The Zoya Factor
Movie Info
Synopsis
An advertising agency executive Zoya Singh Solanki meets the Indian cricket team and ends up becoming their lucky charm at the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Starring Cast
The Zoya Factor Reviews
5
For a rom-com which needs to be light on its feet, hitting fours and sixes as it goes along, the writing is not as supple as it should have been. Too many slog overs here.
7
Fortune favours the brave and this one with all the talent it's equipped with plus 'The Zoya Factor' certainly seems to hold the promise of box office success.
-
On the whole, the film doesn’t ask you to apply your brains. If you are a cricket fan and enjoy chick flicks, Sonam’s over-the-top act and Dulquer’s good looks will hold your attention. A good watch with your friends where the fun lasts only till the film does.
4
Although more class monitor than captain, the Dulquer factor is the only saving grace of this bland confection. His charisma and cricket are up to the mark.
4
The Zoya Factor could have been a thoroughly enjoyable comedy. It ends up being a scrappy, erratic knock where a few crisp strokes are hopelessly outnumbered by a host of ungainly heave-hos. The film does not hit the sweet spot often enough to translate into either a truly rousing cricket film or a memorably moving love story.
7
The Zoya Factor is a fun, frothy film that pits superstitions versus strategy and self-belief versus luck. And delightfully uses India’s cricket craze to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining film.
5
The Zoya Factor is disappointing, as there was a lot more that could have been done with it. It could have been more entertaining and crisp, or even a wholesome romantic comedy. In the end, it just feels like a lot of watery Maggi without masala.
4
...the movie lacks one major thing that matters above all in such films – entertainment! Few earnest performances in cast and crew but nothing that makes the movie worth watching.
6
THE ZOYA FACTOR is a feel-good popcorn entertainer that works chiefly due to concept, treatment, humour and performances. At the box office, it has the potential to grow dramatically due to a good word of mouth.
5
The film has a winning premise, just like the book it has been inspired by, Anuja Chauhan's The Zoya Factor, but Abhishek Sharma and Chauhan herself, fail to give the same magic and madness to the adaptation. It reeks of redundancy and gratuitousness. Zoya's love for firecrackers, a scene involving old-age romance, Salmaan's rivalry with Angad Bedi, who has issues of his own, all merely skim the surface, never succeeding to care for these characters, let alone rooting. The blame then goes to the weak acting, particularly by the leads, who try everything to make the charm and the chemistry work, alas all in vain.
6
Sonam-Dulquer starrer is a fun but faltering swipe at hyper deshbhakti and superstition
-
There’s a smarter, sharper film somewhere inside this one, with insightful things to say about fandom and celebrity and superstition. As it stands, however, The Zoya Factor offers little cheer to those invested in the return of the Hindi romantic comedy or the halfway-decent post-Lagaan cricket film.
5
A rom-com centred on cricket would seem like a winning pitch. Sonam K. Ahuja's new release is less ambitious about pushing an unconventional theme than her last, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Lagaa, which makes this film more box-office-friendly and far more obvious in what it sets out to narrate.
5
...as a whole, the film is a mix of hits and misses. It leaves you entertained, but if you were told you could nap instead, you would consider the option.
6
Strangely while the film is titled 'The Zoya Factor', it's the 'Dulquer Salmaan' factor which works in its favour. If you are looking out for some easy, breezy watch, this Dulquer-Sonam starrer could be your pick for this weekend.
7
Perhaps what is most endearing about the film is the kind message of it all: don’t rely on jingoism or silly charms and superstitions or even hate to win or play the game. Play the game because you love the game and enjoy the game itself. Watch the film for some enjoyable laughs, cute moments, and perhaps a lovely date night.
Audience Reviews for The Zoya Factor
-
The Zoya Factor has a small list of positives, one of which is that it samples the superstitious beliefs that (Indian) cricketers have, and it is interesting to see how deep it is in the core, but then the lacklustre, cliched plot aggravated by Sonam Kapoor's buffoon-like performance (and only saved by Dulquer Salmaan) takes all the fun out of the film making you cringe with despair. TN.
0December 06, 19 -
Now. Don’t you ask me to not draw comparisons between the film and the novel. I’ve read the novel in 2012, and it was just the best novel I read that year. It was cheerful, romantic and true to context of our times when the sport has become a business.
And once again, this time, I went to the screens to experience the same amount of joy on the screens. Frankly, the film doesn’t match the potential of its source material despite having room for so much. The film made me return to the roots of the advertising executive Zoya Solanki, this time less headstrong, more blabbering a girl. She is bubbly, cheeky, comforting, but a little irritating.
And still, Sonam Kapoor nails it totally with her warm charm and sultry smile. She is attractive, she is a lucky charm and she is a lovelorn lady- what’s not to like about her? But the one who steals the show in totality is Dulquer Salman. Her act is strong, and his expressions are admirable. He sucks life into the character of Nikhil, and his performance is uneven fun.
But the problem of the film is writing. It never delves deep into the situational commentry it might have become, and wants to be fluffy, light and frothy. And it does? which might go as far as to say the film suffers from the convoluted script it has.
Director Abhishek Sharma is experimental filmmaker. And the man gives a wonderful concoction of colours, dazzle of a princess’ fairytale, and adds the superstition angle and a masala bollywod story to it. And that’s why the film is crisp and soulful. Sanjay Kapoor, after repetitive disappointments, is still cool and fuzzy. Sikander Kher plays the part of Zoya in an irritating manner. But is Angad Bedi of the supporting cast who truly won me with his desi captain act.
Watch The Zoya Factor because despite being very long it is very crisp and fun. There are contrivances, but so is the entertainment. One of the better Hindi films of the year. I'm going with three out of five.0September 23, 19
