Sikandar Ka Muqaddar: A bold heist thriller undone by melodrama and pacing issues

In recent years, Bollywood’s suspense thrillers have had their fair share of ups and downs, particularly in the age of streaming. While most of these thriller films start strong and draw you in as the viewer, the story begins to convolute, ultimately leading to an unsatisfactory ending and sometimes even defying the most basic logic.

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar is no different and follows the tradition of botched endings that has become synonymous with most Indian content being released on streaming giants such as Netflix. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, it is one of many thriller films released recently, and despite a compelling premise, the film struggles to maintain its grip on the audience.

Starring Jimmy Shergill, Avinash Tiwary, and Tamannaah Bhatia, the film had the potential to be a gripping heist thriller but ultimately falters due to melodrama and a stretched runtime.

What Worked

The story begins with promise, drawing viewers into a world of moral ambiguity, suspense, and tension. Jimmy Shergill delivers a nuanced performance as Investigation Officer Jaswinder Singh, adding depth to his character's complex motivations. However, Avinash Tiwary stands out as Sikandar Sharma, showing impressive versatility and offering one of his best performances.

The dynamic between their characters adds layers to the plot, and their onscreen chemistry provides the emotional core that drives the film's early momentum.

Tamannaah Bhatia also does well as the single mom and offers emotionally charged moments in the film. Despite its flaws, fans of Neeraj Pandey’s style will appreciate his attempt to craft suspense, though the film ultimately falters in delivering the tight storytelling he’s known for.

What Didn’t Work

Unfortunately, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar loses its edge as the narrative unfolds. The film’s pacing is inconsistent, dragging the story in places that could have been trimmed for a tighter experience. The film’s suspense dulls as its unnecessarily stretched runtime slows the pacing. Despite some moments of intrigue, the film fails to sustain the high-stakes tension needed to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

What could have been a sharp heist thriller veers into overwrought melodrama, with characters’ motivations feeling exaggerated and forced. The screenplay doesn't give enough time for crucial plot points to develop naturally, making it hard for the audience to stay invested in the central conflict.

While Sikandar Ka Muqaddar touches on moral gray areas, it fails to explore these themes deeply enough to make the characters’ decisions compelling, which weakens the emotional impact. The film might feel like a one-time watch, particularly given the way it ultimately sags into melodrama rather than maintaining the tight, suspenseful thriller it could have been.

Verdict

Sikandar Ka Muqaddar starts strong but loses momentum due to uneven pacing, a stretched runtime, and underdeveloped characters. While the performances, especially from Jimmy Shergill and Avinash Tiwary, are solid, the film ultimately fails to deliver the gripping heist story it promises.

Casual viewers or Jimmy Shergill and Neeraj Pandey fans may still find this a worthwhile one-time watch, but it’s unlikely to impress fans of tightly crafted thrillers.