Based on actual events, Batla House evinces how the Delhi Police wriggled its way out of a tight spot following its gunning down of two alleged terrorists. As aspersions were cast on its motives by activists, politicians, and media, the incident managed to attract more than a few eyeballs. We examine it in the Batla House film review.
John Abraham plays ACP Sanjay Kumar who is in the spotlight after he and his team confront the alleged perpetrators of the bomb blasts that occurred only a few days back. In the ensuing scuffle, two suspected terrorists and a senior police officer perish.
Amidst the furor, ACP Sanjay Kumar and his team face a barrage of accusations from the prosecution. Throughout this tumultuous time, ACP Sanjay Kumar’s wife Nandita Kumar (Mrunal Thakur) stands steadfast by him despite the discord in their marital life.
The action sequences in Batla House are executed with brio and keep up the film’s momentum. The conversation between the cops is concise and engaging. Although the tender moments between Sanjay and Nandita are not as effective, they add another facet to the story.
Prominent amongst the actors are John Abraham, Mrunal Thakur, and Rajesh Sharma. While John plays ACP Sanjay Kumar with resolve, Mrunal is not as convincing in her portrayal of Nandita Kumar. Rajesh Sharma, as the prosecuting lawyer, is entertaining with his witty one-liners and cocky demeanor.
Whether the viewer is conversant with the 2008 Operation Batla House or not, the film makes for an engaging viewing with a tight narrative and decent acting. There is one item song in the movie by Nora Fatehi, and mostly, all the non-essential elements of the story have been edited out.
The only major flaw is that it is a highly biased narrative in favor of the Delhi Police. It does not give sufficient opportunity to the other side to present its viewpoint. Of course, there are activists and media person shown protesting against the alleged atrocities committed by the police. However, neither that nor the political angle stand out and suffer from a lack of a nuanced approach.
What Batla House needed was a more balanced view of the two opposing sides and not a skewed perspective. While the filmmakers play it safe, it robs the discerning viewers a chance to watch a film that is as intriguing as it is patriotic. It is challenging for a filmmaker making a movie inspired by actual events not to get carried away and present all the facets of a story rather than restricting to just one.
Notwithstanding its shortcomings, Batla House has enough verve in it to draw filmgoers to the theaters. As John Abraham gives a career-best performance, this is reason enough for his fans not to miss it. For the rest, while there are a few scenes that manage to hold your interest and keep you invested in the story right till the very end, the film falls short of an intelligent thriller.
Batla House film review rates Batla House 
(3 / 5)
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