A young man and woman fall in love just as he begins to realize his destiny, propelling the couple on an action-packed collision course with malevolent powers hell-bent on mass catastrophe.
A boy meets a female. The girl has feelings toward the boy. Boy realizes he has a dangerous superpower and is summoned to save the world from a rising evil. This isn’t your average romantic comedy formula, nor is it typical of Indian cinema, which is steeped in ancient mysticism and mythology.
That is, however, what distinguishes and differentiates Ayan Mukerji’s enormous epic “Brahmastra Part One: Shiva.”
He shatters genre conventions as Western cinematic inspirations merge with true Bollywood glitz. And, while the plot is somewhat overcomplicated, and the spectacle delights and exhausts in equal measure (as even Marvel movies do), it’s a hugely exciting prelude to a planned trilogy dubbed “Astraverse,” which is billed as Bollywood’s first original cinematic universe.
The Brahmastra, the Gods’ most powerful weapon, has been dormant for three decades. It wreaked havoc on the world the last time it was awoken. To secure the world, the Brahmastra divided it into three sections, which were spread throughout India and guarded by prominent leaders.
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On the same night that penniless, modest DJ Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) discovers his life’s love, quick-witted beauty Isha (Alia Bhatt), he is haunted by inexplicable, debilitating visions that stymie his burgeoning romance.
A sinister entity led by Junoon (Mouni Roy) seeks to reassemble the shattered fragments to establish world dominance and mass catastrophe. As the intensity of these visions grows, our aspiring hero must accept the call, embarking on an adventure with Isha to discover his true identity.
Setting the tale during Diwali, India’s Festival of Lights, is a brilliant idea since it grounds the special effects-driven antics in reality while also including culture and tradition. Thankfully, the secrets of Shiva’s origins and the mysterious villain assisting Junoon’s wicked quest are kept alive for a good portion of the film’s run length.
Some of the plot twists are clearly predictable, especially for Westerners who have grown tired of films in which the parts of some MacGuffin or others are assembled as the hero struggles to fulfill their fate.
The film also has pacing flaws, most notably when it returns from intermission, and it overdoes on exposition at points, as the characters recount what happened twice. It’s never a dull trip in Mukerji’s capable, deft hands. There are few squandered opportunities, as all of the details lay the basis for this chapter as well as the two impending sequels, which are expected to offer more payout.
The typical hero’s journey narrative is not followed by character development. Rather, the film takes that concept as a starting point for a fresh take on the familiar, inventing and updating it. It’s a wise way to integrate Isha’s agency and arc, which runs parallel to Shiva’s.
The two are iconic heroes with comforting qualities that mirror narrative themes of sacrifice, honesty, and love. Even before the supernatural components appear, these character traits are always at the forefront of the action. Given the film’s bombastic, over-the-top style, orchestrating this subtlety is an achievement.
The leads, Kapoor and Bhatt, exude charm and flair that jumps off the screen and grabs your heart. The material’s occasionally corny phrasing is elevated by Kapoor’s magnetism. Bhatt shines as both a spitfire and a sweetheart with verve and grace. They are most endearing when they are vulnerable.
We can virtually see the dynamic duo falling head over heels for real throughout a few sequences, whether they’re running over rooftops amid fireworks or being sprinkled with marigold petals in a musical duet — because we in the audience are pulling for the real-life married couple.
Casting towering talents like Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and a giant Bollywood superstar who’d be a spoiler to reveal as the Brahmastra pieces’ protectors is a wise approach since it gives the ensuing action more weight while presenting the viewers with joyous grins.
Sequences that rely heavily on special effects, depicting these men locked in a battle of muscular wit and grit, deliver on the promise of blockbuster entertainment. Stunt choreography is generally exciting, with a few superman landings thrown in for good measure, but it could use more innovation.
The film’s soundscape is emotionally vast and engaging, with a soundtrack that includes a variety of ballads and bops and a score by Pritam Chakraborty that would be celebrated in any nightclub. Mukerji’s vision for character-driven action is fascinating on many levels, as is the grandeur and scope of the Astraverse’s future, which becomes clear by the end of the film.
