With films like A Wednesday, Special Chabbis and Baby, Neeraj Pandey has established himself as Bollywood’s go-to director for stories of men in uniform. He has a genuine love and flair for making these worlds come alive.

But Aiyaary is a misstep.

In short, Aiyaary wasn’t just required in Neeraj Pandey’s filmography.

Since Aiyaary claims to be a thriller, I don’t wish to give out any spoilers. However, this has to be said, this film completely spoils your time and mood.

Even though the movie puts together an impressive ensemble cast comprising some of our best actors, it takes a lot of time to establish their characters. A veteran in Neeraj Pandey’s movies, Manoj Bajpayee carries the film on his shoulders.

Aiyaary, which means the act of espionage, is designed as a race between two gifted people who understand the nuances of the country’s defence programmes. Here’s our movie review.

Aiyya-re aiyya! Ye kya kiya re?…Pretty boy Sidharth Malhotra is good in family dramas, but terrible in other films.

For a film like ‘Aiyaary’, there is no scope for any music because of its plot but the film could have been better paced, all thanks to the under-cooked narrative. Aiyaary is a throw away effort from director Neeraj Pandey, where the only saving grace is Manoj’s act.

It’s a bloated, prolonged mess of misplaced purpose that digresses from military misdeeds to animal cruelty.

Aiyaary wants to be a daring thriller that calls out smarmy politicians and arms dealers. But it only fires blanks. It begins with a disclaimer that its storyline is strictly fictional and that it has the utmost respect for the political class and the military establishment. The film lives up to its word. At the end of all the sound and fury, the purported targets are left unscathed. Only one poor cornered ex-soldier puts a bullet through his throat.

‘Aiyaary’ has quite a few lethargic scenes that are long-drawn and don’t do much to further the story or add to the characters. The complexity of the overarching plot allows for some exposition, but the screenplay goes overboard and often loses pace. The film could make a far more intriguing watch with a tighter edit devoid of all the dramatized entries and exits. Those expecting the clever Neeraj Pandey twists will be left wanting more. But ‘Aiyaary’ has measured performances that resound louder than its bombastic score, and they alone make it a worthwhile watch.

It’s an interesting film for those feel strongly for our army. And, of course Manoj’s performance should certainly not be missed. 

As Aiyaary trudges to the finish line, Pandey belatedly throws a housing society scam, clearly inspired by Adarsh. It’s the only part that resonates thanks to Shah in fine form and adorable strays in the frame. Lest it seem that the repute of Indian army is being questioned and its work being discredited Aiyaary hastily celebrates its valour and loyalty. But the film makes the mysterious world of military intelligence a big bore.

Definitely, a must watch for the suckers of this genre. Neeraj Pandey draws some dots in the first half just to join them in the second. Manoj Bajpayee & Sidharth Malhotra deliver exhilarating performances. The movie has an important message to share, just hold your grip till the end.

This Thriller About A Smart Secret Service Agent Cutting Himself Loose (Gone Rogue) In Itself Is So Loosely Cut (At 160 Minutes) That You Can’t Help But Come Up With Conspiracy Theories On How The Filmmakers Could’ve So Horribly Lost The Plot

Neeraj Pandey is no Costa-Gavras. But for our hard-earned bucks this filmmaker drives in a forceful message on subterfuge in the the defence hierarchy better than any Indian filmmaker.One day I hope to see him do a film on Bofors and then the Rafel deal to complete his defence trilogy.

Aiyaary’s first hour is engaging because it gives us reason to assume that great twists and turns will unfold at any moment. That promise is unfulfilled in the remaining 100 minutes of the film. Pace and bluster cannot compensate for lack of substance. This wannabe James Bond flick is nothing but a blast of hot air.

Neeraj Pandey is no Costa-Gavras. But for our hard-earned bucks, this filmmaker drives in a forceful message on subtly in the defence hierarchy better than any Indian filmmaker. One day, I hope to see him do a film on Bofors and then the Rafale deal to complete his defence trilogy.

In the name of swag the actors are made to wear shades, look deliberately deadpan and perennially walk in slo-mo, so much that they leave one somnolent with their unhurried ways. You can see Bajpayee trying hard to breathe life in his persona but Malhotra, who is lovely to gaze at, doesn’t have an ounce of the angst that his character should have ideally had. Bajpayee, the song ‘Lae Dooba’ and some stray canines at the fag end are the film’s only saving graces.

Aiyaary is a toothless thriller about a clutch of morally-complex, dapper men-in-uniform who turn against each other, but the reasons for doing so doesn’t get enough play. Watch this at your own risk.

Despite a few goof-ups, how Pandey handles complex subplots and a plethora of characters is commendable. Credit to him for choosing to make an intelligent film, despite being fully aware of the risks at the box-office! Here is an engaging espionage thriller that deserves to be watched. 

Manoj Bajpayee Impresses, Neeraj Pandey’s Direction Disappoints…

The one thing I look forward to while watching a Neeraj Pandey film is thrill. However, this one left me sitting at the edge of my seat restlessly waiting to gasp. A classic example of a well-intentioned film that isn’t well executed! Watch this one only for honest performances and Sidharth Malhotra’s jaw-dropping good looks.