Khufiya

2023

2h 37m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

59%

17 Reviews

Tomatometer

32%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

An operative of the Indian spy agency known as R&AW is assigned to track down a mole who is selling defense secrets while grappling with her dual identity as a spy and a lover.

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Luis M. D

Too convoluted and preposterous

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/18/24

Full Review

Prajyot K

Started watching it for the cast, Director and the spy plot. But after 30 mins was disappointed by it. The Intel agency agents do stupid moves like, chasing the suspect right behind him/her, last scene is idiotic where these super spies plan to do something but are acting weird. (Dont want to giv spoiler) actually there is nothing to spoil in this move. Wasted time.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/14/23

Full Review

George Ward B

This one is all over the place. There is no suspense to the espionage portion, and no connection between the characters throughout the film. And of course, music and song break out at the strangest of momewnts, adding a dose of laughability to the whole effort.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/10/23

Full Review

Pun D

Absolute garbage . A 10 year old kid could make a better movie than this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

Aj P

In the ebb and flow of cinematic thriller tales Khufiya attempts to carve a niche by intertwining espionage with emotional complexity. Vishal Bhardwaj navigates through the stormy seas of international politics and individual tribulations laying bare a sprawling canvas where the microcosm of personal loyalties and broader geopolitics collide. Tabu & Azmeri Haque Badhon take the center stage embodying a paradoxical dance of emotions and schemes that whittle through the frame with a tantalizing duality. Their chemistry sizzles yet flickers, offering moments of profound intensity that unfortunately get swathed under the film's convoluted narratives and somewhat diluted execution. While some critics find this pairing revolutionary, breathing life and mystery into the movie, others view it as a glimmer in an otherwise underwhelming mesh of subplots and thematic explorations. Bhardwaj, recognized for his adept adaptations of literary works, orchestrates a symphony that is at times discordant yet unexpectedly harmonious in unexpected junctures. Khufiya finds its roots in Amar Bhushan's 2012 novel, "Escape To Nowhere," & navigates through a complex web of betrayals, gender reversals & visceral emotions. But herein lies an undeniable discord; the film's palpable potential gets enmeshed in its attempts to be a drama, spy thriller, and a poignant exploration of personal entanglements. On one side of the coin, Bhardwaj's genius is evident in the meticulous crafting of characters and sublime moments that linger such as the nuanced representation of everyday life and interactions of spies & the gentle yet profound intersections of personal and national loyalties. There is a stoic resonance in Tabu's portrayal of Krishna Mehra (KM), whose impassive exterior conceals a tempest of conflicting loyalties and pain, mirrored hauntingly by Wamiqa Gabbi's compelling screen presence. Conversely, the film struggles with its identity, attempting to straddle multiple narrative threads and thematic arcs, from espionage and betrayal to deeply intimate emotional and sexual explorations. There's a prevailing sentiment that the movie could have dug deeper, both in its spy thriller elements and emotional tapestry, providing a more taut and impactful cinematic experience. Khufiya might not have realized its fullest potential arguably due to its pacing & a screenplay that some might find lacking. However it invites viewers into a shadowy world where nothing is black and white, offering a contemplative, if not entirely cohesive, cinematic journey. It's a film that simultaneously tells too much and too little, brushing against profound narrative depths yet often skimming the surface. The film encapsulates a secretive essence ("khufiya"), not just in its plot but in its restrained revelation of emotion, demanding an attentive audience to uncover its veiled intricacies.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/09/23

Full Review

Dhanu K

Despite having a runtime of nearly 160 minutes, Vishal Bharadwaj's Tabu starrer Khufiya kicks off as a strong and engaging spy thriller all the way towards the interval, but falls flat right after that and fails to live up to the premise's promise.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/07/23

Full Review

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Vishal Bhardwaj

Director

Tabu

Actor

Ali Fazal

Actor

Wamiqa Gabbi

Actor

Azmeri Haque Badhon

Actor

Alexx O'Nell

Actor

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Simon Abrams

RogerEbert.com

“Khufiya” isn’t a deconstruction of the spy thriller, but it does blatantly re-orient viewers to what’s often missing or downplayed in stories about spies.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 10, 2023

Full Review

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

We needed more Tabu in this film. We needed more of the older Vishal Bhardwaj who used to make things sing.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

Anupama Chopra

Film Companion

Vishal Bhardwaj maintains control on a complex, sprawling story of men, women and nations pitted against each other and themselves.

Oct 5, 2023

Full Review

Sakhi Thirani

Common Sense Media

A commendable attempt in the genre of espionage with a gripping hook and fierce female leads that carry the entire film on their shoulders. But Khufiya struggles to maintain interest due to its lengthy runtime and overall waywardness.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 3, 2024

Full Review

Poulomi Das

The Federal

On paper, Khufiya has nearly everything going for it but onscreen, the clunky screenplay leaves the lacking on several fronts. Over its bloated 158 runtime, the film never manages to match the promise.

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

Lachmi Deb Roy

Firstpost

The show stopper of the film is Azmeri Haque Badhon. Her performance is brilliant and with her effortless charm, she lights up the film to such an extent that she overshadows the performance of Tabu, when both the actors are on the same screen.

Oct 6, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

An operative of the Indian spy agency known as R&AW is assigned to track down a mole who is selling defense secrets while grappling with her dual identity as a spy and a lover.

Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Producer: Vishesh Agrawal, Sanjeevkumar Nair
Screenwriter: Vishal Bhardwaj, Rohan Narula
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Netflix Studios, Vishal Bhardwaj Films
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Hindi
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 5, 2023
Runtime: 2h 37m

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