Akelli Story:-
Jyoti, a young woman from Punjab, secures a job in Mosul, Iraq, and soon becomes embroiled in a struggle for survival amidst ISIS terrorists.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 25 August 2023 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Drama, Thriller |
| Duration | 2h 7min |
| Cast | Nushrratt Bharuccha, Nishant Dahiya, Rajesh Jais, Tsahi Halevi, Amir Boutrous, Vijay Kumar Dogra |
| Director | Pranay Meshram |
| Writer | Pranay Meshram, Gunjan Saxena, Ayush Tiwari |
| Cinematography | Pushkar Singh |
| Producer | Aparna Padgaonkar, Shashant Shah, Vicky Sidana, Ninad Vaidya, Nitin Vaidya |
| Production | Dashami Studioz |
| Certificate | 16+ |
“A young Indian woman finds herself trapped in the conflict-ridden landscape of Iraq. Amidst the chaos, she courageously eliminates a high-ranking ISIS commander and severely wounds another top leader, eventually breaking free from the clutches of the notorious organization. This storyline initially promises an intriguing and gripping narrative. However, the film fails to fully deliver on its potential, resulting in a thriller that only sporadically captivates its audience. While Akelli starts with a strong and thrilling premise, the excitement gradually wanes after about thirty minutes, turning into a textbook example of a formulaic script. Such films require an abundance of tension, grit, and edginess to truly engage viewers. Although Akelli contains these elements, they are not sufficiently developed to reach their full impact.
The film takes liberties with its storytelling, leaving noticeable gaps that raise questions about the filmmakers’ attention to detail. For example, a scene where the ISIS supreme commander, portrayed by Tsahi Halevi, is fatally shot is followed by his sudden appearance unscathed at the airport in the next sequence. Despite these shortcomings, credit is due to the filmmakers for their willingness to explore unconventional subject matter. Their effort to push boundaries deserves acknowledgment. The film starts dramatically, with a gripping scene on a Mosul street featuring a girl bound with explosives. While such sequences are attention-grabbing, it is disappointing that the film fails to sustain the same level of momentum throughout its duration.”
The narrative centers on Jyoti (played by Nushrratt Bharuccha), a young woman from Punjab who loses her job at the airport due to unfortunate circumstances. With the responsibility of caring for her mother and niece, she desperately seeks alternative employment. Eventually, she lands a supervisory position at a garment factory in Mosul, Iraq. However, her life takes a drastic turn when an ISIS attack on the factory leaves her and others captured. Motivated to return to India, Jyoti fights to escape, inadvertently killing an ISIS commander and critically injuring another senior figure.
The film provides Nushrratt Bharuccha with a platform to showcase her acting skills, though the opportunity may not have been fully seized. Tsahi Halevi, known for his role in the Israeli series Fauda, delivers a decent performance as Assad, albeit lacking in well-defined characterization. Nishant Dahiya, portraying Rafeeq, leaves an impression despite his brief appearance. Debutant director Pranay Meshram’s intentions are commendable, but a weak script ultimately undermines the film’s potential.
Akelli excels in enclosed spaces but struggles to maintain its impact beyond them. In an era dominated by cutting-edge terrorism-themed series, the film finds it challenging to stand out
