There are very few films that manage to keep you laughing from start to finish, and debutant director Aakash Kaushik’s ‘Udta Teer’, starring Ayushmann Khurrana in the lead, is one such film. Barely minutes into the movie, the laughs begin, and they continue till the very end. Released in theaters on Friday, ‘Udta Teer’ blends espionage, slick action sequences and laugh-out-loud comedy to deliver an entertaining ride. But does it get everything right, or are there a few misses along the way? Read our review to find out.
The film opens in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, with wanted terrorist Azhar Maqsood (Mukul Dev) plotting against India. When the Counter Terrorist Squad (CTS) receives a tip-off about Maqsood’s presence in Baramulla, North Kashmir, it sets out to nab him. However, things do not go as planned, and Maqsood manages to escape. In pursuit of the terrorist, Vikrant (Ayushmann Khurrana) crosses the Line of Control (LoC). It is soon revealed that Vikrant is, in fact, a Pakistani agent, Bilal, operating within India’s CTS. But an unexpected incident turns his world upside down, leaving him with no memory of his true identity. The only thing he remembers is his patriotism, but he can no longer recall which country he is loyal to. This unusual predicament sets the stage for a comedy of errors, with situational humor driving much of the film’s narrative.
‘Udta Teer’ is held together by strong performances and taut writing, particularly its dialogues. Ayushmann Khurrana is impeccable as Vikrant/Bilal, nailing the comic timing and proving once again that he excels in clean, family-friendly comedies. He is ably supported by a terrific ensemble cast comprising Suhail Nayyar as Dhruv/Ashfaq, Sandeep Anand as Shambhu/Tariq, Rupinder Walia as Sodhi, Rahul Bose as Burman, Ram Kapoor as Niyazi, Gulshan Grover as General Mir, Raghubir Yadav as Imam, Brijendra Kala as Shrivastav and Smita Tambe as Holkar, among others.
The camaraderie between Ayushmann and Suhail is a particular highlight. They are equally entertaining individually and together, and their scenes make for some of the film’s funniest moments. Ayushmann’s scenes with Sandeep are equally enjoyable, while Mukul Dev, as Maqsood, also impresses with his comic timing. Rahul Bose, despite having limited dialogue, manages to elicit several laughs, particularly in his scenes with Suhail.
While the performances are a major strength, the film’s real winner is its writing, especially the dialogues. The humor does not rely solely on witty exchanges; it also emerges from the situations the characters find themselves in. Vikrant’s predicament and Dhruv’s growing frustration are conveyed effectively through both the dialogue and the unfolding action. Lines such as “Tu ‘Gadar’ ka Tara Singh nahi, Ashfaq Ali hai” land particularly well, eliciting laughter from the audience.
The writers, without resorting to chest-thumping patriotism, take several digs at Pakistan. From references to the country’s relationship with China and the military’s influence over its governance to the mention of ‘Imran’, an apparent reference to former cricketer and Prime Minister Imran Khan, the film finds multiple ways to weave political jibes into its comedy. There is also a funny take on the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry in a scene where Ram Kapoor’s Niyazi breaks a television, prompting Gulshan Grover’s General Mir to ask if Pakistan has lost to India in cricket yet again. The exchange adds another layer to the film’s situational humor, drawing on a familiar sporting rivalry for laughs.
Now, coming to what doesn’t work in the film. The weakest link is Sara Ali Khan’s Yamini, who plays Vikrant’s wife. However, the problem lies more with the writing than the actor. Yamini works in the Defense Ministry, but the film offers no insight into the nature of her job or the work she does. The narrative also establishes that she and Vikrant have a rocky marriage but never really delves into the reasons behind it. It is an aspect that could have been trimmed, as it adds little substance to the narrative. As a result, Yamini remains an underdeveloped character with little to contribute to the story. The same holds true for Supriya Pilgaonkar, who plays Vikrant’s mother-in-law. Despite being a talented actor, she is given very little to do, making her presence feel largely inconsequential to the narrative.
The music works well for the most part, but the romantic number featuring Ayushmann and Sara feels unnecessary, adding little to the story beyond its runtime. It is reminiscent of the old Bollywood tendency to insert romantic songs regardless of whether they serve the narrative. Towards the end, the film does become a little predictable, but that hardly takes away from the overall experience. For the most part, ‘Udta Teer’ delivers on its promise of keeping the audience entertained with plenty of laughs.
Rating: 3.5/5