RAAZI
Raazi — When a Spy Story Becomes Personal
Intro: Raazi is a 2018 Hindi spy thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar and starring Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal and Jaideep Ahlawat. The film is adapted from Harinder Sikka’s book Calling Sehmat and is based on the story of an Indian woman who is sent into Pakistan as a spy during the 1971 war.
Review (90 Words): Coming from Meghna Gulzar after Talvar, Raazi was certainly a must-watch for me. A daughter. A wife. A spy. Three identities, but which one comes first when you are put in a situation like this? I kept wondering — are we human first, or does the nation come before being human? Alia Bhatt carries this conflict beautifully, while Jaideep Ahlawat leaves a strong impression. The detailing may be a little less sharp than Talvar, but Meghna still creates tension through people, relationships and small moments. The supporting cast adds to the experience. A gripping watch.
Full Review: Coming from Meghna Gulzar after Talvar, Raazi was certainly a must-watch for me. And I was happy to finally watch it.
The two films are completely different stories, but I noticed something similar in Meghna's approach — the attention to detail. It may be a little less sharp than Talvar, but she still takes time to build the world and lets the tension come from the situation rather than making everything loud.
Three identities, and that is what stayed with me while watching Raazi.
Sehmat enters Pakistan as a daughter fulfilling her father's wish. Then she becomes a wife, living inside a family that has no idea about her real purpose. And slowly, she becomes a spy who has to make decisions that affect people around her.
And somewhere in between, I kept asking myself a rather uncomfortable question.
Are we human first, or does the nation come before being human?
Because the film doesn't just show Sehmat collecting information. It shows the personal cost of doing it. Every relationship she builds makes her task more complicated. Every decision becomes less about being right or wrong and more about what she is willing to sacrifice for the country.
Alia Bhatt carries this transformation well. Jaideep Ahlawat makes a strong impression, and the supporting cast adds to the experience. Vicky Kaushal is also well placed within the story, without the film becoming about any one performance.
What I particularly liked is that Raazi doesn't depend on typical spy-thriller ingredients. There are no constant explosions or larger-than-life action sequences. The tension often comes from a small movement, a conversation, a piece of information or the fear of being discovered.
That makes the film feel more personal.
For me, Talvar remains sharper in its detailing and storytelling. But Raazi works differently. It makes you think about duty, relationships, sacrifice and the identities we carry at the same time.
Another Meghna Gulzar film worth revisiting.
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