'Naa Saami Ranga' collects Rs 26 crore in 8 days of its release

'Hanu Man' vs. 'Guntur Kaaram' box office day 10: Teja Sajaa's starrer grosses more than Mahesh Babu's film

'Manjummel Boys' box office collection day 25: Chidambaram's Malayalam film becomes the first non-Tamil film to reach Rs 50 crore in Tamil Nadu

'Gaami' box office collection day 1: The film marks the highest in Vishwak Sen's career by grossing Rs 9 crore

‘Lal Salaam’ box office collections day 9: Aishwarya Rajinikanth's sports drama holds steady; mints Rs 15.7 crore

'Lover' box office collection day 4: Prabhuram Vyaas' romantic drama dominates Aishwarya Rajinikanth's sports drama

'Lal Salaam' box office collection day 3: Aishwarya Rajinikanth's directorial comeback film closes the first weekend on a positive note

‘Lal Salaam’ box office collection day 2: Rajinikanth’s film hardly makes Rs 6.55 crore

'Aavesham’ box office collection day 4: The Fahadh Faasil starrer earns more than its opening day collection

‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ box office collection day 4: Pranav Mohanlal and Dhyan Sreenivasan’s film mints big on Sunday!

‘Aavesham’ box office collections day 3: Fahadh Faasil’s film surpasses ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’, mints Rs 11.25 crores

‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ box office collections day 3: Dhyan Sreenivasan starrer collects Rs 9.45 crores

‘Aavesham’ box office collections day 2: Fahadh Faasil’s stylish action flick collects Rs 6.65 crore

‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ box office collections day 2: Vineeth Sreenivasan’s film mints Rs 5.55 crore

• Box Office /
• Trending Now:
• Salman Khan
• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Collection
• Kim Soo Hyun
• Cha Eun Woo
• Raj Thackeray
• Sandeep Reddy Vanga
• Lawrence Bishnoi
• Salman Khan House

Bollywood Box Office

'Brahmastra' box-office week three: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer does good business in third week owing to Cinema day

Vikram Vedha box office collection: Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan starrer records third highest advance bookings

Brahmastra box office collection: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt's film makes a new record in UK

Brahmastra box office collection day 20: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt's film sees a minor drop on its third Wednesday

'Brahmastra' box office collection Day 19: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt's film collects 1.65 crore on its third Tuesday

‘Chup’, ‘Dhokha’ record a huge drop in collection on Day 4

Brahmastra box office collection Week 3: Ranbir Kapoor starrer nets Rs 20.25 crore on third weekend

R Balki’s ‘Chup’ earns Rs 6 crore, ‘Dhokha’ collects only Rs 2.30 crore in first weekend

'Chup: Revenge of the Artist' and 'Dhokha - Round D Corner' witness a drop in collections on Day 2 at the box office

'Vikram Vedha' takes a flying start at the box office with its advance bookings

Brahmastra box office collection Day 16: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt's film has an excellent third Saturday

'Brahmastra' box office collection Day 16: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt's film holds well post National Cinema Day

'Chup: Revenge of the Artist' takes a decent start at the box office; 'Avatar' gets a strong re-release

'Brahmastra' (Hindi) box office collection Day 15: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt's film shows 225 percent growth; crosses 200 ...

Salman Khan's residence attacked: CCTV footage of the shoote...

Randeep Hooda on Swatantrya Veer Savarkar's success, Meitei ...

Salman Khan targeted by trolls for wearing printed pants at ...

Fans express concern over Shah Rukh Khan's health after vira...

Abhishek Banerjee on Stree 2! Says that the audience is expe...

'Murder' jodi Emraan Hashmi-Mallika Sherawat end 20 year old...

Sundeep Kishan , Varsha Bollamma , Kavya Thapar , Vennela Kishore , Viva Harsha

Dakota Johnson , Sydney Sweeney , Isabela Merced , Celeste O'Connor , Tahar Rahim , Mike Epps , Emma Roberts , Adam Scott , Kerry Bishe , Zosia Mamet

Guru Randhawa , Anupam Kher , Saiee Manjrekar , Atul Srivastava , Ila Arun , Paritosh Tripathi

Aakhir Palaayan Kab Tak..?

Rajesh Sharma , Bhushan Pattiyal , Gaurav Sharma. , Chittaranjan Giri , Dheerendra Dwivedi , Sohani Kumari , Saurabh Agnihotri , Brijesh Karanwal

Paul Giamatti , Da Vine Joy Randolph , Tate Donovan , Carrie Preston , Gillian Vigman , Michael Provost , Dominic Sessa , Brady Hepner

'Brahmastra' box office collection week 2: Ranbir Kapoor starrer continues with its successful run with Rs 215 crore

‘Chup: Revenge of the Artist’ earns 1 crore in advance booking

‘Brahmastra’ box office collection: Ranbir Kapoor’s sci-fi drama races ahead with Rs 208 crore nett

'Brahmastra' Hindi box office collection: Ranbir Kapoor starrer continues to enjoy a glorious run on its second Monday

‘Brahmastra’ box office collection: Ranbir Kapoor starrer crosses Rs 200 crore at the domestic box office

‘Brahmastra’ box office collection day 9: Ranbir Kapoor’s sci-fi entertainer records a massive growth, earns Rs 14 crore

‘Brahmastra’ box office collection day 8: Ranbir Kapoor’s sci-fi drama adds Rs 8 crore to its total collection

‘Brahmastra’ Hindi first week box office collection: Ranbir Kapoor starrer mints Rs 146 crore

'Brahmastra' box office collection Day 6: Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer sees further drop in collections; to miss ...

Brahmastra Box Office Collection Day 5: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer sees a noticeable drop in sales on Tuesday

'Brahmastra' box office collection early estimates: The Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor starrer is expected to gross Rs 15 c...

'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva' earns Rs 225 crore worldwide gross in first weekend

‘Brahmastra’ Hindi first weekend box office collection: Ranbir Kapoor’s sci-fi drama earns a whopping Rs 104 crore!

Brahmastra surpasses the 100 crore mark on it’s first weekend; Collects over 40 crores on Sunday

Ranbir Kapoor's 'Brahmastra' BEATS Yash's 'KGF: Chapter 2' and Hrithik Roshan's 'War' - here's how

'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva' earns Rs 160 crore in worldwide two day box office gross

'Brahmastra' box office collection day 2: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt's film collects Rs 35.50 crore

'Brahmastra' registers historic collections overseas; could cross $9 million in the first weekend

Brahmastra sees a good jump on Saturday; Ayan Mukerji's film all set to emerge a hit

Brahmastra box office collection day 2 early predictions: Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer sees good growth on Saturday

'Brahmastra' takes second spot after 'KGF: Chapter 2' in the list of top opening post-pandemic releases

SUBSCRIBE NOW

to get the latest news, gossip on your favourite stars & oven-fresh movie reviews from top reviewers right in your inbox.

Thanks for subscribing.

Please Click Here to subscribe other newsletters that may interest you, and you'll always find stories you want to read in your inbox.

Choose Language

Popular Stories

• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan box office collection day 3: Akshay K...
• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan box office collection day 2: Akshay K...
• Maidaan box office collection day 2: Ajay Devgn's film drops...
• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan box office collection day 4: Akshay K...
• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan box office collection Day 1: Akshay K...
• Bade Miyan Chote Miyan Early Box Office Collection Day 1: Ak...
• Swatantrya Veer Savarkar box office collection: Randeep Hood...
• Swatantra Veer Savarkar box office collection day 10: Randee...
• Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone's 'Fighter' declared a b...
• Swatantrya Veer Savarkar box office collection day 5: Randee...
• 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar' box office day 2: The Randeep Hoo...

Trending Celebs

Trailers Music

Srikanth - Official Trailer

Joker: Folie a Deux - Official Teaser

Lucky Baskhar - Official Telugu Teaser

Pushpa 2: The Rule - Official Teaser

Do Aur Do Pyaar - Official Trailer

Ruslaan - Official Trailer

Kill - Official Teaser

Maidaan - Official Trailer

The Sabarmati Report - Official Teaser

Amar Singh Chamkila - Official Trailer

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan - Official Trailer

Monkey Man - Official Trailer

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - Official Teaser

Do Aur Do Pyaar - Official Teaser

Bhaiyya Ji - Official Teaser

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga - Official Trailer

Vedaa - Official Teaser

Crew - Official Trailer

Wild Wild Punjab - Official Teaser

Hamare Baarah | Song - Mere Mustafa

Good Luck | Song - Anguri

Do Aur Do Pyaar | Song - Ta Ra Ta Ra Ta

Crew | Song - Sona Kitna Sona Hai

Bade Miyan Chote Miyan | Title Track

Crew | Song - Kiddan Zaalima

LSD2 | Song - Gulabi Ankhiyan

O Mere Humnava By Sonu Nigam And Teesha Nigam

Naam Kar Mere By Laqshay Kapoor

Amar Singh Chamkila | Song - Baaja

Naraye Mastana By Deedar Kaur

Tishnagi Teri By Amit Mishra And Kanika Singh

Jiya Mera By Garvit Soni And Priyansh Srivastava

Laa Pila De Sharaab By Vishal Mishra

Parchaiyaan By Sahir And Mr. Doss

The GoatLife | Song - Khatti Si Woh

Aate Rehte Hain By B Praak

Useless Bhawra By Pragati Nagpal

Gabru Gang | Song - Mujhe Ishq Hua Hai

Shaitaan | Song - Papa Tu Hai Na

'Brahmastra' box office collection day 1: Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's film records fantastic opening all over

'Brahmastra' box office: Ranbir Kapoor starrer beats 'Sanju', 'Sooryavanshi', 'Tiger Zinda Hai' collections as it records...

Ranbir Kapoor’s Brahmastra records the highest non holiday opening day sales at the ticket window of all time

‘Brahmastra’ sets a HUGE advance booking trend with Rs 18 crore

Akshay Kumar’s ‘Raksha Bandhan’ to earn lifetime business of just Rs 45 crore

‘Brahmastra’ day 1 advance booking: Ranbir Kapoor starrer beats ‘83’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’; races ahead with Rs 1.3 lakh

'Laal Singh Chaddha' box office collection week 4: Aamir Khan starrer ends its theatrical run with a total earning of Rs ...

Ranbir Kapoor's ‘Brahmastra’ advance booking races ahead of 'RRR' Hindi and 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2'

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's Brahmastra could revive Bollywood's box-office glory with a 22-crore opening day, predict ...

‘Brahmastra’ continues to score big in advance booking at the box office on day 2

Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer ‘Brahmastra’ advance booking sets a positive trend at the box office

‘Liger’ Hindi box office collection week 1: Vijay Deverakonda’s actioner gets knocked out with just Rs 18 crore

Ek Villain Returns box office collection: Arjun Kapoor, Tara Sutaria, John Abraham, Disha Patani's film earns Rs 40 crore

'Liger' (Hindi) Box Office Collection: Vijay Deverakonda starrer sees a huge drop on its first Monday

'Karthikeya 2' box office collection: Nikhil Siddhartha starrer collects Rs 50 lakhs on its third Monday

Featured in Movies

Did you Know

• Did you know Sharmila Tagore and Tiger Pataudi bought ASSETS...
• Did you know Saif Ali Khan brought his own clothes for 'Kya ...
• Did you know? Rakul Preet Singh's sneakers from her engageme...

coronavirus

• COVID cases rise in Delhi: Symptoms and preventive measures ...
• China warns COVID-19 cases may rise during spring festival: ...
• COVID update: 1,513 cases of JN.1 variant detected in India,...

Popular Topics