Maalik Movie Review: Director Pulkit released the film Maalik in theaters on July 11, with a cast that includes Rajkummar Rao, Prosenjit, Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Shukla, and Swanand Kirkire. Maalik starts with a promise. For a moment, it appears ready to deliver a gritty crime drama set in the heartland, thanks to the well-executed portrayal of 1990s Allahabad. Rajkummar Rao plays Deepak, also known as Maalik, a feared sand mafia don who effortlessly manipulates both people and government tenders.
Film Starts Strong, But Lost Grip?
The setup raises tension, especially when a rival mafia tries to invade Maalik’s territory. But the film starts to falter soon after. What initially promises to be a gripping gangster epic quickly loses control of its tone. The story fails to decide whether it wants to be a tragic crime drama, a political thriller, or a redemption tale, and this confusion derails the narrative.
Routine Story without Change:
Although the plot may not sound fresh on paper, it holds strong cinematic potential: a setting dominated by gangster rule, a no-nonsense cop with a past, political entanglements, and a showdown. Over 20 years ago, the film Sehar, starring Arshad Warsi and Sushant Singh, explored a similar storyline with much more restraint and authenticity.
In Maalik, the story follows Officer Prabhu Das (Prosenjit), a transfer cop on a mission to clean up the mess, and Shankar Singh (Saurabh Shukla), a veteran politician who once mentored Deepak. However, the film feels underdeveloped and derivative. The screenplay jumps awkwardly from one scene to another without allowing any moment to build or breathe. It borrows heavily from classic mafia films, especially in its Tony Montana-style outbursts, but the references feel more like gimmicks than genuine homage. The director tries to inject emotion and intensity, but the execution falls flat, leaving the story feeling forced rather than powerful.
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Major Issues of Maalik:
One of the main problems with Maalik is that the story lacks a real antagonist. The film lets Maalik move through the plot unchallenged. Despite Prabhu Das’s tough-cop persona, he forms an easy alliance with Maalik, and their dynamic lacks tension or conflict. Even when the film attempts to surprise with moments like sudden deaths or betrayals, nothing truly lands.
Characters enter and exit the story without purpose, and emotional shifts feel unearned. Maalik’s sudden change of heart and decision to give up makes little sense. The film fails to show a clear trigger or any psychological buildup; it just happens without explanation. As a result, the movie struggles to create tension. It feels low-stakes and lacks any real payoff, leaving the audience disconnected from both the characters and the plot.
Maalik Movie Review Rating: 2/5
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