Ulajh (transl. Entangle) is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language spy thriller film[4] directed by Sudhanshu Saria and produced by Junglee Pictures. It stars Janhvi Kapoor, Roshan Mathew, Gulshan Devaiah and Adil Hussain.[5] The plot focuses on a young IFS officer with a legacy of patriots in her family, entangled in a dangerous personal conspiracy amidst a career-defining post far away from her home.[6][7]
| Ulajh | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sudhanshu Saria |
| Written by | Parveez Shaikh Sudhanshu Saria |
| Dialogues by | Atika Chohan |
| Produced by | Vineet Jain |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Shreya Dev Dube |
| Edited by | Nitin Baid |
| Music by | Shashwat Sachdev |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Pen Marudhar Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 134 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹35 crore[2] |
| Box office | est. ₹11.05 crore[3] |
The film was announced in May 2023 and was shot in India and London, with principal photography beginning in June 2023 and ending by September 2023.[8] Ulajh was released on 2 August 2024 to mixed reviews from critics.[9] The film became a box office bomb, grossing only ₹11 crore worldwide.[10]
Plot
editSuhana Bhatia is an IFS officer, belonging to an illustrious family of diplomats. Her father is about to be made the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, and she is promoted to the role of Deputy Commissioner at the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom. Suhana moves to London, where she is chauffered around by her driver and ex-policeman, Salim.
India is preparing to receive the newly-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahzad Alam, who has announced a pro-India policy. Manohar Rawal, an Indian cabinet minister, invites Alam to participate in India's Independence Day ceremony, after Alam agreed to extradite a wanted terrorist, Yaseen Mirza. Meanwhile in London, Suhana meets an ex-Michelin-star chef, Nakul, at a DHC event. They start going out, and eventually sleep together in her apartment. Unknown to Suhana, Nakul secretly records their encounter and begins to blackmail her the next day. He demands confidential information about a new energy deal. Fearful of the fallout a scandal will have on her father and family's reputation, Suhana complies.
When Nakul continues to blackmail Suhana with more demands, she considers resigning from her post. However, Nakul claims to be ISI agent Akhtar, potentially complicating matters as Suhana will now be held liable for treason. She continues to comply, but her actions have alerted RAW agent, Jacob, who works at the DHC. He confronts Suhana but is shot dead by Akhtar. Senior RAW executives, Bajpai and Kamat, task Suhana with heading the investigation into his death, unaware that Suhana was a witness.
Suhana finds Akhtar is colluding with Salim. She confronts Salim at his apartment, but he dies after she pushes him through a glass door. RAW agent, Sebin, who also works at the DHC, shows up at the scene. He initially blames Suhana, due to being angered by his friend Jacob's death, but she is able to show him proof of being blackmailed by Akhtar, with Salim being involved in a larger conspiracy. The two decide to work together. Following clues, they uncover that Rawal and Kamat are involved in a large-scale plot, eventually culminating in the assassination of Alam on his visit to India. The attempt will be carried out by David, a French Canadian assassin, who has been posing as Nakul/Akhtar.
Suhana and Sebin reach India to stop the assassination attempt. From RAW agents, they receive Alam's schedule in Delhi, and covertly reach the dargah where he will be assassinated. Suhana tracks David to a tower in the vicinity, and confronts him before he can take his shot. David is killed by Suhana and the conspiracy unravels. Kamat and Rawal are arrested, and Suhana is congratulated for her role in preventing a major international incident. She is approached by a member of a secret elite intelligence unit, the Black Cats, to join their team. As Suhana leaves the hospital, she mentions this to Sebin, who reveals he was a member all along.
Cast
edit- Janhvi Kapoor as Suhana Bhatia
- Roshan Mathew as RAW agent Sebin Kutty
- Gulshan Devaiah as Nakul Sharma / ISI agent Humayun / David
- Adil Hussain as Dhanraj Bhatia
- Meiyang Chang[11] as Jacob Tamang
- Rajesh Tailang as Salim Sayeed
- Rajendra Gupta as Manohar Rawal
- Jitendra Joshi as Prakash Kamat
- Sakshi Tanwar as Roshni Sengupta
- Arun Mallik as Ambassador Khurana
- Amit Tiwari Anand as Deputy Counsel Solanki
- Priyanka Pal as The Scarred Woman
- Rushad Rana as Pakistan PM Shahzad Alam
- Himanshu Malik as Yaseen Mirza
- Bhavna Singh as Yaseen's Wife
- Vivek Madan as Pakistan Defence Minister
- Swati Verma as News Reporter
- Natasha Rastogi as Saroj Bhatia
- Swastika Chakraborty as Suhana's Bhua
- Alyy Khan as Ambassador Kazi
Production
editPrincipal photography commenced in June 2023[12] and wrapped in September 2023 in London.[13][14]
Music
edit| Ulajh | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 29 July 2024[15] |
| Recorded | 2022–23 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 21:47 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Label | Sony Music India |
The soundtrack is composed by Shashwat Sachdev and lyrics is written by Kumaar, Jasmine Sandlas and Sudhanshu Saria.[15]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shaukan" | Kumaar | Jubin Nautiyal, Neha Kakkar, Shashwat Sachdev | 2:47 |
| 2. | "Aaja Oye" | Jasmine Sandlas, Sudhanshu Saria | Jasmine Sandlas, Shashwat Sachdev | 2:37 |
| 3. | "Main Hoon Tera Ae Watan" | Kumaar | Shashwat Sachdev | 4:15 |
| 4. | "Ilahi Mere Rubaroo" | Kumaar | Sanjith Hegde, Shahzad Ali, Shashwat Sachdev | 5:16 |
| 5. | "Jao Ji Jao" | Sudhanshu Saria | Garvit Soni, Priyansh Srivastava, Shashwat Sachdev | 3:59 |
| 6. | "Thoda Galat" | Kumaar | Jubin Nautiyal, Shashwat Sachdev | 2:53 |
| Total length: | 21:47 | |||
Release
editTheatrical
editUlajh was scheduled to release on 5 July 2024 but was later postponed to 2 August 2024.
Home media
editThe film was premiered on Netflix from 27 September 2024.[16]
Reception
editA critic of Bollywood Hungama rated the film 1.5/5 stars and noted "Ulajh is a niche and confusing film which is devoid of any entertainment value".[10] Sreehari Nair of Rediff.com rated the film 1.5/5 and observed that "Ulajh strikes you as an attempt at statement-making gone horribly wrong, a punchline that doesn't land, a roar that never reaches the ear".[17]
Tanmayi Savadi of Times Now gave the film a rating of 3.5/5 and wrote "Sudhanshu maintains a balance between Suhana’s vulnerabilities and the tightness of the script. Often thrillers get predictable after a point; Ulajh holds onto itself well".[18] Filmfare gave the film a rating of 3.5/5 and wrote "A more nuanced writing would have served her better."[19] Sreeparna Sengupta of The Times of India gave the film a rating of 3/5 and wrote "As a spy-thriller 'Ulajh' is gripping in parts and a tad flat in others".[20]
Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated the film 2/5 and wrote the film is a "damp squib, wastes fine ensemble cast on amateurish plot-line".[21] Rating the film 2/5, Suparna Sharma of The Week wrote "It’s a joyless film about a daddy’s little girl who must somehow redeem herself at least in her father's eyes. On that count the film delivers. On all other counts, it fails."[22] Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day rated the film 11⁄2 and commented "Untangling this pretentious nonsense".[23]
See also
edit- Half Moon Street, a 1986 film with a similar premise
References
edit- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: CBFC mutes 'f**k, 'c*****a' in Jahnvi Kapoor-starrer Ulajh; also blurs vulgar hand gesture". Bollywood Hungama. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Box Office Collection Day 1: Janhvi Kapoor Starrer Opens On Decent Note, Mints Rs 1.37 Crore". Times Now. 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Box Office Collection". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Excl! Gulshan Devaiah Says Janhvi Kapoor's Spy-Thriller Ulajh Is His 'Most Complex Role So Far'". Times Now. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Roshan Mathew pens a heartfelt note post 'Ulajh' wrap, Janhvi Kapoor reacts!". The Times of India. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (10 May 2023). "Janhvi Kapoor to play imperilled IFS officer in thriller 'Ulajh'". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ "Janhvi Kapoor to play IFS officer in Ulajh alongside Gulshan Devaiah and Roshan Mathew". India Today. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah wrap the London schedule of Ulajh, check out BTS pictures". The Indian Express. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor, Roshan Mathew, Gulshan Devaiah starrer Ulajh postponed; set for August 2, 2024 release". Bollywood Hungama. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Ulajh Movie Review: ULAJH is a niche and confusing film". Bollywood Hungama. 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Meiyang Chang applauds Ulajh co-star Janhvi Kapoor's dedication: 'There is a misconception that starkids don't work hard'". The Indian Express. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor begins shooting for 'Ulajh' in London". The Times of India. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor wraps up Ulajh shoot, says 'it's story coincidently intertwined with things happening in my life'". Hindustan Times. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ PTI (11 September 2023). "Janhvi Kapoor wraps up 'Ulajh', shares valuable lessons learnt during film's shoot". India Today. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Ulajh – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". JioSaavn. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh lands on OTT! Here's where you can stream Janhvi Kapoor's spy thriller". ottplay.com. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
- ^ Nair, Sreehari (2 August 2024). "Ulajh Review: Diplomatic Doldrums". Rediff.com.
- ^ "Ulajh Movie Review: Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah Weave A Compelling Political Web". Times Now. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Movie Review | Filmfare.com". Filmfare. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Movie Review : An engaging watch despite some flaws". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh movie review: Janhvi Kapoor film a damp squib, wastes fine ensemble cast on amateurish plot-line". The Indian Express. 2 August 2024.
- ^ "'Ulajh' review: A joyless spy thriller that Janhvi Kapoor is forced to carry on her shapely shoulders". The Week.
- ^ "'Ulajh' movie review: Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah's film is pretentious nonsense". Mid-day. 2 August 2024.
External links
edit- Ulajh at IMDb
- Ulajh at Bollywood Hungama