Sikandar Ka Muqaddar Film Review: A Diamond Heist Drama That Loses its Sparkle

🙄🙄🙄✨🌟 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

So, here we are. Another day, another heist flick trying to stand out among the sea of Bollywood thrillers. Ladies and gents, welcome to Review Rani’s take on the latest offering from Neeraj Pandey, the man behind a slew of nail-biting thrillers like A Wednesday, Special 26, and Baby.

Now, before we dive into Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, let’s set the stage, shall we? Picture this: Mumbai, 2009. An audacious diamond theft. A cop with an unhealthy obsession. And a trio of suspects that may or may not be as innocent as they seem. Sounds exciting, right? Oh, if only the execution lived up to the promise.

Our story revolves around the ever-persistent Officer Jaswinder Singh, played by Jimmy Shergill, who’s so hell-bent on catching the culprit behind a diamond heist that he spends 15 years chasing shadows. Talk about dedication, eh? His prime suspect is Sikandar Sharma, a computer whiz played by Avinash Tiwary, who was conveniently in a hurry to leave the scene. Also in the mix are Mangesh Desai (Rajiv Mehta), a long-time employee of the jewelry store, and Kamini Singh (Tamannaah Bhatia), a co-worker who gets caught up in the whirlwind.

Now, the first half of the movie is all about setting the stage. You’ve got the heist, the suspects, the cop with a mission. The problem comes when we jump forward 15 years. The pace slows down to a crawl and the once exciting plot turns into a tedious cat-and-mouse game that loses its sheen quicker than a cheap sequined dress. There are attempts to throw in a few twists here and there, but they’re about as surprising as finding out that Saif and Kareena named their second son Jeh.

On the performance front, Jimmy Shergill as Officer Singh is the saving grace. He brings a certain depth to his character, portraying a man torn between his duty and his personal demons. Avinash Tiwary as Sikandar adds a certain charm to his role, though Tamannaah Bhatia, despite lesser screen time, manages to steal the spotlight with her emotive portrayal of a single mother caught in the crossfire.

The film does score some points for its cinematography. From the bustling streets of Mumbai to the modern landscape of Abu Dhabi and the historic grandeur of Agra, Arvind Singh does a commendable job of capturing the locales. But, oh boy, the 143-minute runtime feels stretched out like an old rubber band, with the songs acting as speed breakers just when you thought it was picking up speed.

In a nutshell, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is a classic case of ‘great potential, poor execution’. It starts off strong but loses steam faster than a pressure cooker with a faulty whistle. The performances and the initial premise keep it from sinking completely, but the lack of intensity and sluggish pacing prove to be its Achilles’ heel.

Rani’s Wrap-Up: Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is like that fancy dish you order at a restaurant that looks great on the menu but ends up being just another bland meal. It’s worth a watch for the performances and the intriguing start, but don’t expect it to set your pulse racing. Remember, not all that glitters is gold. Or in this case, diamonds. 😉