Maalik 2025

Maalik (2025): A Gritty Gangster Saga That Puts Rajkummar Rao in the Driver’s Seat

Genre : Adventure/Action
Imdb rating: 6.6
2 hour 29 minutes
Available on : Amazon Prime Video

1. What’s Maalik About?

Maalik unfolds in the late 1980s Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Maalik 2025 tracing Deepak’s evolution from a humble farmer's son to a ruthless underworld don. maalik, maalik movies  After avenging his father's brutal assault, rajkummar rao  he adopts the alias "Maalik" and carves a criminal empire amid a treacherous political and law enforcement ecosystem. The story focuses on his battles with rival gangs, corrupt politicians like MLA Balhar Singh, and a tenacious cop, Prabhu Das. maalik cast Themes of power, loyalty, maalik movie download and ambition surface as Maalik juggles family ties with criminal dominance.

2. Star-Studded Cast & Crew

• Rajkummar Rao as Deepak/Maalik — delivers a commanding, intense performance.
• Manushi Chhillar as Shalini — Maalik's pregnant wife who implores him to quit crime. Though impactful, her screen presence is limited.
  
  
  
• Prosenjit Chatterjee as Prabhu Das — the suspended SP tasked with bringing Maalik down.
  
  
  
• Saurabh Shukla
  
  
  , Swanand Kirkire
  
  
  , Saurabh Sachdeva
  
  
  , Huma Qureshi
  
  
  (special appearance), Anshumaan Pushkar
  
  
  , and others round out a formidable ensemble
• Director: Pulkit (co-writer with Jyotsana Nath).
• Music: Songs by Sachin–Jigar (lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya); background score by Ketan Sodha.

3. Visual & Technical Craftsmanship

The film’s setting—a dusty, turbulent 1980s Allahabad—comes alive with authentic cinematography, thoughtful production design, and period-appropriate costumes. Anuj Rakesh Dhawan’s visuals and Ketan Sodha’s background score elevate key moments, though the overall screenplay and direction often lean on clichés

4. Reception: What the Critics & Viewers Think

Critical Reviews

• The Times of India gave it 2/5, citing strong performances but a clichéd, uninspired gangster narrative.
• India Today echoed that sentiment—praising Rajkummar Rao’s gritty portrayal while criticizing the film’s predictability and emotional detachment.
• Moneycontrol lamented an "undercooked" screenplay, forced gestures, and wasted potential.
• FilmyDuty recognized Rajkummar Rao’s powerful presence, but called the screenplay overly familiar and derivative.
• WebDunia (Hindi) noted that Rao salvaged a weak script with sheer commitment, though the outdated feel hindered the film.

Positive Highlights

• Reviews with Rinku praised the atmospheric direction, intense action, and Rao’s layered performance.

Audience Buzz

On X (formerly Twitter), mixed reactions emerged:

• Bipin Singh: “Actors' performances were good... Full review coming soon.”
• Suryakant Dholakhandi: “#RajkummarRao is phenomenal... first half is explosive, but the second half loses steam.

5. Box Office Journey

Maalik debuted on 11 July 2025 amid tepid advance bookings (just 6,500 tickets sold), signaling a slow start. By day 10, it approached ₹25 crore but couldn’t quite cross the mark, facing stiff competition from Saiyaara.

6. OTT Release Details

Post-theatrical run, Maalik streamed on Amazon Prime Video starting 22 August 2025.

7. Final Thoughts

Maalik is anchored by Rajkummar Rao’s fierce, unflinching performance and its raw, atmospheric setting. However, its familiar screenplay and underdeveloped supporting characters keep it from reaching classic status. Ideal for fans of intense gangster dramas seeking performance-driven storytelling—just be prepared for a story that's more retro than fresh.

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