Balan and Hashmi shine, but the heist comedy loses its nerve too soon.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for Ghanchakkar was largely disappointing, with most reviewers awarding it around 40 out of 100. The performances of Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi were consistently highlighted as the film's strongest element. However, critics broadly agreed that the narrative was slow-paced, underwritten, and failed to deliver on the comic and thriller potential of its premise, with several noting a sharp decline in quality after a promising opening.
2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 9 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
These inspired moments then are few and far between in this lazily scripted film that leaves you bored and searching for the nearest exit. I'm going with two out of five for 'Ghanchakkar'. The money is found in the end, but that's 2 hours and 17 minutes of your life that you'll never see again!
Top critic
Film review ·
This could have been a hoot, but the execution lets down the premise, and the film remains one of those that could have been edgier and funnier.
Top critic
Film review ·
I was loving this film till it turned the tables and cheated me. Maybe, like the television-addicted Sanju, we're all better off watching these films on Zee Cinema. At least we can change channels or fall asleep midway.
Film review ·
. There is an unusual climax to look forward to. Yet, the ground rule for thrillers is that they cannot unfold at such a languid pace.
Film review ·
Rajkumar Gupta's Ghanchakkar indeed is far from perfect. But it is both compelling and challenging. Boldly making a unique film that refuses to garnish out ready made thriller, expect this one to jolt your gray matter. The film's performances are decadent, especially that of Vidya Balan and Emraan Hashmi who are top notch. I am going with a 3 on 5 for Ghanchakkar. It could have been a better film but it still impresses as a stirring and engaging comic-suspense thriller.
Film review ·
On the whole, GHANCHAKKAR has splendid performances by its principal cast, but the bland and tedious narrative plays spoilsport. This one disheartens!
Film review ·
Ghanchakkar is all very well as it flags off, but it's mostly downhill after it hits its high point in the first fifteen minutes.
Film review ·
After exploring the gritty world of crime in the humourless 'Aamir' and 'No One Killed Jessica', Rajkumar decides to give his third thriller a witty twist. One that truly deserves an applause.
Film review ·
On the whole, Ghanchakkar is not half as funny as it ought to have been. Since it doesn't make the audience laugh or even smile much, it will fail to make the distributors laugh all the way to the bank. In fact, it will find the going at the box-office tough and will entail losses to all concerned.
Credits
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