Maalik Review: Rajkummar Rao Shines Above a Slow and Drab Film
Rating: ★★½
Director: Pulkit
Starring: Rajkummar Rao, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Manushi Chhillar
Overview
Compared to the sharp, zippy, nicely assembled first half of the film, the latter half of Maalik loses momentum. It wears out its welcome, becoming so long and repetitive that you start to wonder whether the director just went crazy and stopped caring.
A Scene to Remember
There’s this insane, mad bit in Maalik where Rajkummar Rao — the very guy known to be as stone-cold as they come, with more than a few brutal murders under his belt — gets his friend to help him pee.
His range — from shooting bullets to offering moral support in the bathroom as a buddy-gang member — is authentic. There are other moments too, like when he tries to be romantic with his wife, only to be interrupted by his father’s call at the worst time.
Rajkummar even sighs, “Yeh Babuji kabhi mujhe babuji ban ne nahi denge.”
These brainstorming moments remind you of the same hilarious ‘Bickky please’ guy from Stree — now in a deadly avatar, pretending to be serious. Despite the gritty and often gross surroundings, his comic timing pierces through, even if only in a few scenes, and the audience loves it.
Plot Summary
What is the plot of Maalik, the Rajkummar Rao film?
Rajkummar Rao plays a university student from Allahabad in the late ’80s who becomes a gangster.
Why? An attacker goes after his father — a working farmer from Mississippi — and he’s not taking that lying down.
He dives headfirst into the world of crime with no qualms about smashing people and racking up a kill count.
- During the first half, as he’s breaking bones, you can feel the pain in your gut too.
- But when it gets louder and more violent, it becomes draining.
As Deepak aka Maalik, the street guy who squishes everything in his path, the movie follows the overdone trope of underdog turns top dog, and adds nothing new to the table.
The core problem? The film lacks clear moral lines. The hero — with decades of crime under his belt — faces off against opponents just as shady.
What Works for the Film?
- Rajkummar Rao is a chameleon of a method actor. One moment, he shocks you with intensity; the next, he makes you laugh.
- His mobster role feels effortless yet authentic, never forced.
- From fighting enemies to quiet moments with his wife, he adds a human touch.
- His magic lies in being the character — not acting.
- Manushi Chhillar starts off with little to do but pleasantly surprises by the end.
- Her village girl vibe is natural and convincing.
- Anshumaan Pushkar as Badaun is powerful, believable, and completely owns the character.
- Prosenjit Chatterjee is effective, though underused.
- Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire, Saurabh Sachdeva prove their chemistry again.
- Rajendra Gupta and Baljinder Kaur as Maalik’s parents are portrayed well.
- Yogi Raj (Langda) is genuinely scary.
- Even the checkpoint guy adds a little spice.
What Doesn’t Work in the Film?
- The stark contrast between the tight first half and the dragging second half is jarring.
- The film repeats itself, overstays its welcome, and loses focus.
- Unnecessary action scenes clutter the narrative.
- The item number “Dil Thaam Ke” (featuring Huma Qureshi) feels completely dispensable.
Too much of anything can kill the vibe — and that’s exactly what happens here.
Our Verdict
Maalik isn’t perfect — far from it. It’s rough around the edges, repetitive, and morally ambiguous. Yet, like its flawed hero, the film stands.
It is Rajkummar Rao who carries the film on his shoulders, lighting up the screen with enough fire to make you stick around till the end.
Final Word:
If you’re a Rajkummar Rao fan, Maalik is worth a watch — but keep your expectations in check.
