At 52, John Abraham continues to experiment with his roles. In the midst of commercial films, he occasionally takes on projects like Nikkhil Advani’s Vedaa, which might not always work in his favor. However, there is a stark contrast between Pathaan’s Jim and The Diplomat’s J.P. Singh. If John’s acting in Madras Cafe is considered a benchmark, then The Diplomat comfortably secures a top-grade pass. The credit for this achievement largely goes to director Shivam Nair. Shivam, despite being an excellent filmmaker, struggles with self-branding. The way he executed the India-based scenes in the web series Special Ops showcased a high level of directorial skill, and he brings that same essence to The Diplomat.
A Familiar Story
By now, anyone with even a slight interest in Hindi cinema is familiar with The Diplomat’s storyline. The film is set in a time when Sushma Swaraj was the Minister of External Affairs. She was known for responding immediately to distress calls from Indians worldwide, much like the legendary Narayan in the mythological tale of the crocodile and elephant. This cinematic adaptation of a real-life incident includes elements that have already been covered in newspapers and revealed by John and Shivam in interviews.
The story follows an Indian woman living in Malaysia, struggling to get medical treatment for her child. She meets a Pakistani man online and, believing in his love, travels to Pakistan, only to discover that he is a fraud. However, escaping from there is not easy. The case reaches J.P. Singh, and the rest of the story unfolds in a predictable manner.
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John Returns to a Meaningful Story
John Abraham is also one of the producers of this film, likely as part of his compensation arrangement. While he aspires to make quality films, it seems that the number of advisors in his team has dwindled. After Batla House, The Diplomat marks his first serious attempt to re-establish his true identity as an actor. John has a strong fan base, but in recent years, apart from Pathaan, he hasn’t been able to deliver performances that resonate with them. This time, he has chosen the right story.
The film is a biopic targeting a specific audience, and since it doesn’t portray Pakistan as the villain, its box office potential may not be massive. However, it still adds a commendable film to John’s repertoire. Whenever John controls his performance and acts with restraint, his characters shine.
Watch It for Shivam Nair
Director Shivam Nair deserves full credit for the success of this film. He has crafted it with meticulous planning and thoughtfulness. Writer Ritesh Shah, who has been writing extensively, is starting to show signs of repetition in his creative approach. He often struggles with emotional depth in his scenes, which is evident in Sadia Khateeb’s character. The scenes depicting Uzma’s struggle in Pakistan should have been heart-wrenching, but the emotions never fully peak.
Ritesh also seems to falter in capturing human conflict, and John Abraham’s role doesn’t allow much scope for showcasing such complexities.
The Film’s Weaknesses
The Diplomat is not an exceptional film, but it is certainly worth a relaxed watch at home. However, the filmmakers haven’t provided a compelling reason for audiences to watch it in theaters. The film is well-paced, with a tight screenplay and effective editing by Kunal Walve. At 2 hours and 17 minutes, it lacks surprising elements. Everything feels familiar, and in today’s era, that alone can weaken a film.
Audiences today crave surprises—whether it’s the extreme violence of Animal, Kill, and Chhava, or the eerie horror of Stree 2. Even a surprising villain, like Madhavan in Shaitaan, can boost a film’s success. The Diplomat lacks such a surprise element.
Moreover, the film’s music is not particularly memorable. Manoj Muntashir’s song Bharat follows his usual style, while Anurag Saikia’s compositions Naina and Ghar are touching but lack lasting impact. Additionally, the film’s digital version has already surfaced on Telegram before its official release, which could impact its box office earnings.