Mission Majnu

{{Short description|2023 film by Shantanu Bagchi}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Mission Majnu

| image = Mission Majnu.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Official release poster

| director = Shantanu Bagchi

| producer = {{Ubl|Ronnie Screwvala|Amar Butala|Garima Mehta}}

| writer = {{Ubl|Aseem Arrora|Sumit Batheja|Parveez Shaikh}}

| story = Parveez Shaikh
Aseem Arrora

| based_on =

| starring = {{Ubl|Sidharth Malhotra|Rashmika Mandanna|Parmeet Sethi|Sharib Hashmi|Kumud Mishra|Rajit Kapur}}

| music = Score:
Ketan Sodha
Songs:
Tanishk Bagchi
Rochak Kohli
Raghav Sachar
Arko

| cinematography = Bijitesh De

| editing = {{Ubl|Nitin Baid|Siddharth S. Pande}}

| studio = {{Ubl|RSVP Movies|Guilty By Association Media}}

| distributor = Netflix

| runtime = 129 minutes{{Cite web |title=Mission Majnu |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/mission-majnu-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdewnzkw |access-date=20 January 2023 |website=British Board of Film Classification}}

| country = India

| language = Hindi

| released = {{Film date|df=y|2023|01|20}}

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Mission Majnu is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Shantanu Bagchi and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Amar Butala and Garima Mehta.{{Cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=Sidharth Malhotra turns RAW agent in Mission Majnu. First-look poster out |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/sidharth-malhotra-turns-raw-agent-in-mission-majnu-first-look-poster-out-1752323-2020-12-23 |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=India Today}}{{Cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=Sidharth Malhotra Announces His New Film With Rashmika Mandanna Titled Mission Majnu |url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/sidharth-malhotra-announces-his-new-film-with-rashmika-mandanna-titled-mission-majnu-45456.html |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=Filmfare}} Starring Sidharth Malhotra, the film takes place before and during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.{{Cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna in spy thriller 'Mission Majnu' |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/sidharth-malhotra-rashmika-mandanna-in-spy-thriller-mission-majnu-news-bollywood-umxl5yejhbjba.html |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=Sify}}{{Cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna to feature in 'Mission Manju' |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2020/dec/23/sidharth-malhotra-rashmika-mandanna-to-feature-in-mission-manju-2240088.html |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=The New Indian Express}}{{Cite news |date=6 February 2021 |title=Sidharth Malhotra's 'Mission Majnu' begins shoot in Lucknow |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/sidharth-malhotras-mission-majnu-begins-shoot-in-lucknow-948283.html |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=Deccan Herald}} Rashmika Mandanna, Parmeet Sethi, Sharib Hashmi, Kumud Mishra, and Rajit Kapur play supporting roles.

The film faced multiple delays, first being scheduled for theatrical release on 13 May 2022 and then on 10 June the same year before being indefinitely delayed.{{Cite web |date=9 March 2022 |title=Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna starrer Mission Majnu to now release on June 10, 2022 |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/sidharth-malhotra-rashmika-mandanna-starrer-mission-majnu-now-release-june-10-2022/ |access-date=9 March 2022 |website=Bollywood Hungama}} Ultimately, the film's theatrical release was cancelled and it was released directly on Netflix on 20 January 2023 to mixed reviews from critics and audiences.{{Cite news |date=13 December 2022 |title=Confirmed: Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna starrer Mission Majnu to get direct-to-digital release; will premiere on February 20 on Netflix |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/confirmed-sidharth-malhotra-rashmika-mandanna-starrer-mission-majnu-get-direct-digital-release-will-premiere-january-20-netflix/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=Bollywood Hungama}}

Plot

In 1971, Amandeep "Aman" Singh IPS is a deep cover RAW field operative, who is in Pakistan on an undercover assignment under the pseudonym Tariq Hussain. Along the way, Aman falls in love with Nasreen Hussain, a blind girl and the two get married. In May 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test, due to which Pakistan secretly rushed to build its own nuclear weapon with the help of nuclear engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan.

During the 1977 Indian general election campaign, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is appraised of the situation by RAW Chief R. N. Kao, and she directs him to find the location of the nuclear facility. Kao assigns the mission to Aman. Aman's handler, Sharma, informs him of his new mission named "Mission Majnu". Along the way, Aman meets two other RAW agents - Aslam Usmaniya and Raman Singh (under the pseudonym Maulvi Saab), who are stationed in Pakistan. Aman manages to gather information that Pakistan is indeed making a nuclear weapon.

Following a general election in India, a new government is formed and its new leader and new Prime Minister Morarji Desai believes in building relationships through Diplomacy and peaceful means, and is against any form of warfare including spying and intelligence gathering. Kao resigns to keep the operation in Pakistan going, and hidden from the Prime Minister. In the meantime, Israel is readying an attack on the Quetta military facility, wrongly believing it to be a nuclear weapon facility. Aman manages to locate the nuclear facility in Kahuta, but is unable to collect physical evidence.

Sharma discovers that Israel is going to attack Quetta in 48 hours. Aman goes back to Kahuta and collects hair of Army personnel working in the nuclear facility, which he secretively sends to India, where it is tested and found to contain trace of radiation, pointing to the presence of plutonium in Kahuta. Israel's attack on Quetta is averted. The matter is disclosed to Desai in light of new evidence, where he weighs in on Pakistan counterparts and Pakistan's inability to be trusted. ISI hunts down and kills covert RAW agents operating in Pakistan including Aman's colleagues Aslam and Raman.

Aman tries to escape to Dubai with a pregnant Nasreen, who is unaware that ISI agents are chasing them. Aman distracts ISI agents long enough to let Nasreen board an aeroplane and leave unhindered but is killed in the process. Nasreen lands in Dubai, where she meets Kao at the airport and reads a letter from Aman revealing his true identity. She breaks down after reading the letter and the movie then ends with her crying while remembering her love.

Cast

{{Castlist|

Production

The film was announced in December 2020.{{Cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna to headline spy thriller Mission Majnu |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/dec/23/sidharth-malhotra-rashmika-mandanna-to-headline-spy-thriller-mission-majnu-21902.html |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=Cinema Express}}{{Cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=Sidharth Malhotra to play RAW agent in 'Mission Majnu'; THIS South Indian actor to make her Bollywood debut |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/bollywood/news-sidharth-malhotra-to-play-raw-agent-in-mission-majnu-opposite-rashmika-mandanna-2863555 |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=DNA India}}{{Cite news |date=23 December 2020 |title=Rashmika Mandanna to make Bollywood debut with Sidharth Malhotra's 'Mission Majnu' |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/rashmika-mandanna-make-bollywood-debut-sidharth-malhotra-s-mission-majnu-140150 |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=The News Minute}} Principal photography began in February 2021 at Lucknow and the film wrapped up in September 2021.{{Cite news |date=6 February 2021 |title=Sidharth Malhotra-Rashmika Mandanna-starrer Mission Majnu goes on floors in Lucknow |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/feb/06/sidharth-malhotra-rashmika-mandanna-starrer-mission-majnu-goes-on-floors-in-lucknow-22684.html |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=Cinema Express}}{{Cite news |date=6 February 2021 |title=Sidharth Malhotra kickstarts Mission Majnu shoot in Lucknow sans Rashmika Mandanna |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/sidharth-malhotra-kickstarts-mission-majnu-shoot-in-lucknow-sans-rashmika-mandanna-1766508-2021-02-06 |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=India Today}}

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = Mission Majnu

| type = soundtrack

| artist = Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, Raghav Sachar and Arko

| released = 23 January 2023{{Cite web |date=23 January 2023 |title=Mission Majnu – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/mission-majnu/99P2CA3QNpk_ |publisher=Jiosaavn}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| genre = Feature film soundtrack

| length = 29:08

| language = Hindi

| label = Zee Music Company

| producer =

| misc = {{external music video| header = Official audio

|{{YouTube|k_LSCKm8W_0|Mission Majnu - Full Album}}

}}

}}

The score is composed by Ketan Sodha. The songs are composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, Raghav Sachar and Arko, and the lyrics are written by Manoj Muntashir, Shabbir Ahmed, Rohit Sharma and A. M. Turaz.

The first single titled "Rabba Janda" was released on 25 December 2022. The second single titled "Maati Ko Maa Kehte Hain" was released on 17 January 2023.

{{Track listing

| headline = Track listing

| total_length = 29:08

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Rabba Janda

| extra1 = Jubin Nautiyal

| music1 = Tanishk Bagchi

| lyrics1 = Shabbir Ahmed

| length1 = 4:06

| title2 = Maati Ko Maa Kehte Hain

| extra2 = Sonu Nigam, Rochak Kohli

| music2 = Rochak Kohli

| lyrics2 = Manoj Muntashir

| length2 = 3:55

| title3 = Channa Ve Assi Marjawange

| extra3 = Raj Barman

| music3 = Raghav Sachar

| lyrics3 = Rohit Sharma

| length3 = 4:53

| title4 = Rabba Janda

| note4 = Reprise

| extra4 = Altamash Faridi

| lyrics4 = Shabbir Ahmed, Tanishk Bagchi

| music4 = Tanishk Bagchi

| length4 = 0:57

| title5 = Tum Ho

| extra5 = Papon

| music5 = Arko

| lyrics5 = A. M. Turaz

| length5 = 3:40

| title6 = Channa Ve Assi Marjawange

| note6 = Reprise

| extra6 = Jyotica Tangri

| lyrics6 = Rohit Sharma

| music6 = Raghav Sachar

| length6 = 4:51

| title7 = Rabba Janda

| note7 = Female Version

| extra7 = Zyra Nargolwala

| music7 = Tanishk Bagchi

| lyrics7 = Shabbir Ahmed

| length7 = 2:56

| title8 = Maati Ko Maa Kehte Hain

| note8 = Extended Version

| extra8 = Sonu Nigam

| lyrics8 = Manoj Muntashir

| music8 = Rochak Kohli

| length8 = 1:25

| title9 = Rabba Janda

| note9 = Acoustic

| extra9 = Jubin Nautiyal

| music9 = Tanishk Bagchi

| lyrics9 = Shabbir Ahmed

| length9 = 2:25

}}

Reception

Mission Majnu received mixed reviews from critics and audiences.{{Cite news |last=Giri |first=Aditi |date=21 January 2023 |title=Sidharth Malhotra Breaks Silence on Mission Majnu, Raazi Comparisons, Says 'It Is Never...' |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/sidharth-malhotra-breaks-silence-on-mission-majnu-raazi-comparisons-says-it-is-never-6882355.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216075139/https://www.news18.com/news/movies/sidharth-malhotra-breaks-silence-on-mission-majnu-raazi-comparisons-says-it-is-never-6882355.html |archive-date=16 February 2025 |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=News18 India |quote=Siddharth Malhotra’s recently released film Mission Majnu has been receiving mixed response from fans and critics.}} {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|25|4.3|12|consensus=}}{{Cite web |title=Mission Majnu {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mission_majnu |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}

Bollywood Hungama rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and termed the film as a "gripping saga" with a tight script, intelligent scenes, taut execution, and a memorable performance."{{Cite news |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Mission Majnu Movie Review |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/mission-majnu/critic-review/mission-majnu-movie-review/mission-majnu-is-a-gripping-saga-with-a-tight-script-intelligent-scenes-taut-execution-and-a-memorable-performance/ |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=Bollywood Hungama |language=en}}{{rating|3.5|5}} Tushar Joshi for India Today rated 3 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Sidharth is good in scenes where he is battling the stigma and pain of his past yet wants to move ahead and show his loyalty to his country and team. Rashmika Mandanna doesn’t have much to do apart from trying to strike up some chemistry with Sid."{{Cite news |last=Joshi |first=Tushar |date=January 20, 2023 |title=Mission Majnu Movie Review: This is no Shershaah, but Sidharth, Rashmika's mission to entertain is a success |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/binge-watch/story/mission-majnu-movie-review-this-is-no-shershaah-but-sidharth-rashmikas-mission-to-entertain-is-a-success-2324115-2023-01-20 |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=India Today |language=en}}{{rating|3|5}} Dhaval Roy of The Times of India rated the film 3 out of 5 and wrote that the film is "gripping in parts, but it’s too convenient, which takes away from the narrative. While great, the action stretches in places and makes the movie seem formulaic".{{Cite news |title=Mission Majnu Review: A watchable and engaging spy thriller |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/mission-majnu/ottmoviereview/97023072.cms |access-date=1 February 2023 |work=The Times of India}} Dishya Sharma of News 18 rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Mission Majnu robs you of the thrills of a spy film. Watch it to see Sidharth and Rashmika in a different avatars".{{Cite web |date=20 January 2023 |title=Mission Majnu Review: Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna Shoulder Lukewarm Spy Film |url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/mission-majnu-review-sidharth-malhotra-rashmika-mandanna-shoulder-lukewarm-spy-film-6877009.html |access-date=1 February 2023 |website=News 18}}

Anuj Kumar for The Hindu wrote "There are interesting twists in the way Tariq ekes out information and how Nasreen could sense the truth by touch, but the execution makes it a tad too cloying for a thriller. Thankfully, the film is not overtly jingoistic and makes a clear distinction in the way Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai handled the tenuous relationship with Pakistan in the 1970s. At the same time, the writers place characters on both sides of the border who could see history beyond the divisive version that the politicians often present."{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anuj |date=20 January 2023 |title='Mission Majnu' movie review: Siddharth Malhotra cannot be undercover in this formulaic mission |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mission-majnu-movie-review-siddharth-malhotra-cannot-be-undercover-in-this-formulaic-mission/article66414087.ece |url-access=limited |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN}} Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the movie only 2 stars out of 5 and wrote "Mission Majnu does not deliver a thrill a minute nor does it produce any exceptional degree of tension and suspense. Yet, parts of the film, especially in the second hour, do spring to life."{{Cite news |last=Chatterjee |first=Saibal |author-link=Saibal Chatterjee |date=20 January 2023 |title=Mission Majnu Review: Lively Performance By Sidharth Malhotra Helps Espionage Drama Spring To Life |url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/mission-majnu-review-lively-performance-by-sidharth-malhotra-helps-espionage-drama-spring-to-life-2-stars-3709393 |access-date=23 January 2023 |publisher=NDTV}}{{rating|2|5}} Shilajit Mitra for The New Indian Express rated 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Mission Majnu isn’t as crudely jingoistic as something like Bhuj: The Pride of India. The film also does not comment on the moral implications of nuclear proliferation; for that, you will have to see the pilot of Rocket Boys."{{Cite news |last=Mitra |first=Shilajit |date=21 January 2023 |title='Mission Majnu' movie review: Sidharth Malhotra is wasted in this witless spy thriller |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2023/jan/21/mission-majnu-movie-review-sidharth-malhotra-is-wastedin-this-witless-spy-thriller-2539754.html |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=The New Indian Express}}{{rating|2|5}}

References

{{Reflist}}