As the first shows of Mirzapur The Movie begin screening across the country, the much-awaited big-screen adaptation of the popular gangster drama has received its first review.
Trade analyst and film critic Taran Adarsh was among the first to share his reaction to the movie, giving it a glowing four-star review and calling it a “winner”.
According to Hindustan Times, Taran Adarsh described Mirzapur The Movie as a “peak mass entertainer” and praised it as a “roaring, ruthless, razor-sharp entertainer that works big time”. He also called the film a “sure-shot hit”.
In his detailed post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the senior critic highlighted the film’s larger-than-life treatment while noting that it successfully retains the essence of the popular web series.
According to Hindustan Times, Adarsh particularly pointed out that the movie does not feel like a stretched version of an episode from the series. Instead, he described it as “larger, louder, and far more cinematic, while retaining the raw flavour, attitude, and spirit that made the web series a phenomenon.”
The review also praised the film’s writing, direction and action sequences. Adarsh credited director Gurmmeet Singh for handling the material with confidence and maintaining a balance between the different elements that have defined the Mirzapur franchise.
“Director Gurmmeet Singh handles the material with confidence, striking the right balance between drama, action, humour, and emotion without diluting the core DNA of #Mirzapur. Action has always been integral to the #Mirzapur universe and the action here is raw, brutal, and massy... The big-screen treatment adds scale, intensity, and impact, with several whistle-worthy moments,” he wrote.
Hindustan Times reported that the critic also found the background score to be a major strength of the film. While he felt there was limited scope for songs and music in the story, he praised the background score as “beyond outstanding”, adding to the intensity of the big-screen experience.
Praise for the actors
The performances have emerged as one of the strongest aspects of the first review, with the ensemble cast receiving extensive praise.
According to Hindustan Times, Taran Adarsh said the actors successfully brought the swagger, menace, vulnerability and intensity expected from the Mirzapur universe. He highlighted the large ensemble and said that the performers made a strong impression throughout the film.
“The actors bring the swagger, menace, vulnerability and intensity that the #Mirzapur universe demands. The film boasts a massive ensemble cast, and every performer leaves you thoroughly impressed with their impeccable work... #PankajTripathi [exceptional], #RaviKishan [outstanding], #AliFazal [fantastic], #Divyenndu [excellent], #JitendraKumar [superb], #AbhishekBanerjee [too good], #MohitMalik [first-rate], #RajeshTailang [wonderful], #PramodPathak [super], and #SushantSingh [flawless] – every actor gets his moments and leaves a lasting impression. #RasikaDugal has an interesting part – and there's a twist – and she shines... #SonalChauhan does well, #SheebaChaddha is pitch-perfect as always, while #ShriyaPilgaonkar is competent.”
The review particularly praised Pankaj Tripathi, Ravi Kishan, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu and Jitendra Kumar, while also highlighting the work of Abhishek Banerjee, Mohit Malik, Rajesh Tailang, Pramod Pathak and Sushant Singh.
Hindustan Times noted that the return of Divyenndu as Munna Tripathi has been one of the biggest talking points surrounding the movie. His character's return has generated considerable excitement among fans of the original series.
Rasika Dugal was also singled out for praise, with Adarsh noting that she has an interesting role in the film and that there is a twist connected to her character. Sonal Chauhan, Sheeba Chadha and Shriya Pilgaonkar also received comments on their performances.
A few negatives remain
Despite the overwhelmingly positive response, the first review also pointed out some shortcomings.
According to Hindustan Times, Taran Adarsh admitted that the movie loses some momentum during the second half. However, he felt that the way the climax has been executed helps recover some of that impact.
“The second half also feels slightly stretched and could've certainly benefitted from some trimming,” he added.
The pacing in the latter portion of the film could therefore be one area that audiences may notice. While the first review remains strongly positive overall, the criticism suggests that the movie could have benefited from being slightly tighter in its second half.
However, the review also highlighted an important factor for the film's box-office prospects: audiences do not necessarily need to be followers of the original Mirzapur series to enjoy the movie.
Hindustan Times reported that Adarsh felt the film works even for viewers who are not particularly familiar with or attached to the web series. This could prove important for the movie as it attempts to attract both existing fans and a wider theatrical audience.
All about Mirzapur The Movie
Mirzapur The Movie is positioned as an origin story exploring the feud between the Tripathis and the Pandits, a central conflict established through the Amazon Prime Video series.
The film is directed by Gurmeet Singh and written by Puneet Krishna. It is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under the banner of Excel Entertainment.
According to Hindustan Times, the movie features Ali Fazal, Pankaj Tripathi and Divyenndu in key roles, while Jitendra Kumar takes over the role of Bablu Pandit, previously played by Vikrant Massey in the series.
The supporting cast includes Ravi Kishan, Abhishek Banerjee, Rasika Dugal, Mohitt Maalik, Sheeba Chadha, Rajesh Tailang, Pramod Pathak, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Shweta Tripathi and Sonal S Chauhan.
Among the biggest attractions for fans is the return of Divyenndu's Munna Tripathi. His character became one of the most recognisable and popular figures from the original Mirzapur series, making his appearance in the movie a major talking point ahead of its release.
The film has been shot in Hindi and has also been released in Telugu, expanding its reach beyond the Hindi-speaking audience.
With the first review describing it as a “winner”, praising its action, performances and big-screen scale, Mirzapur The Movie now enters its theatrical run with considerable expectations from fans of the franchise as well as audiences discovering the story for the first time.
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