In this Zee5 drama-thriller film set in 1993, Indian intelligence officers apprehend a deaf-mute man for being a spy. When Pushkin, an average teacher with knowledge of sign language, is asked to interrogate him, things take a dangerous and shocking turn. The film has a runtime of around 124 minutes.
Berlin Movie Cast
Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Rahul Bose, Anupriya Goenka, Kabir Bedi
Berlin 2023 Writer & Director
Atul Sabharwal
Berlin Movie Review
The worldbuilding of Berlin, a spy-thriller drama film, is one of the best things about it, but I think (as this review will show), almost everything about it is done very well. From editing, performances, script, and cinematography to how it tackles the Bollywood spy genre, there’s something very refreshing about this movie that makes it such a tight watch through and through.
There’s a mystery in this movie that is tackled deliciously and the themes never go overboard. Plus, it’s thoroughly refreshing that we aren’t fighting against some Pakistani terrorist for once, with the mystery getting more and more complicated and watchable as the runtime moves on. There’s intrigue in the storyline because we aren’t force-fed plot points that come out of left field and whatever we do get is very to the point, such that viewers are given just enough to sit at the edge of their seats. The cinematography, editing, and sound design add to the building’s intrigue, and all of it is done extremely well.
However, I think what really works for Berlin is Ishwak Singh. I have said this before and I will say it again, he is one of the most talented actors right now and, playing a deaf and mute character, he obviously has no lines. But one cannot say even for a minute that he doesn’t express his myriad emotions. His eyes speak and he carries this film effortlessly and makes us question his every move. As Ashok Kumar, he brings out a playful vulnerability, along with a razor-sharp wit, that one cannot ignore.
His dance with Aparshakti Khurana’s Pushkin Verma is delicious to watch because most of the time you question everyone’s intent. Who is good, and who isn’t is difficult to decipher throughout the runtime of the movie. His push and pull with Singh is confusing, and their character arcs an intriguing watch. Khurana tends to get a bit overboard sometimes, but he’s overall pretty great. Rahul Bose as Jagdish Sondhi is also excellent and his character’s slow unravelling is amazing to watch.
Although there are some predictable moments in the film, Berlin keeps itself watchable by sticking to the facts of the matter instead of going the melodramatic route. I enjoyed watching the movie unfold because it’s rare to see spy-thriller not taking things too far these days. Thus, the movie feels like something realistic, almost as if it can happen for real.
In the end, Berlin is a bittersweet watch and kept me hooked throughout the runtime. The twists that it brings in, especially the way the storyline unfolds towards the end, are extremely entertaining and might take you by surprise. There’s a charm and thrill in the movie that director Sabharwal uses to his advantage and the steady pacing and fantastic background score keep things moving. By the end, thus, you can’t help but root for Ashok and Pushkin, even though there’s a chance that it’s all in vain.
Final Thoughts
There’s a claustrophobia in Atul Sabharwal’s Berlin that keeps you glued to the screen. Along with fantastic performances, this thriller-drama film is a different breed than the other spy thrillers, one whose drama never goes overboard.
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