You only wish so much thought had gone into the OTT script as well. Bored out of my wits, watching these good fellas with hardly anything significant to do, I could only feel a slight kira (insect) up my bum — desperately itching to go home.

Anyway, what is made clear by then is that we’re in for a 2 hour 20-odd minute ride that is not above resorting to contrivances, shaky logic or outrageous coincidences to further its story. A drama about corrupt policemen, blackmailers, and one incredibly plucky girl, Akira spends its first half being somewhat watchable — thanks mostly to an enjoyable performance by Anurag Kashyap (more on this later) — and its second becoming progressively more unbearable.

Go for it with minimal expectations. Sonakshi and Anurag Kashyap pack a powerful punch, but the script fails to impress.

Go for it if action-driven cinema is your cup of tea. You might want to wreck your brains while trying to believe the extremes of some part of what is being depicted but then again, your love for action-packed sequences will keep you engrossed.

Disappointing, Tepid and Needlessly Dark Drama…

Akira is like any other action movie you’ve seen before, where the hero is framed and has to prove himself right. The difference here is the film’s ability to successfully tell that tale with a girl at its centre. It may seem like an exercise in women’s rights, but AR Murugadoss’ approach to make things entertaining and detailed makes this movie worth a watch. This one’s all about girl power.

This film had the potential to catapult her into an all new league. But given the rather low-intensity drama that moves only in fits and starts, Akira seems unlikely to set the box office on fire and give Sonakshi’s leaner and meaner screen persona a longish lease of life. And that’s a pity.

The intensity and hard-core action level in ‘Akira’ is bit diluted. It promises to be a good action thriller but ends up being a decent action drama which had all potential to become a taut film.

Director A R Murugadoss’ obsession with themes like good over evil, conscience over corruption and pow over bow continues with Akira.

Overall, Akira is a well made film worth a watch for its story.

Does Murugadoss think this is female empowerment? Does he hope to inspire female viewers to indulge in such dangerous stupidity? Or does he just think he is being cool?

Despite its flaws, catch this film for Sona. Every kick and punch she lands, proves that she’s grown in leaps and bounds since that joke of a boxing match in Holiday. While Murugadoss leaves a lot to be desired, it is a satisfying one-time watch for an action-junkie.

Kashyap’s performance, in fact, may be the best thing in Akira, which is no doubt a brave attempt to recast the mould. But built on a weak script that’s sorely lacking in subtlety and nuance, the film is ultimately a bore.

It is clichéd, never quite as unpredictable as you would expect it to be, but Akira does a darn good job of holding your attention. By giving Bollywood a lady who can pack a punch and can knock out in a blow, the director salvages the situation. Sona and Kashyap keep you glued till the end. If you are looking for some familiar entertainment, it is here but the tables have turned, thankfully. Meet the hero – Sonakshi, you are kickass girl.

AR Murugadoss directed AKIRA has the kind of tempting action thriller allure that edges other routine adrenaline with its constant edge of the seat excitement showing Sonakshi Sinha’s in a power pack action avatar. Watch it.

Sonakshi Sinha plays Akira, a girl who has been taught to stand up to bullies from her childhood. She stands in the way of a bunch of crooked cops headed by Anurag Kashyap. What unfolds keeps you hooked for one hundred and thirty eight minutes. As they say, ‘Full Paisa Vasool!’

AKIRA has an interesting concept which fails on the account of its slack screenplay and lack of entertainment value. At the Box-Office, it will be rejected and will entail losses to its investors.

Director A.R. Murugadoss pays lip service to social causes such as acid attack victims, mental illness and the hearing impaired while triple-underlining the message of women’s empowerment. For every stereotype Murugadoss sets out to break, he leaves behind one…

Akira is a dumb commercial potboiler, with a superlative performance by Anurag Kashyap. Your only wish in the end is Sonakshi find material good enough to do justice to her acting abilities. She badly needs to step away from the preset Bollywood templates.

Sonakshi moves, feels and looks the part that’s all but empty heft in a script so extraordinarily dated and bereft of punch…

Murugadoss’ intent is commendable but his execution is flimsy, to say the least. Like a rash driver in the film who crashes his car into a pile of bricks, the film-maker seems unsure which way to steer, mashing together many half-baked sub-plots before the movie limps to its unconvincing climax.

‘Akira’ is yet another film in which being a strong woman essentially means having to suffer and sacrifice

Akira is a great effort by director A R Murgadoss. Watch it for its layered mystery and Sonakshi Sinha’s finest performance by far!

Akira isn’t an out and out action film. In fact, the makers are too concerned about making it look like a family drama. Lacklustre supporting cast and depthless writing make it even duller.
Despite some shots of acid attack survivors and specially-abled children, Akira fails to evoke any solid emotion.

Anurag as the baddie and Sonakshi’s spirited act redeem the film to some degree. For the rest, Akira is humdrum.

The issue with Akira is that it strives too hard to become an action entertainer. There is that novelty factor of having an actress as the action lead, but somehow Sonakshi Sinha’s punches and kicks feel too rehearsed.

The film certainly has its moments, and Sonakshi does her career no harm by revealing a new facet of herself, but Akira isn’t blockbuster material.

If you are tired of seeing Chulbul Pandey, Singham, and other alpha-male characters on screen, go meet Akira at the cinemas. She’s feisty, strong-headed, yet lovable. This is easily Sonakshi Sinha’s best work after Lootera and the film is a must-watch, during this long weekend. 

This A.R. Murugadoss directed film is a different kind of a watch. The performance of every actor in this film was impressive and ‘Akira’ is an hard-hitting one. There is a reason behind every ‘action’ in this film. A R Murugadoss’ action-packed women-centric film ‘Akira’ is truly impressive.

Sonakshi Sinha does a decent job in the emotional scenes, but the movie needed somebody faster and stronger to kick higher.

Sonakshi Sinha kicks butt in the A R Murugadoss film but is limited by her role. Despite Anurag Kashyap’s deliciously bad performance, Akira falls into a sinkhole.

Akira is an entertainer. It will surely manage to get you intrigued right from the start. But there’s too many theatrics to sit through here. Plus, the script as well as the acting performance are not strong enough to make you invested in the lead character, Akira. This film is a good one-time watch, but like we said, if you’re tired of clichéd situations and unneeded drama, you can skip this one.

No matter whether you are a Sonakshi Sinha fan or not, we suggest you to watch Akira, only and only for her career best performance!

The film was gripping in the first half. There is nothing sexier than a woman kicking some serious butts, but it slips into Singham mode way too easily and way too quickly. You applaud the fight sequences for the first time, cheer for her the second time, get bored soon and feel like kuch bhi dot com towards the end of it.

Despite a few hitches and ridiculous twists, Akira makes for an engaging watch. Some may also have an issue with the way the film tackles mental health, but if you see the big picture the viewers aren’t scarred by the film.