Rating: 3.0/5
Plot Summary:
“Akelli” unfolds the story of Jyoti, a young woman from Punjab who finds herself working in Mosul, Iraq. She becomes embroiled with ISIS terrorists and fights relentlessly for her survival.
Review:
“Akelli” starts with a gripping premise—a young Indian woman trapped in war-torn Iraq, taking down high-ranking ISIS members and escaping the clutches of the terrorist organization. This should have set the stage for an exhilarating and suspenseful thriller. However, the film fails to fully capitalize on its potential, resulting in a narrative that only occasionally manages to hold the audience’s attention.
The movie kicks off on an exciting note, building anticipation for a gripping ride. Sadly, this excitement begins to wane after the initial thirty minutes, giving way to a script that feels overly contrived. Thrillers of this nature demand tension, edginess, and an unrelenting sense of grit. While “Akelli” possesses these elements, they remain underdeveloped, never reaching their full potential.
The film takes creative liberties that are hard to overlook, leaving viewers questioning how certain inconsistencies escaped the filmmakers’ notice. Notably, Tsahi Halevi’s character, the ISIS supreme commander, is fatally shot in one scene, only to appear unharmed and robust in the following airport scene. Despite these flaws, credit is due to the filmmakers for exploring unconventional territory, and their effort deserves acknowledgment.
The movie begins dramatically, with a scene on a Mosul street where a girl is bound with explosives—an undeniably attention-grabbing start. Regrettably, this momentum isn’t consistently maintained throughout the film.
The story revolves around Jyoti (Nushrratt Bharuccha), a young woman from Punjab who loses her airport job due to unfortunate circumstances. Struggling to support her mother and niece, she takes a supervisory role at a garment factory in Mosul, Iraq. When an ISIS attack devastates the factory, she is captured, setting the stage for her desperate struggle to escape and return to India. Along the way, she accidentally kills an ISIS commander and critically injures Assad (Tsahi Halevi), another senior commander.
Nushrratt Bharuccha delivers a sincere and authentic performance, even if she doesn’t fully seize the opportunity. Tsahi Halevi, known for his role in the Israeli series “Fauda,” portrays Assad with a menacing aura, although a more well-defined characterization would have been preferable. Nishant Dahiya, as Rafeeq, leaves a lasting impression in his brief appearance.
Debutant director Pranay Meshram’s intentions are noble, but a weak script ultimately undermines his efforts. “Akelli” excels in confined spaces but falters when it ventures beyond them. In an era of cutting-edge terrorism-themed series on streaming platforms, the film struggles to make a lasting impact.
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