Mission Majnu – coming to Netflix on Friday – is the first and only Indian original film to be released on the streaming platform this month. Originally slated for a theatrical release last year, the Sidharth Malhotra-led patriotic spy thriller suffered multiple delays, with Netflix eventually acquiring the streaming rights to it in December. In a seemingly action-oriented version of India’s top-secret operation in the 1970s, the film stars Malhotra as a covert RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) agent tasked with uncovering and destroying Pakistan’s covert nuclear weapons program.
For those unfamiliar with Hindi, “majnu” essentially means a madman—in this case, someone mad enough to put their nation above themselves. It also has a secondary correlation to Romeo, which comes from the 1949 Telugu-language romance film Laila Majnu. It fits here as this film has a layer of romantic elements underneath it – a relationship forged to strengthen the protagonist’s cover in the heart of Pakistan.
Furthermore, although based on true events, the events have never been fully chronicled Mission Majnu essentially focused on an unnamed RAW agent, or a coalition of them, whose name(s) have never been mentioned in the pages of history. “Because it’s not as well documented – like this mission – it’s inspired by a true event, so we had a lot of publicly available information about what’s really happening. At least for my character.” Malhotra said in one interview.
Netflix releases in January 2023: Mission Majnu, Fauda and more
Using the alias Tariq Ali, RAW agent Amandeep Ajitpal Singh takes on multiple jobs to get intel
Photo credit: Netflix
Shantanu Bagchiwho is making his directorial debut Mission Majnu, claims to have paid close attention to historical accuracy, focusing on issues such as architecture, clothing, language, and vehicles – all of which had to coincide with the period in which the film is set – 1974–77. “Shantanu has a passion for sketching and he explained the gunshot breakdowns to us with lots of sketches, which was very fascinating,” said Malhotra PTIdetailing his experience working with the first-time director, previously known for directing commercials.
Here’s everything you need to know about Mission Majnu led by Sidharth Malhotra:
Release date and time of Mission Majnu
Mission Majnu releases this Friday, January 20th at 12:30 p.m. IST, exclusively on Netflix worldwide. Interested parties must have a subscription which starts at Rs. 149 for mobile and Rs. 199 for the Basic plan, which lets you stream on a TV or laptop, but only in SD resolution. For users on higher plans and with compatible devices or screens, Mission Majnu will be available for streaming up to Ultra HD DolbyVision Format.
Cast of Mission Majnu
After the commercial coffers failed, that was it thank you God, Malhotra makes his first Netflix collaboration with Mission Majnu, portraying Amandeep Ajitpal Singh, a RAW field worker who is brought into effect when the Indian government suspects the neighboring country is illegally manufacturing a nuclear bomb. Using the alias Tariq Ali, Singh enters the heart of Pakistan – first as a well-mannered tailor and then as a plumber – all with the sole aim of passing on all information to his senior officials. During his time in the country, he also marries a local woman, Nasreen, and eventually finds himself at a crossroads between prioritizing love for his country or his better half.
Rashmika Mandanna stars as the aforementioned Nasreen, a visually impaired woman caught unawares by all the undercover work Ali is doing under the same roof. While the actress previously had experience playing a Pakistani girl Sit Ramam. In Mission Majnu, she serves as a still point in the life of her husband, who is constantly juggling two identities. “Here I had to work a lot for my dialect because it’s all Urdu,” Mandanna explains her process in one go interview. “They would blindfold me and throw a tennis ball at me – to make me extremely sensitive to my surroundings.”
Rashmika Mandanna plays Nasreen, Tariq Ali’s visually impaired wife
Photo credit: Netflix
Experienced actor Parmeet Sethi is listed third on the list as RN Kao, the real-life Indian spymaster who helped set it up and served as RAW’s first boss. In the Mission Majnu trailer, he can be seen briefing then-Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi on Pakistan’s attempt to create nuclear weapons and spurring the idea of hiring a RAW agent to thwart those plans. “What drew me to this character was — this is a real-life character. And it’s very rare that you actually get the chance to play a person who has done so much for the country. So playing this character was a no-brainer for me,” Sethi said during Netflix Trailer launch event.
Another star of Sita Ramam, Ashwath Bhatt is set to play General Muhammad Zia ul Haq, the ex-dictator and sixth president of Pakistan, in Mission Majnu. As the film is set in India during the period of emergency, his character is poised to lead another round of military dictatorship in the neighboring country. “This is the story of a non-war espionage mission; a very interesting piece of recent political history,” Bhatt said in one interview.
Kumud Mishra (Sooryavanshi) portrays an unnamed official believed to be leading the prosecution behind the development of the Rawalpindi atomic bomb – accidentally divulging some information in front of Ali, who is trying to get more out of him. In the meantime, Zakir Hussain plays a high-ranking Indian officer tasked with keeping tabs on Ali’s movement and reminding the spy that Nasreen is just a cover and not his real wife.
Sharib Hashmi (Dhaakad), Arjan Bajwa (Kabir Singh) and Mir Sarwar (Bajrangi Bhaijaan) also play previously unknown roles.
Mission Majnu summary
Here’s the official synopsis for Netflix’s Mission Majnu:
In the 1970s, a covert Indian spy takes on a deadly mission to uncover a secret nuclear weapons program in the heart of Pakistan.
Mission Majnu stars a stunningly talented cast of Sidharth Malhotra, Rashmika Mandanna, Kumud Mishra, Parmeet Sethi, Sharib Hashmi, Mir Sarwar and Zakir Hussain.
Mission Majnu trailer
The first teasers for Mission Majnu was dropped on December 16, chronicling Pakistan’s real-life defeat by India in the 1971 war, eventually leading the former to consider nuclear war. The one-minute footage served primarily as glamor shots for Malhotra’s character while briefly emphasizing his dislike of using firearms. That’s ironic considering there’s a brief scene where he jumps off a moving train where he can be seen holding a gun.
On Jan. 9, Netflix released a full-length trailer showing Ali climbing through one employer after another and finally discovering that some of the Pakistani scientists were from abroad – the prime suspect was a person named “Abdul Qadeer Khan”. . The remaining trailer was heavily focused on the action sequences, with indoor combat choreography looking decent while exterior shots were marred with poor CGI effects.
Watch the Mission Majnu trailer
Ashwath Bhatt as General Muhammad Zia ul Haq in a still from Mission Majnu
Photo credit: Netflix
Mission Majnu review
The first reviews for Mission Majnu are expected to be released this Friday, January 20, the day of its worldwide release on Netflix. Stay tuned for those Gadget 360 Review of Mission Majnu.
Mission Majnu poster
Here is the official Mission Majnu poster from Netflix:
Mission Majnu poster
Photo credit: Netflix
