Banner: Tips Films, Northern Lights Films
Genre: Crime / Political Drama Censor: A
Story & Screenplay
Maalik follows the journey of Deepak (Rajkumar Rao), a middle-class man whose insatiable hunger for power drives him to crime and political ambition. From bribery to murder, Deepak stops at nothing to achieve supremacy, earning the fear and respect of both cronies and police.
The story and screenplay by Jyotsana Nath and Pulkit are soulless and uninvolving. While the film focuses on Deepak’s rise and ruthless quest, it fails to establish an emotional connection with the audience. Viewers find it difficult to empathize with Maalik, as he is neither a savior nor a champion for others his ambitions are purely selfish.
Additional issues include:
Character inconsistencies, particularly police officer Prabhu Das (Prosenjit Chatterjee), whose reactions do not align with his established persona.
Excessive violence that may alienate women, families, and city multiplex audiences.
Climactic shortcomings, including a long-winded finale and a forced twist in Badauna’s (Anshuman Pushkar) character.
Performances
Rajkumar Rao excels as Deepak, convincingly portraying a first-time action-oriented character.
Manushi Chhillar is pleasant as Shalini, Deepak’s wife.
Prosenjit Chatterjee is average as Prabhu Das.
Saurabh Shukla is earnest as Shankar Singh but underutilized.
Anshuman Pushkar, Swanand Kirkire, Saurabh Sachdeva, Rajendra Gupta provide decent but limited support.
The extended supporting cast delivers routine performances, with no standout impact.
Huma Qureshi makes an appearance in a song-dance sequence.
Direction & Technical Aspects
Pulkit’s direction is average; the film feels lopsided in tone and pacing.
Sachin-Jigar’s music is appealing, with songs like Maalik (title track), Dil Thhaam Ke, and Naamumkin adding some entertainment value.
Lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya suit the film’s mood.
Song picturisations by Vijay A. Ganguly are eye-catching.
Ketan Sodha’s background music enhances dramatic moments.
Anuj Rakesh Dhawan’s cinematography is competent.
Action sequences by Vikram Dahiya are raw but excessively violent.
Production design (Rita Ghosh) and art direction (Baji Patil, Krishnanand Sharma) are satisfactory.
Editing by Zubin Sheikh is sharp but could have been crisper for better pacing.
Final Verdict
Maalik is an ordinary political-crime drama with limited appeal. Its strengths are largely confined to Rajkumar Rao’s performance and some engaging songs, while the lack of emotional depth, excessive violence, and uneven screenplay hold it back.
Box Office Potential: Moderate to low. Likely to find pockets of audience in regions like U.P., Bihar, and Rajasthan, but will struggle in multiplexes and urban centers.
PUBLISHED BY SUYASH PACHAURI, FOUNDER & OWNER, GLOBAL BOLLYWOOD | THE HOLLYWOOD SCOPE