Ulajh Review

Suhana Bhatia (Janhvi Kapoor) comes from a family of celebrated diplomats, and is accomplished herself too in the same field - she becomes India's youngest Deputy High Commissioner in London. However, she isn't well-liked there, as some people believe she got the job due to nepotism and others think it was because of "special favours".

In London, Suhana falls in love with a chef Nakul (Gulshan Devaiah), who turns out to be an ISI assassin named Humayun. He starts blackmailing her with videos of their intimate moments, trying to extract crucial Indian documents and secrets from her. Suhana gets caught in his trap, and soon it is clear that there is a mole in the London embassy. Everyone suspects Suhana because she's the newest person there. And aside from the allegations of being a nepokid, she now faces the additional challenge of needing to clear her name.

Ulajh has elements reminiscent of Raazi - the lead character in both works for his country's interests on foreign soil, and the Pakistan terrorism link is there in both movies. But that's about it. Ulajh tries to present itself as a different film. It shows how the Pakistan Prime Minister is actually extending a genuine gesture of friendship and cooperation, but two leaders, one in Pakistan and the other in India, plot to kill him to cover up their wrongdoings. It's a fresh twist on the India-Pakistan angle at a time when there is an entire universe of spies in Hindi cinema today all focused on defeating Pakistan. The makers avoided opportunism and laziness by not capitalizing on the hyper-nationalistic atmosphere in the country.

The movie includes some cerebral lines, too. In one standout moment, when Suhana is in deep trouble, her father tells her that as a diplomat she'll often need to choose the lesser of two evils rather than between good and evil. In another moment, Humayun tells Suhana that there's no such thing as a nation; it's a mental construct, and the people fighting for any nation are just pawns.

Gulshan Devaiah plays a fascinating polyglot ISI assassin who knows how to woo a woman and kill her if needed. He brings a villainous charm to the role. Devaiah is one of those actors of this generation who will deliver the best and freshest performance in any role. Janhvi Kapoor holds her own, especially in scenes where she must silently convey a range of emotions. Though she betrays a few raw areas toward the end of the movie, she delivers a strong performance overall. Roshan Mathew, popular in the Malayalam film industry, exudes effortless charm in every scene, making him memorable for Hindi audiences. Rajesh Tailang's subtle performance adds depth, as expected from this reliable and relatable actor.

The film's attention to detail, especially with accents and languages, is spot-on. It's interesting to see how characters switch languages when they're angry or stressed. For instance, Mathew's character, who speaks articulate English, switches to Malayalam when he breaks down, adding a nice touch to the screenplay.

Visually, the film is a treat. The camera work, editing and production design are all excellent. The background score effectively builds tension. While there are songs, the characters don't dance to them, and there is no choreography, which suits the film's tone.

A potential weak spot is the dialogue delivery. Information is sometimes conveyed too quickly, making it difficult to grasp what just happened.

The twists and turns in the movie keep you on the edge of your seat. While it may not be the best spy thriller out there, it deserves a watch. You'll find yourself rooting for the lead character and wondering what challenge life will throw at her next.