Sep 04, 2026 1:20pm IST
‘Mirzapur The Movie’ Review: Ali Fazal’s Guddu Bhaiyya, Pankaj Tripathi’s Kaleen Bhaiyya Are Cinematic Standouts, Jitendra Thakur Impresses
Is too much of a good thing (or a familiar one, for that matter) a good thing? “Mirzapur - The Movie” seeks to answer that question and goes about it with an assured hand across its 197-minute runtime.
But first, a re-introduction to this Purvanchal-based “Game Of Thrones” and its principal characters is in order. Fans of the series will likely feel that the first half is an extended recap even as new characters get introduced.
Right at the outset, you see Akhandanand Tripathi aka Kaleen Bhaiyya (Pankaj Tripathi) beaten and barely conscious as he confronts an unseen enemy who is revealed as the film wears on. The story then moves into flashback mode as the action shifts to 2018, likely dating the events in this film to sometime during the first season.
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Guddu and Bablu Pandit’s characters (played by Ali Fazal and Jitendra Kumar) are shown taking out the operations of another bahubali (strongman) who dares to go up against Mirzapur’s resident crime boss, Kaleen. As anyone who has followed the popular series throughout its three-season run is aware, the central conflict is two-fold: between Kaleen and Rati Shankar Shukla, the bahubali of neighboring Jaunpur and between Guddu and Munna, Kaleen’s troubled yet power-hungry son.
The perennial tussle for power and influence is underscored and amplified with the introduction of new characters like Babban Yadav (Ravi Kishan) and Bhairav Singh Karnawat (Sushant Singh) who align with each other’s enemies to get what they want.
Yadav spells out his ambition in no uncertain terms but is wily enough to steer clear of spats and strike at the right time while keeping his eye on the prize: the gaddi (throne) of Mirzapur.
What the first half essentially tries to do is cram backstories and motives in even as it sets the stage for the events of the second half, which sees the Pandit Bros and later, the Tripathis set out on a road trip that could potentially be their last.
It’s always a good sign when you’re hard-pressed to pick a favorite character to root for. Be it Divyenndu articulating Munna’s deep-seated insecurities, Pankaj oozing power from every pore as Kaleen, Ravi’s Babban effortlessly switching between ruthless, charismatic criminal to as soft, vulnerable lover. However, it is new entrant Jitendra Thakur (stepping into Vikrant Massey’s shoes as Bablu Pandit) who makes you believe the role was tailor made for him.
Where the film loses much of its lure is in not letting the female characters breathe and come into their own. The series was singularly powerful in showing the female characters as string-pullers while letting the men enjoy the illusion of being in power. Here, they’re not as well fleshed out more than what’s known, creating an underwhelming impact. While Rasika Dugal’s Beena fares better in this respect, Sonal Chauhan as new character Mumtaz Bibi, has precious little to do.
John Stewart Eduri’s background score shows exactly why the man is as in demand as he is. While the soundtrack is a mix of old and new tracks, a head-scratcher is the inclusion of Dhanda Nyoliwala’s “Do Numbari,” a Haryanvi banger that plays as the Bros Pandit pass through Rajasthan. That being said, it is one of the better tracks on the album. Wilson Birampuria’s editing is not as even-handed as one would like. Cinematography by Sanjay Kapoor only shines in the second half once the action shifts to another state. Puneet Krishna is solely credited as the creator/writer, while Gurmmeet Singh remains on board as the director.
The fan-servicing is evident throughout, most notably in the climax sequence, the epilogue and the mid-end credits which stopped everyone leaving in their tracks. All this drew the most whistles at the screen this writer watched the film at.
So yes, “Mirzapur - The Movie,” despite its inordinately long runtime and several flaws, is buoyed and sustained by strong performances, is one for the fans who will lap it up and watch it and cheer it on without a second thought. Massy and mirthful, it works as a good companion piece to the 3 seasons and worth watching on the big screen ahead of the upcoming Season 4.
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