Critics’ Review: John Abraham’s Batla House Is Loaded With Biases

Batla House is directed by Nikkil Advani.

Batla House, directed by Nikkhil Advani and released on 15 August, stars John Abraham and Mrunal Thakur and is directed by Nikhhil Advani. The film deals with the controversial encounter of alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorists in 2008.

Let’s take a look at what the critics have to say about the film:

“The film tries to explore the headspace of a cop (John Abraham) whose courage is rewarded with vilification.  At one point he asks, kya hum galat thhe? Like Lady Macbeth, he is haunted by the blood on his hands. But the scenes that capture his emotional landscape and his post-trauma stress don’t land. The film’s pacing is also uneven. The action sequences are crafted with precision but the songs make the story sluggish.”

Anupama Chopra, Film Companion

“Thumping background music accentuates drama, emotional angst and suspense. In true Bollywood style, a typical item number pops up as does a ballad. Yet Batla House feels burdened by its patriotic ambitions and by repetition (including numerous frames of police officers exchanging side-long glances). This pushes the running time to over 140 minutes, and comprises its core story with superfluous Bollywood-isation.”

Udita Jhunjhunwala, Firstpost

“Nikkhil Advani’s Batla House, based on a screenplay by Ritesh Shah, claims to explore the role played by doubt in a police investigation, but it is loaded with biases. Suspicions were raised about the police version of events. Was the encounter staged? Was the crime scene dressed up? Was Mohan Chand Sharma too trigger-happy for his own good? Were the slain men Islamist militants or students in the wrong place at the wrong time? Questions, questions. What place do they have in a movie that has already made up its mind?”

Nandini Ramnath, Scroll

No seriously, is this part of an ongoing Bollywood season for issuing ‘clean chit’ at the movies, for famous figures? Whose own versions of truth on screen, over a contentious real-life incident or event — despite previously held assertions/evidences to the contrary — exonerate them from a misdemeanour or crime they’re alleged to have committed? That hero could be a cinema superstar, or indeed India’s top politician. And that in this case, it’s the Delhi Police? Well.

Mayank Shekhar, Mid-day