Amid the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions, Bollywood released Spy thriller Romeo Akbar Walter on April 5. The movie directed by Robby Grewal is based on a plot revolving around the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
Starring John Abraham as the late undercover agent Ravindra Kaushik, Jackie Shroff as the chief of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Mouni Roy as another agent and Sikander Kher as a Pakistani colonel, the film is inspired by true events of the 1971 war. It reflects on the true life events of former RAW agent Ravindra Kaushik and is expected to hold the attention span of the audience like other recent patriotic movies Razzi, Uri: The Surgical Strike and Parmanu.
Honored by the title of ‘Black Tiger’ by India’s then home minister SB Chavan, Ravindra Kaushik had risked his life from 1979 to 1983 by living in Pakistan. He was jailed and interrogated as he passed on useful information to RAW and helped the Indian defense forces. The life story of the late undercover agent raises the expectations of Romeo Akbar Walter viewers. Will this spy thriller be able to justify the depths and layers of scarifies made by the brave Kaushik?
Bollywood always takes an opportunity to bring to reel the real stories of forgotten freedom fighters, war heroes and leaders. However, not all of them are able to do justice to the departed souls. After watching Romeo Akbar Walter, many said it could have been structured better, and the film could have focused more on human psyche and emotions instead of merging espionage thriller and patriotism together. Some critics also cited flawed execution and “absurd narrative”. Although many assured, it would keep you engaged with the cast doing justice to their roles.