Khufiya movie review: In this Vishal Bhardwaj production, one can’t help but expect a level of sophistication and seamlessness that, unfortunately, falls short of our hopes. Often, we find ourselves filling in the gaps, like in Krishna’s contemplative inner world. She’s a dedicated workaholic with an ex-husband, Atul Kulkarni, and a resentful 19-year-old son. Interestingly, the film doesn’t label her drinking and smoking as character traits. The relationship between the former spouses is portrayed well, with him being the only one who truly understands her. However, the film attempts to frame Krishna’s motherhood as a coming-of-age story for her teenager, but this subtext feels unearned, and the main narrative remains unclear.

Comparing this to the nuanced dynamic between Tabu and Irrfan in “Talvar” (2015), where a few well-executed scenes convey layers of hidden history, “Khufiya” falls short in depth. Here, Tabu portrays Krishna as a haunted woman who uses her job as a source of emotional fulfillment. Her own experiences as a woman make her suspect Charu’s involvement due to their shared life of deception.

Many of these nuances appear to be what the film aspires to be rather than what it is. For instance, a suspenseful dining-table sequence towards the end attempts to depict chaos but ends up looking clumsy. Ravi’s character, while potent, becomes overshadowed by the focus on female agency, reducing him to mere vignettes. His initial complexity is lost in the second half, turning him into a narrative cliché.

Charu’s character also disappoints. While the idea of an enigmatic homemaker with a secret life is intriguing, the execution falls flat. We don’t see Charu through Krishna’s eyes, making her seem like a fetishized, male fantasy version of a housewife. Her actions, such as dancing provocatively when her robe pops open, feel out of place for a spy thriller.

There are glimpses of potential in the film, like Charu’s moment of breaking free from the gaze of surveillance or the symbolic imagery of a mother phoning her son against the backdrop of a passing goods train. These moments hint at a film that defies its rushed climax and muddled personal-political voice. “Khufiya” teases us with a tantalizing journey that straddles two cinematic mediums, but it doesn’t fully embrace its unique oddity.

In conclusion, while “Khufiya” holds promise with its intriguing premise and Strong Performances, it ultimately falls short of delivering the depth and cohesion one would expect from a Vishal Bhardwaj film. The characters and their relationships lack the depth needed to fully engage the audience, leaving us wanting more from this intriguing but ultimately unfulfilled cinematic experience.

Rating: 3/5

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