‘Raid’ Critics’ Verdict: This Ajay Devgn Thriller Is a Winner

Critics give a thumbs up to this week’s Ajay Devgn-starrer.

Film: Raid
Director: Raj Kumar Gupta
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Saurabh Shukla, Ileana D’cruz

Excerpts from reviews of Raid:

“On the face of it, it could be said that Devgn has played precisely this part – a ramrod straight man within a broken system, doing his work truthfully against all odds – a zillion times in his 27 year long career, yet there is a difference. Credible realism and Gupta’s unembellished directorial style are what make Raid such a gripping experience. This is not the kind of fare you might expect to set your pulses racing, but that is precisely what Raid achieves in its closing scenes. Raid is not regular Bollywood. What it is though is thoroughly entertaining.”

Anna Vetticad (Firstpost.com)

“Despite unnecessary romantic interludes, the first half of Raid plays like a taut police procedural. Director Raj Kumar Gupta, writer Ritesh Shah and editor Bodhaditya Banerjee create a suspense thriller in which the good guys need to find the stolen goods before the bad guy shuts them down. The cast of characters – from Amay’s juniors like the cheerfully corrupt Lallan to Tauji’s venal family – are nicely etched. My favorite was Tauji’s mother, the 85-year-old Pushpa Joshi, who gets some of the film’s best lines. The tension is broken by a few laugh out loud moments.”

Anupama Chopra (Filmcompanion.in)

“Watch Raid because despite the corruption around us, we still believe we can win the war against black money hoarders. Also, watch it for Ajay Devgn’s intensity. He is sincere, relentless and doesn’t blink even once.”

Meena Iyer (DNA)