Maalik, a fiery action-thriller directed by Pulkit and fronted by Rajkummar Rao, weaves a gritty tale set in 1980s and 1990s Allahabad. Rao’s powerful transformation from a downtrodden son into a ruthless gangster is the film’s beating heart. With swaggering dialogues, gritty action, and moral dilemmas at its core, Maalik offers a masala entertainer with substance, engaging audiences with its world of power, betrayal, and ambition.

Powerful First Impression

The film opens with a striking teaser featuring the line:
“We are the ones who snatch our rightful share.”
It sets the tone for a grim journey into crime and survival. Rajkummar Rao inhabits this character with conviction, sporting a rugged beard, gold chains, and a menacing presence, grabbing attention from the very first scene.

Story and Screenplay: Familiar, Yet Engaging

The premise is simple. A common man, wronged and enraged, rises through the underworld ranks to become Maalik, the owner and ruler. It’s classic Bollywood territory filled with vendetta, power struggles, betrayal, and a lost moral compass.

What works: The first half bristles with energy and charm. There’s rooted humour, stylish presentation, and dialogues that resonate.
What stalls: As the plot advances, formulaic tropes and overlong scenes creep in, weakening the overall impact. At roughly 152 minutes, the story sometimes feels padded, especially with its item song and excessive flashbacks.

Performance: Rajkummar Rao Anchors the Film

Rajkummar Rao is the standout. He commands attention with intense expressions and raw emotion, stepping into unfamiliar territory as an action hero. His transformation is believable and bold.

Manushi Chhillar, as Shalini, plays the moral anchor. While her role is conventional, she delivers her part sincerely and holds her own opposite Rao.

Prosenjit Chatterjee as the conflicted cop adds weight, but his impact is limited due to underwritten scenes.

The supporting cast including Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire, Anshumaan Pushkar, Saurabh Sachdeva, and Rajendra Gupta adds authenticity and texture, though a few characters are underused.

Themes, Direction and Dialogues

Pulkit explores more than just violence. He delves into the moral cost of ambition, emotional breakdowns, and the internal war of making tough choices. Rajkummar Rao has clarified that the film does not glorify gangster life but reflects on its deeper consequences.

Dialogues suit the genre well, although a few lines feel familiar. The direction captures a gritty atmosphere but suffers from slow pacing in the second half. Tighter editing, especially trimming a few musical stretches, could have improved the narrative flow.

Box Office and Audience Buzz

Advance booking was modest, with around 6,500 tickets sold before release, indicating a quiet start.

However, early reviews have praised the screenplay and Rajkummar Rao’s intense performance. Audience reactions have generally been positive, particularly for the film’s look, energy, and meaningful dialogue.

Despite competing with a major Hollywood release, Maalik has started gaining momentum at the Indian box office.

Final Verdict: Bold, Rough-Edged and Worth It

Pros:

  • Rajkummar Rao’s fearless performance

  • Engaging and energetic first half

  • Authentic period setting with strong supporting cast

Cons:

  • Overstretched runtime

  • Predictable plot developments

  • Some characters lack depth

Rating: 3 out of 5

Maalik may not revolutionize the gangster genre, but it’s a satisfying Hindi masala crime drama carried by a strong central performance, effective dialogues, and solid visual style. For fans of realistic crime sagas with action and drama, it offers an enjoyable theatrical experience.