‘Ulajh’ Movie Review: Janhvi Kapoor Struggles in a Tense Thriller

‘Ulajh’ relies heavily on spy clichés, mixing them in a rather disjointed manner. Unfortunately, the second half takes a nosedive into a bland and uninspired territory.

Starring Janhvi Kapoor, ‘Ulajh’ is an espionage thriller produced by Junglee Pictures, the same studio behind the acclaimed ‘Raazi’ (2018). Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sudhanshu Saria, known for his short film ‘Knock Knock Knock’, the film features a diverse cast, including Gulshan Devaiah, Roshan Mathew, Rajesh Tailang, Meiyang Chang, and Adil Hussain. With such a talented team, ‘Ulajh’ starts off with potential. True to the genre, it kicks off in a foreign setting. We are introduced to Janhvi’s character, Suhana Bhatia, a young IFS officer, as she jogs through the hilly streets of Kathmandu, Nepal. This tracking shot pays homage to the iconic opening of ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. Much like Clarice Starling, Suhana is a woman striving to make her mark in a male-dominated environment. However, the similarities end there, as the narrative lacks the depth it attempts to convey. Suhana is soon appointed as India’s Deputy High Commissioner at the London embassy, a significant position for someone so young. Whispers of nepotism surround her, given her diplomatic lineage—her grandfather was the country’s first UN representative, and her father, Dhanraj Bhatia (Adil Hussain), is a respected diplomat. “What does she bring to the table besides her family name?” complains Sebin, played by Roshan Mathew, behind her back. The film’s attempt to weave in meta-commentary about Janhvi Kapoor’s real-life persona through Suhana’s character feels overly explicit and forced.

Ulajh attempts to piece together various spy clichés but ultimately falls short. The second half of the film takes a nosedive into mediocrity, culminating in a rather predictable plot centered around a conspiracy to assassinate the Pakistani Prime Minister on Indian soil. Prior to this, there’s an awkward advertisement where Suhana and Roshan’s Sebin enjoy candies on a terrace while spying on an intelligence officer, leading to the question, ‘Life goes on, but the Pulse doesn’t?’

In Ulajh, Janhvi Kapoor struggles to showcase her acting abilities. She screams, frowns, glares, and frantically cleans blood off a rug, but this intensity fades as the film shifts into auto-pilot mode. A chatty Gulshan in the first half transforms into a silent assassin, reminiscent of a Hansal Mehta narrative. The film feels disjointed, with events piling up without coherence. As Ulajh grows increasingly convoluted and even absurd, Janhvi’s character Suhana finally stands up to Gulshan’s role, leading to a scene where they speed away on a bike. Behind them, graffiti on a parking lot wall reads, ‘Made love, now war,’ leaving a lasting impression.

Cast: Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah, Roshan Mathew, Rajesh Tailang, Adil Hussain, Meiyang Chang, Alyy Khan, and Jitendra Joshi

Director: Sudhanshu Saria

Rating: 2.5/5 stars