TheReviewMonk
Zubaan backdrop
4 March 2016Hindi118 min

Zubaan

5.426 reviews
CriticsMixed

Bayesian avg · 26 critic reviews

7.5+ Exceptional · 6.5 Recommended · 5.0 Mixed

Users

No user ratings yet

Mozez Singh DirectorSumit Roy ScreenplayMozez Singh WriterThani WriterSwapnil S. Sonawane Cinematography

Top Cast

Zubaan is a 2015 Indian musical drama film written and directed by Mozez Singh. The film is the coming of age story of a young boy (Vicky Kaushal) who loses his faith and develops a fear of music and his journey in fighting that fear and thus finding himself.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Zubaan was mixed-to-moderate, with most reviewers acknowledging the film's ambition but finding it uneven in execution. Vicky Kaushal's lead performance was the most consistently highlighted strength across reviews, with several critics stating it alone justifies a watch. Common criticisms pointed to a weak, hazy screenplay, inconsistent pacing — particularly a slow or rushed second half — and a narrative that fails to fully realize its premise. A handful of reviewers found the film rewarding in quieter moments, while others felt it never overcomes its structural and tonal confusion.

26 reviews · 8 positive · 10 mixed

Praised: Vicky Kaushal's lead performanceCriticised: Uneven pacing and weak screenplay

AI-generated summary of 26 critic reviews · may contain errors

Report inaccuracy

Critic Reviews (26)

Shubhra GuptaTop Critic· Indian Express
5.0
"The writing is patchy, with Kaushal not coming off as striking as he was in 'Masaan' : he's good yes, he makes us watch, yes, but is already familiar."
Read full review ↗
Raja SenTop Critic· Rediff
4.0
"Zubaan emerges, sadly, like one of those ads where you can half-hum the song but you forget what it was for..."
Read full review ↗
Subhash K Jha· Firstpost
9.0
"There are passages in Zubaan where we see the director's vision of an individual held ransom by his ambitions, and we are shaken in a rejuvenating way. Zubaan is an exhilarating journey of self-discovery, and far far more accomplished work that this week's other release Prakash Jha's Jai Gangaajal."
Read full review ↗
Rohit Vats· Hindustan Times
7.0
"Zubaan is one of the better music-based films in the last couple of years, and will make for a quite a movie experience. Don't miss it if you can help it."
Read full review ↗
Tushar Joshi· Bollywood Life
6.0
"Despite the weak moments and an uneven story line, Zubaan is worth a watch. Vicky Kaushal's performance in itself is worth the price of an admission ticket!"
Read full review ↗
Mohar Basu· Times Of India
6.0
"Zubaan might test your patience but it is heartbreaking in parts. Luckily, the melodrama is kept at bay even when the protagonist finds himself divided between materialism and mirth."
Read full review ↗
Bollywood Hungama News Network· Bollywood Hungama
6.0
"ZUBAAN comes across as a magnificent masterpiece of the recent times. Strong performances and extremely relatable screenplay will surely bring the audiences to witness the film that speaks about love, ambition, trust, faith and betrayal."
Read full review ↗
Roma Narkhede· MagnaMags
6.0
"The pace of the film might make you a bit restless but the story is enthralling in a few places."
Read full review ↗
Sarita Tanwar· DNA India
6.0
"Zubaan is lovingly rendered sweet indie film about the spirit of reinvention. Celebrate it."
Read full review ↗
Asira Tarannum· Deccan Chronicle
6.0
"The first half is crisp and the story moves smoothly, but during the second half the story moves a bit too fast leaving the audience confused. The direction is good but the editing is not up to the mark."
Read full review ↗
FridayMoviez Reviewer· FridayMoviez
5.0
"Zubaan is a good film let down by a hazy story and a strictly average screenplay. Watch it only for the powerful performances by Kaushal and Chaudhary."
Read full review ↗
"Zubaan stretches itself too thin at times in trying to raise its narrative tempo. In its quieter moments, however, it does manage to get its voice heard. Watch it for the latter bits - and for Vicky Kaushal."
Read full review ↗
5.0
"Zubaan is an uneven ride that appeals partially. It is the stellar performances by its cast that truly make it stand out."
Read full review ↗
Rakesh Jha· IndiaTvNews
5.0
"Zubaan may not be a very gripping experience as it demands patience  but the film is definitely rewarding in parts."
Read full review ↗
5.0
"The film holds a lot of promise but doesn't really live up to it. A more clear-minded script as well as a steadier hand at direction would have done wonders to this film. However, Singh scores as he makes soul stirring music (composed by Ashutosh Phatak) an intrinsic part of the film."
Read full review ↗
Manisha Lakhe· NowRunning
4.0
"You come away with mixed feelings even though you really loved the idea of 'tumhari zubaan kuch keh rahi hai...'."
Read full review ↗
"That's probably the biggest fault of the film - it does not pause - for inspiration, emotion or enlightenment to dawn on the characters. It quickly races to the finish line, hoping the viewers fill in the blanks and figure out transformation. Verdict: you can skip it!"
Read full review ↗
4.0
"The film does not quite deliver as an overall experience. But the performances by Meghna Malik, Manish Chaudhari, Raghav Chanana, Vicky Kaushal and Sarah-Jane Dias are well worth it."
Read full review ↗
Uday Bhatia· LiveMint
"The only thing the film cannot dim is the promise shown by Vicky Kaushal. Even in this, his first film (he shot for it before Masaan), he's a likeable, transparent performer, his face consistently betraying whatever emotions his character is experiencing. I'm sure the audience would have willingly followed him into darker territory. But the film doesn't seem to believe that, and is left, like its protagonist, fumbling for eloquence."
Read full review ↗
BookMyShow Team· BookMyShow
"If you want to see some good acting, you should definitely go for this movie. The story of this movie is very straightforward but it has been told in a creative way. The director has managed to add some good twists to the plot, that will keep you engaged throughout the movie."
Read full review ↗
"Despite the markedly unoriginal scenes and predictable story, "Zubaan" might have been a coherent film if the director wasn't so confused. As it stands though, this is a film that cannot overcome its split-personality disorder."
Read full review ↗
Namrata Joshi· The Hindu
"...despite the fabulous music the songs feel more like intrusions than part of the storytelling. Vicky pulls off the Sikh pop singer act as well, especially in the Ajj Saanu O Mileya number, which plays out like a rousing anthem in the end. If only the lead-up to it was as compelling. Zubaan is a film that you stay with till the end even as you rue that it could have been so much better."
Read full review ↗
Zeenews Bureau· Zee News
"If it is watchable in parts, it is only owing to the solid lead performance by Vicky Kaushal."
Read full review ↗
Komal Nahta· Komal Nahta's Blog
"Zubaan is a well-made and well-enacted film but its commercial prospects are poor because at the end of it all, it appears as an exercise in futility and without purpose."
Read full review ↗
Ushnota Paul· Filmfare
"At 118 minutes duration, this unconventional story is crisp and the first half steals the show. The second half is slow in parts and the end is a tad rushed. The film reiterates the point that you have to move out of your comfort zone to find your true calling – something we all should take note of…"
Read full review ↗
Udita Jhunjhunwala· Scroll.in
"The first half of Zubaan plays out like with a soap opera, with heightened performances and extreme situations. It isn't until much later that the protagonist's modus operandi is established. The narrative moves with greater energy and conviction in the post-interval portions. Zubaan is about aspiration, ambition and the dark direction life can take. It's also about self-confidence, taking chances and swimming against the tide."
Read full review ↗

Cast & Crew

Details

Release Date
4 March 2016
Runtime
118 min
Language
Hindi
Genres
Drama, Music

User Ratings & Reviews

No ratings or reviews yet — be the first to share your take.

TMDB

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.