Sikandar Ka Muqaddar Movie Review

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is the latest Bollywood venture featuring Tamannaah Bhatia, who has been striving to establish herself in Hindi cinema. The film also stars Jimmy Sheirgill and Avinash Tiwary in pivotal roles. Directed by Neeraj Pandey and co-written with Vipul Rawal, the movie revolves around a heist gone wrong and an ensuing investigation. Streaming on Netflix, it attempts to weave a gripping crime thriller but struggles to make an impact.

Plot Summary
Set in Mumbai, the story spans 15 years, from 2009 to 2024. In 2009, a diamond exhibition in a bustling part of the city becomes the scene of a heist attempt by four individuals, leading to a police shootout. Amidst the chaos, diamonds worth ₹50–60 crores mysteriously vanish. Special Officer Jaswinder Singh (Jimmy Sheirgill) is assigned the case, as the diamonds belong to a shop owned by a relative of the Home Minister's wife.

The people present at the scene include Kamini Singh (Tamannaah), an employee at the diamond shop; Mangesh (Rajeev Mehta), a long-time staff member; and Sikandar (Avinash Tiwary), a computer technician. Jaswinder suspects all three and takes them into custody for interrogation. Each claims innocence: Sikandar cites his ailing mother, Mangesh pleads his long-standing loyalty, and Kamini asserts her lack of involvement.

Who stole the diamonds? How does Jaswinder solve the case? And what challenges does he face during the investigation? These questions form the crux of the narrative.

Analysis
Director Neeraj Pandey crafts a plot with familiar elements of a heist and investigation, attempting to introduce freshness to the premise. The screenplay, however, falters in sustaining interest. While the basic premise of a diamond heist intrigues, the execution suffers due to excessive reliance on flashbacks, often narrated in a static, uninspiring manner.

Scenes where characters—particularly the hero and the police officer—recount past events in flashbacks fail to engage viewers, as they lack immediacy and tension. The film's pacing is uneven, with a rushed start followed by a slow, dragging middle. While twists are introduced toward the end, they feel forced rather than organic. The lack of an engaging cat-and-mouse dynamic between the thief and investigator further diminishes the film’s appeal.

Performances
Jimmy Sheirgill: Delivers a steady performance as Jaswinder Singh, but the role doesn’t allow him to showcase his full potential.
Tamannaah Bhatia: Her portrayal of Kamini is adequate, but the character lacks depth and fails to leave a lasting impression.
Avinash Tiwary: Manages to bring some intensity to Sikandar but is bogged down by a poorly developed role.
Rajeev Mehta: Provides decent support as Mangesh.
The cast does justice to their roles, but the screenplay doesn’t give them enough scope to elevate the film.

Technical Aspects
Direction: Neeraj Pandey’s handling of the narrative is inconsistent, with an overreliance on expository dialogue.
Cinematography: Aravind Singh captures the urban landscapes of Mumbai, Agra, and Abu Dhabi effectively, but the visuals fail to compensate for the lackluster narrative.
Music: Payal Dev’s background score complements the mood but doesn’t stand out.
Editing: Praveen’s editing is functional but doesn’t tighten the slack in pacing.
The technical elements align with the story's tone but fail to enhance the viewing experience. The decision to rely heavily on retrospective storytelling rather than real-time action scenes undermines the film’s impact.

Final Verdict
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar starts with promise but quickly loses steam due to an uninspired screenplay and lack of novelty in storytelling. While the performances and technical aspects are serviceable, the film doesn’t deliver the thrills expected from a crime thriller. Despite being free of objectionable content, making it suitable for family viewing, it remains a missed opportunity.