Mission Majnu — out Friday on Netflix — marks the first and only Indian original film dropping on the streaming platform this month. Originally planned for a theatrical release last year, the Sidharth Malhotra-led patriotic spy-thriller suffered multiple delays, with Netflix eventually acquiring streaming rights for the same in December. In what appears to be an action-oriented take on India’s most covert operation in the 1970s, the film pits Malhotra as an undercover RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent, assigned to expose and take down Pakistan’s covert nuclear weapons program.
For those who aren’t well-versed in Hindi, ‘Majnu’ essentially means a maniac — in this case, one who is crazy enough to put their nation ahead of themselves. It also has a secondary correlation to Romeo, derived from the 1949 Telugu-language romance film Laila Majnu. It is fitting here since this film has a layer of romance elements beneath it — a relationship forged to strengthen the protagonist’s cover within the heart of Pakistan.
Additionally, the events, while based on true events, were never fully recorded, with ) portrays an unnamed official, presumably leading the charge on the development of the nuclear bomb within Rawalpindi — accidentally spilling some information before Ali, who tries extracting more out of him. Meanwhile, Zakir Hussain plays a senior Indian officer who is tasked with keeping track of Ali’s movement, in addition to reminding the spy that Nasreen is simply a cover and not his actual wife.
Sharib Hashmi (Dhaakad), Arjan Bajwa (Kabir Singh), and Mir Sarwar (Bajrangi Bhaijaan) also star in as-yet undisclosed roles.
Mission Majnu synopsis
Here’s the official synopsis for Mission Majnu from Netflix:
In the 1970s, an undercover Indian spy takes on a deadly mission to expose a covert nuclear weapons program in the heart of Pakistan.
Mission Majnu stars a stunningly talented cast of Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna, Kumud Mishra, Parmeet Sethi, Sharib Hashmi, Mir Sarwar, and Zakir Hussain.
Mission Majnu trailer
The first teaser for Mission Majnu was dropped on December 16, charting Pakistan’s real-life defeat to India in the 1971 war, which eventually led to the former considering nuclear warfare. The one-minute-long footage mainly served as glamour shots for Malhotra’s character, while briefly highlighting his aversion to the usage of firearms. This is ironic, considering there’s a brief scene of him leaping off a running train, where you could see him gripping a pistol.
On January 9, Netflix released a full-length trailer, which saw Ali rising the ranks through one employer after another, eventually discovering that a few of the Pakistani scientists were hailing from abroad — the key suspect being an individual named ‘Abdul Qadeer Khan’. The remaining trailer was heavily geared towards the action sequences, with the interior fight choreography looking decent, while exterior shots were marred with poor CGI effects.
Watch the Trailer for Mission Majnu
Ashwath Bhatt as General Muhammad Zia ul Haq in a still from Mission Majnu
Photo Credit: Netflix
Mission Majnu review
The first reviews for Mission Majnu are expected to go up this Friday, January 20, the day it releases on Netflix globally. Stay tuned for the Gadgets 360 review on Mission Majnu.
Mission Majnu poster
Here’s the official poster for Mission Majnu from Netflix:
Mission Majnu poster
Photo Credit: Netflix
