Alpha Movie Review: The highly anticipated female-led addition to the YRF Spy Universe, Alpha, directed by Shiv Rawail, has finally arrived in theatres.
Headlined by Alia Bhatt as Sita and Sharvari as Durga, the film was expected to elevate the spy franchise to a new benchmark.
However, if early audience reactions and prominent trade reviews are anything to go by, the film has largely been received as a massive disappointment.
Moviegoers and prominent analysts have labeled the venture as a weak addition to the franchise, pointing out major flaws in execution, character depth, and basic logic.
Comparison with the ‘Dhurandhar’ Duology: A Benchmark Missed
Alpha Movie Review: According to audience reviews and social media discussions, many viewers went into theatres carrying the high benchmarks set by recent successful patriotic spy thrillers like the Dhurandhar duology.
Viewers note that while previous spy films succeeded due to their deep-rooted emotional grit, high stakes, and believable intensity, Alpha fails to replicate that magic.
As per prominent trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film follows the typical YRF template of gloss, glamour, and high-octane action, but lacks the necessary patriotic emotion to hold it together.
Social media chatter echoed this sentiment, with audience members complaining that the film feels less like an intense espionage thriller and more like an artificial, AI-generated corporate product that lacks a genuine cinematic soul.
The Contentious ‘Sita and Durga’ Angle and Creative Choices
Alpha Movie Review: A section of the audience online has raised questions regarding the creative and narrative choices in the film. The two lead female assassins are named Sita (played by Alia Bhatt) and Durga (played by Sharvari).
Media reports note that viewers found a stark contradiction between the traditional, powerful cultural weight of these names and how the characters were stylized on screen.
Several viewers on platforms like YouTube and X pointed out that while the film relies on highly marketed glamour shots including heavily discussed bikini and swimwear sequences in sunny European destinations the writing fails to give these characters the actual depth, gravitas, or respect their namesakes would imply.
Audiences have termed these sequences as unnecessary distractions that feel disconnected from a serious raw intelligence operation, suggesting that the glamour was used as a filler for a hollow script.
Alia Bhatt Labeled ‘Miscast’ While Sharvari Sidelined
The performances in Alpha have drawn mixed to negative critiques from the audience and trade experts alike.
While Alia Bhatt has long been regarded as an exceptionally talented actress, critics like Sumit Kadel and Taran Adarsh have noted that she appears heavily miscast as a genetically enhanced, hard-boiled super-soldier.
According to audience reviews, it becomes physically hard to believe when Alia’s slight frame is shown single-handedly overpowering dozens of heavily armed, six-foot-tall soldiers.
Viewers stated that she lacks the raw physical intensity required for a grit-heavy action hero, making her expressions look forced during intensive combat scenes.
On the other hand, Sharvari, despite showing immense potential and agility in her solo action moments, was reportedly relegated to the background.
Audiences felt her character was underwritten and served more as a bubbly sidekick rather than an equal co-lead in a supposedly women-led narrative.
Competent Villains Let Down by Cliche Tropes
The supporting cast features Bobby Deol as Colonel Fateh Singh and Anil Kapoor as the RAW Chief. While both actors have been credited by audiences for putting in genuine effort, the script significantly lets them down.
According to viewers, Bobby Deol’s forced Haryanvi accent and the predictable “cross-border Pakistani mole” storyline felt entirely stale.
Audiences remarked that instead of making the primary antagonist look brilliant and terrifying, the highly convenient writing ended up making India’s intelligence establishment appear easily outsmarted and helpless until the final act.
Forced Cameos and a ‘Hollywood-Copied’ Plot
A major point of criticism across various review platforms, including digital outlets, is the film’s heavy reliance on Western templates without proper adaptation.
The plot, involving an “Alpha serum” injected into individuals to create super-soldiers, has been widely panned by the audience as a lazy copy of Hollywood superhero franchises like Captain America and Black Widow.
Furthermore, a special cameo by Hrithik Roshan as Kabir was intended to be a major highlight.
However, according to multiple review reports, his appearance inside a picturesque monastery where he is bafflingly addressed as “Monkji” feels incredibly forced and fails to move the actual plot forward.
Audiences also pointed out the irony that in a film promoted as a breakthrough female-led spy movie, the female protagonists ultimately rely on male authority figures to rescue them and give them instructions, defeating the very purpose of an independent female-led narrative.
A Dull Espionage Affair
Ultimately, according to collective audience feedback and trade data, Alpha stands as one of the weakest links in the current spy franchise.
While the film boasts slick cinematography and high-budget production values, it completely lacks the realism, attention to detail, and emotional resonance needed to hook the viewers.
For an audience looking for a smart, realistic, and gritty spy thriller, Alpha is being widely regarded across social platforms as a dull and predictable missed opportunity.
Disclaimer: The reviews and opinions expressed in this article are compiled from public reactions on social media, audience feedback, and reports by prominent film analysts. They do not reflect the personal views of this publication.
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