Khufiya review: Vishal Bhardwaj’s film is a decent thriller with room for improvement

Vishal Bhardwaj's latest film, ‘Khufiya’, is an espionage thriller featuring Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Ali Fazal. Based on the book ‘Escape to Nowhere’ by a former R&AW official, the movie explores themes of geopolitics and personal relationships. In the story, when a Bangladeshi agent is assassinated in Dhaka, the task of uncovering the mole responsible falls upon Krishna Mehra, also known as KM (played by Tabu), an officer at the Research and Analytics Wing. The prime suspect is Ravi Mohan (Ali Fazal). The organisation believes that his wife Charu (Wamiqa Gabbi) is also an accomplice in his missions.

The movie's standout feature is its exceptional cast, with each character convincingly portrayed, holding the narrative together even during moments when the plot loses a bit of momentum. Beyond its role as an espionage thriller, ‘Khufiya’ also explores the journeys of two strong women and their pursuit of unconventional paths to achieve their goals. Bhardwaj skillfully taps into the geopolitics between India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in the post-independence era, highlighting the significance of relations with Bangladesh during that period.

Tabu's character is depicted as a highly capable officer dedicated to her work but struggling to balance her demanding career with motherhood. The film is particularly engaging in the first half as KM and her team employ strategic methods to apprehend the mole red-handed. On the flip side, Charu is an unassuming woman who adores her son and enjoys a quiet smoke when solitude envelops her. In those moments, she moves to the rhythm of her own sensuality, finding contentment in her simple life. However, her world plunges into turmoil following her involvement with Ravi.

Azmeri Haque Badhon, portraying Agent Octopus, delivers an outstanding performance despite her limited screen time. Her character is depicted as a clever agent, but as viewers, we are left wanting to see more of her in action.The movie's weakness lies in its failure to follow through with many of the initial plot points, leading to a rather cliché ending. Vishal Bhardwaj's storytelling falters as he attempts to connect the dots, and it appears that some scenes lack the necessary attention to detail, leaving many aspects unaddressed or unexplored.

Tabu's dedication to the case and her persistent thoughts about Octopus are evident, yet the origin of their strong bond remains unexplored. Their potential relationship, which held promise, is left unfulfilled. Ali Fazal's  performance is exceptional, but like the other characters, his role lacks a well-defined beginning and end.

The second half of the movie meanders into seemingly unnecessary subplots, possibly reflecting the challenges of the era when apprehending suspects was not as straightforward as it is today. Despite its shortcomings, Vishal Bhardwaj's ‘Khufiya’ manages to hold the audience's attention as an engaging film, thanks to its powerful background scores and strong performances. While it may not deliver the expected thrills of a thriller, it remains a passable and enjoyable movie.