Sikandar Ka Muqaddar: A Slow-Burning Crime Thriller with Neeraj Pandey's Signature Touch

Giving a wordplay twist to Amitabh Bachchan's blockbuster Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Neeraj Pandey's latest Netflix film is a slow burning crime thriller, which starts fabulously with a diamond heist but then gets sluggish and meandering in between, even as it trudges to the whodunit part..

The central character is of course Sikandar (Avinash Tiwary), a computer engineer caught at the wrong place at the right time. He along with two other suspects, gets jailed by the eccentric Inspector Jaswinder (Jimmy Sheirgill) for a diamond robbery. Even after securing bail, Sikandar's fate (or 'muqaddar') falls in the hand of Jaswinder, who tries his level best to convict him and make his life a living hell. Meanwhile, his fellow suspect in crime (Tamannaah Bhatia) gets close to Sikandar and they try to settle down in another town... until their past catches with them!!

Neeraj Pandey is able to hold his audience interest as far as the whodunit aspect goes. Certain sequences like the heist and the pre-climactic revelation bear his trademark touch. Sadly, the overlong conversation between Jimmy and Avinash bears a 'Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha' (2024) hangover and should have been avoided. Jimmy's divorce angle with Divya Dutta (in a cameo) appears unnecessary.

Of the cast, Jimmy Sheirgill is truly impressive as IO Jaswinder, whose obsession with the case ruins his own career. Avinash Tiwary and Tamannaah pitch in earnest performances, though they don't appeal as a pair. The rest of the cast is alright.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is not the best of Neeraj Pandey, but can easily qualify for a leisure OTT watch. Pandey ji needs to regain his mojo of A Wednesday (2008), Special 26 (2013) and Baby (2015). And please, no more wordplay twists on those revered Bachchan hits. We don't want Patthar Ka Raasta, Goa To Bombay or Saugandh Ganga Ki... Naa bhai, Naa!!

Ratings on some key aspects* :
1. Acting : 3.5/5
2. Direction : 3/5
3. Music : 2/5
4. Story, Screenplay and Dialogue : 3/5
5. Cinematography : 3.5/5
6. Editing : 2.5/5
7. Costume Design : 2.5/5
8. Special Effects and VFX : NA
9. Action : NA
10. Production Quality : 3.5/5

#SNRating for #SikandarKaMuqaddar : 3 stars out of 5.

- Sumeet Nadkarni

* - The overall film rating is not a simple average of all ratings on key aspects but a weighted average of the ratings where some crucial aspects (like direction, acting, story and screenplay etc) are assigned more weightage than others.

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#SNRatings barometer:
1 star = Poor
1 & 1/2 star = Below average/ Avoidable
2 stars = Average
2 & 1/2 stars = Above average/ Risk it
3 stars = Good enough/ Endurable
3 & 1/2 stars = Definitely worth a watch
4 stars = Very good
5 stars = Masterpiece/ Outstanding.

2024 SNRatings.