Azaad, a film that marks the debut of Ajay Devgn’s nephew Aaman Devgan and Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani, explores the deep bond between humans and horses. Despite its promising premise and debutants who show potential, the film fails to deliver due to its dated narrative and uninspired execution.
A Familiar and Overused Setting
- The backdrop feels heavily borrowed from films like Lagaan, featuring:
- Cruel zamindars aiding arrogant Englishmen in oppressing villagers.
- Scenes of floggings and threats of exiling villagers as bonded labor to Africa.
- While the setting holds dramatic potential, the lack of originality makes it feel stale and uninspired.
Newcomers in Underwhelming Roles
- Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani show glimpses of promise, particularly in their equestrian scenes. Whether they performed the galloping themselves or used body doubles, the riding sequences are commendable.
- However, their characters lack depth, with awkward delivery and body language that seem more suited to a bygone era than a contemporary audience.
Ajay Devgn and the Supporting Cast
- Ajay Devgn, as Vikram Singh, delivers a familiar performance with lines like “call me a baaghi, not a dacait,” but his arc feels repetitive.
- The supporting cast, including Piyush Mishra as a greedy zamindar and Mohit Malik, who impresses in his villainous role, fail to save the film from its weak script.
- Diana Penty, as Vikram’s lost love, is underutilized.
A Lagaan-esque Climax
- The climax—a horse race to decide the villagers’ fate—mirrors the iconic cricket match in Lagaan, but lacks the emotional resonance and originality of its predecessor.
Direction by Abhishek Kapoor
- Known for acclaimed films like Kai Po Che and Rock On, director Abhishek Kapoor surprises with this outdated and formulaic approach.
- The film’s reliance on overused tropes and lack of modern sensibilities make it feel like a relic rather than a fresh story for 2025.
Final Thoughts
While Azaad had the potential to showcase a compelling human-animal bond and introduce promising newcomers, it suffers from a dated narrative, unoriginal storytelling, and underutilized talent. One can only hope the talented director and debutants find better opportunities to shine in future projects.
