Sikandar Ka Muqaddar questions the wisdom of trusting one’s gut instinct, which becomes more relevant after sitting through the messy, disappointing ending.
A jewelry heist movie with an added layer of mystery? Directed by Neeraj Pandey, who gave us A Wednesday, Special 26, and Baby? What could possibly go wrong?
A lot, it turns out.
Sikandar ka Muqaddar starts like a freight train, whisking you off in a whirlwind of crisp action and breakneck sequences. By the time you catch your breath, the movie is balanced at the edge of a precipice, daring you to peek forward to solve the mystery.
Does it maintain its momentum, or does it crash to pieces?
Let’s find out.
What’s the Story?
It’s crunch time at a jewelry exhibition in Mumbai when a heist suddenly throws the event into pandemonium. A distressing phone call from a stranger minutes before the attack adds to the suspense. Gunshots send the crowd into a frenzy before the quick-acting police corral everyone to safety. But amidst this chaos, a collection of precious jewels vanishes.
Enter Chief Investigator Jaswinder Singh, played by Jimmy Shergill (who else?), was brought in to lead the investigation. Jaswinder is a seasoned detective known for his sharp instincts. He narrows down his suspects to three individuals: Mangesh Desai, a dedicated employee at the jewelry store for many years; his attractive and persuasive colleague, Kamini (played by Tamannaah Bhatia); and Sikandar Sharma (Avinash Tiwary), a computer technician who seems all too eager to leave the scene.
Despite Jaswinder’s relentless interrogation, the trio stands firm in their innocence. The more he probes, the more he faces the unsettling prospect that his celebrated instincts might be wrong this time, threatening to tarnish his flawless career. Are these three as innocent as they claim, or is their persistent denial just a façade to hide their involvement in the crime?
What Works?
Some things should by now be taken as gospel: Bollywood is in a slump, and you can wake Jimmy Shergill up from a deep sleep, push him in front of a camera without a script, and he will still nail the role of a zara hatke cop. Once again, he shines as Officer Singh, bringing a rich complexity to his character — a man torn between his professional duties and personal challenges, desperately trying to keep his record flawless despite mounting pressures. Avinash Tiwary is equally impressive as Sikandar, a man entangled in his past choices and the intense scrutiny of a determined detective.
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Visually, the film is slick and sharp, adding to its attraction. Cinematographer Arvind Singh masterfully captures everything from Mumbai’s vibrant chaos to the sleek cityscapes of Abu Dhabi and the enchanting beauty of Agra.
What Doesn’t Work?
Sikandar Ka Muqaddar falls prey to its high standards set at the start. The movie starts with a bang, capturing the audience’s attention with the mystery of the stolen diamonds. However, as the story jumps ahead 15 years, it loses momentum. The only constant thing is Sikandar’s love for his maroon shirt, which he refuses to part with even after 15 years. Eventually, the back-and-forth starts to drag, and as the plot shifts from the heist to the drawn-out chase between Singh and Sikandar, the initial excitement begins to fade.
Some characters feel half-baked, with no clear arcs. At 143 minutes, the film feels too long, and while the songs are beautifully composed, they interrupt the flow of the story, slowing down its pace.
The plot twist — plug intended — which had been building throughout the movie is not worth the wait. By the time we reach the climactic face-off between Singh and Sikandar, the film struggles to recapture the suspense that it initially built so well. And to leave the ending to the audience’s imagination is the ultimate cop-out. It’s like the filmmaker, not wanting to disappoint anyone, ends up settling for the low-hanging fruit of vague choose-your-own-ending. The result is a weak and tepid movie that reeks of staleness and time wasted.
Final Verdict
Watch only if you’re a Jimmy Shergill fan. We give it a 2.5 out of 5.
