Ittefaq Movie Review

Release Date: November 3, 2017
Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Akshaye Khanna, Sonakshi Sinha
Director: Abhay Chopra
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes      

Movies seeking inspiration from popular hits of the past is nothing new and Ittefaq joins the list of movies that focus on presenting the same basic product in an enticing new packaging. Ittefaq is based on the 1969 suspense drama with the same name that was directed by Yash Chopra and had Rajesh Khanna and Nanda in the lead role. The basic theme has been retained in this new version of Ittefaq, but plenty of new twists and turns have been added in an attempt to make it more flavorful. Whether or not it works is an altogether different question that we leave for the audience to decide. However, it would be worth mentioning that as compared to the original Ittefaq that had a direct storyline, this new version is a lot more complex. This is something that will challenge your mind and keep you engaged.

The story is about Vikram Sethi (Sidharth Malhotra), who is on the run after allegedly murdering his wife. As cops chase him, he meets Maya (Sonakshi Sinha) and takes refuge in her home. However, Maya reports his presence to the police after she realizes that Sethi may be on the run after murdering his wife. When police arrive, they arrest Sethi and also find the dead body of Maya’s husband. Maya alleges that Sethi has murdered her husband, but Sethi denies it and calls it a conspiracy to frame him. Now, it’s up to police officer Dev (Akshaye Khanna) to assess the two versions of the story and find who is speaking the truth. Or, is there a third person involved? Could be!

Much of the story moves in flashback, as Maya and Sethi give their statement to Dev. And this happens in bits and pieces and in a random order, which makes it hard to understand the plot. It adds to the mystery in some places, whereas in other places, it appears to be overkill. In terms of performance, Akshaye Khanna deserves a pat on his back. He not only looks tough, but also shares some hilarious moments with his colleague during the course of the investigation. Sidharth and Sonakshi have limited appeal in the movie.

If you like suspense thrillers, you could consider watching this latest version of Ittefaq. It can’t be said to be the best, but it is interesting nonetheless.