Abhishek Kapoor’s Azaad is a fun movie set in British India. The film has action, drama, comedy, and—a horse! Yes, a horse named Azaad who steals the spotlight.
The movie follows Govind (Aaman Devgan), a young stable boy who becomes fascinated by Azaad, a horse belonging to Vikram Singh. Vikram, a farmer-turned-'rebel', is very dear to Azaad. And there's something you must know—Azaad is no ordinary horse. He throws side-eyes, is expressive and loves liquor.
Aaman Devgan, in his debut, is quite impressive as Govind. He’s natural in the role and makes you root for him. Rasha Thadani’s debut performance as Janaki Devi, the zamindar’s daughter, is nothing short of remarkable.
However, there are moments where the romance between the leads feels a bit forced and out of place. And Ajay Devgn? He does a great job as Vikram Singh–adding a hint of dry humour to his stern character. Diana Penty is graceful as Kesar, Vikram's lover, who was tragically taken away from him by Janaki's brother, the zamindar's son.
The film has some catchy music and high-energy dance moves, especially from the debutants. What’s surprising is that despite a very obvious storyline, the film manages to keep you hooked until the end.
While Azaad contains a lot of charm, it does fall short in a few places. The movie fails to display the true relevance of its British-era setting. The dialogues lack originality, and the climax is predictable.
Though there are flaws—let's face it, what doesn’t?— the movie is entertaining, and a perfect one-watch pick for a Saturday evening.
Film: Azaad
Director: Abhishek Kapoor
Cast: Aaman Devgan, Ajay Devgn, Rasha Thadani, Diana Penty, Piyush Mishra, Mohit Malik
Rating: 3.7
