“Azaad,” a film that hit the theatre today, serves as the debut platform for Rasha Thadani, daughter of actor Raveena Tandon and Anil Thadani, alongside Aaman Devgan, the nephew of Ajay Devgn.
The story begins with Govind (Aaman) captivated by the dacoit Vikram Singh’s (Ajay Devgn) majestic black horse, Azaad, who is fiercely loyal to its owner. Amid this, Govind encounters Janaki (Rasha), the daughter of the landlord Rai Bahadur (Piyush Mishra). A parallel storyline features Tej Bahadur (Mohit Malik), Janaki’s brother, and Kesar (Diana Penty). The convergence of their lives unfolds against the backdrop of pre-Independence India.
As the film progresses, “Azaad” feels excessively self-indulgent, particularly in its pacing and musical interludes. It appears that director Abhishek Kapoor, known for offering a compelling debut for Sara Ali Khan in “Kedarnath,” began filming and neglected to expedite the narrative. By the time the movie reaches its conclusion, viewers may feel a sense of time stretching.
The screenplay is credited to Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair, and Kapoor himself, leading to the question of how three individuals could arrive at this outcome. The editing by Chandan Arora also raises eyebrows—what exactly was refined?
Throughout the film, Azaad, the horse, manages to resonate emotionally with the audience. The sequences showcasing him highlight captivating on-screen performances, and he, unexpectedly, seems to steal the spotlight without uttering a single word. While Kapoor’s direction shines in certain moments involving the horse, these instances are regrettably limited.
Regarding their debut performances, both Rasha and Aaman exhibit raw talent, indicating room for improvement. Rasha, at just 19, displays a commendable screen presence but should focus on enhancing her emotional portrayals. Aaman shows promise in dance and action but could benefit from further honing his acting skills.
Mohit Malik, transitioning from television to film with “Azaad,” aligns well with his role, while Diana Penty’s subplot feels superficial. Ajay Devgn appears to have shot his scenes in a manner reminiscent of his work in SS Rajamouli’s “RRR,” suggesting an overlap in filming schedules.
With high hopes for the music, given Amit Trivedi’s involvement, the soundtrack disappoints overall. Aside from “Uui Amma,” which gained viral attention and elicited mixed responses, the remaining musical aspects fall short, which is disheartening.
In summary, “Azaad” fails to present anything fresh, primarily showcasing two new actors. The film suffers from a slow and loose screenplay, saturated with clichés, and it lacks the vitality one would expect from a story centered around a horse.