There’s a moment midway through Maalik where Rajkummar Rao’s character stares into a mirror, and you can see the weight of moral compromise etched across his face. It’s vintage Rao—conveying volumes without saying a word—and it encapsulates everything that makes this political thriller worth your time.
Director Pulkit, making his directorial debut, has crafted an ambitious film that doesn’t shy away from the murky waters of Indian politics. Co-writing with Jyotsana Nath, he’s created a narrative that feels ripped from today’s headlines while maintaining the dramatic tension that keeps you glued to your seat for all 150 minutes.
Rao, as Maalik, continues his remarkable run of choosing complex characters that challenge both him and his audience. Here, he plays a man caught between idealism and pragmatism, and watching him navigate that moral minefield is fascinating. There’s a particular sequence where he confronts Minister Shankar Singh (Saurabh Shukla, reliably excellent) that showcases Rao’s evolution from the quirky character actor we first fell in love with to one of Hindi cinema’s most compelling leading men.
The supporting cast elevates the material significantly. Prosenjit Chatterjee brings his considerable gravitas to what could have been a thankless role, while Manushi Chhillar as Vidya shows marked improvement from her debut, particularly in the film’s more emotionally demanding scenes. Huma Qureshi, as Mallika, gets some of the film’s best dialogues and delivers them with the sharp intelligence we’ve come to expect from her.
But it’s Saurabh Shukla who nearly steals the show as the corrupt minister. His Minister Shankar Singh is a masterclass in how to play a villain without turning them into a caricature. He’s charming, dangerous, and utterly believable—the kind of antagonist who makes you understand why good people sometimes make bad choices.
Pulkit’s direction shows impressive confidence for a newcomer. He manages to keep the political machinations clear without dumbing them down, and he’s smart enough to let his actors breathe in their scenes. The film’s pacing occasionally suffers—at two and a half hours, it could have used some trimming—but the core story maintains its grip throughout.
Anuj Rakesh Dhawan’s cinematography captures both the grandeur and the grime of political power with equal skill. The contrast between the opulent corridors of power and the stark reality of those affected by political decisions is visually striking. Zubin Sheikh’s editing keeps the multiple storylines coherent, though some transitions feel slightly abrupt.
The music by Sachin-Jigar integrates well into the narrative, while Ketan Sodha’s background score knows when to amplify tension and when to step back. The sound design deserves particular mention for creating an atmosphere that feels authentically political—all whispered conversations and echoing footsteps in marble corridors.
What sets Maalik apart from other political dramas is its refusal to offer easy answers. This isn’t a film where heroes are purely heroic and villains are cartoonishly evil. Instead, it presents a world where good intentions can lead to terrible consequences, and where the line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred.
The film’s exploration of power dynamics feels particularly relevant in today’s political climate. It asks uncomfortable questions about compromise, corruption, and the price of maintaining one’s principles in a system designed to erode them. These themes never feel preachy because they’re grounded in character-driven storytelling.
Maalik isn’t perfect—it occasionally gets bogged down in its own complexity, and some subplot threads feel underdeveloped. But it’s the kind of intelligent, adult filmmaking that Hindi cinema needs more of. It trusts its audience to engage with nuanced political realities while delivering the dramatic satisfaction we expect from our entertainment.
In an era where political films often resort to flag-waving or cynical nihilism, Maalik finds a middle ground that feels honest and urgent. It’s a film that will spark conversations long after you leave the theater.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars