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'Spy' Telugu film review: An excruciating actioner with clumsy and fraudulent storytelling

At one point in Spy, there is intense indignation on Jai (Nikhil Siddhartha)’s face as he tries to explain to his boss that he does not want to work with his ex-girlfriend  (she has honey-trapped him in the past). “She cheated me, I will work with anyone else but her,” is what he says, sighing. The hurt is not entirely different to what we feel after watching Spy. One feels cheated here as well. Now, cheating is a commonplace term in the film industry for recreating a specific location in the story in someplace more logistically feasible. This is not the same as using VFX (though that is another form of cheating). The bottomline, as the word suggests, is you have got to cheat your audience into thinking they are in that actual location.

For a story that unfolds across Amman, Kathmandu, Yangon, New York City, Galle, New Delhi and Kohima, the film makes its Hyderabad locations obvious to an unflattering effect. It almost becomes a guessing game after a point. There is Ramoji Film City. That one set where filmmakers always go to, to shoot government hospital scenes. The famed Shimla Mall road is Kathmandu here. The Old city predominantly inhabited by Muslims is the makers’ replacement for  Yangon, a Buddhist-majority city.

And the list goes on. Not being able to recreate locations well is inconsequential and forgivable, but in a film from this genre—this is an egregious transgression. The sense of vicarious joy and exploration that we wish to experience in films that jet across continents is sorely absent here. The film’s lackadaisical production values are only aggravated by the fact that the background in the film is so off-focus and blurry that I almost wondered if I was watching the film with my prescription glasses off. All of these shortcoming make Spy a rather crude and visually impoverished film. 

The makers don’t stop with the guess location game, they also urge us to play the ‘spot the cliche’ game. Janaab? Check. Abbu? Check. Bad men from Pakistan? Check. Regressive ideas? Check. RAW? Check. Sleeper cell? Check. Rogue Agent? Check. The film does not try to rise above these terms. And the writing also seems reverse-engineered just about enough for the most low-hanging jokes and oft-repeated stereotypes to come through. For instance, there is a shot of a Pakistani relishing a burger, only for an Indian “spy” to shame his country’s food shortage the very next second. 

The elephant in the room, the famed (and deeply fascinating) conspiracy theory regarding Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s death — is at best, an insect here, making a minor-sized impact to this film’s story. The legendary freedom fighter is reduced to mere clickbait here. One wonders why it even appears in the film till you see Rana make a guest appearance as a pilot. “We don’t have time for introductions” is what he brusquely says, before giving an angsty 10-minute lecture on the 1944 Battle of Kohima.

This is where the film’s true and disingenous intentions come through. Rana’s character is practically an extension of Anupam Kher’s character in Kartikeya 2. Both characters give a rousing monologue that becomes a bigger talking point in the entire film. 

The ideology is clear. The target audience is also receptive. But does anyone, let alone, the people who echo the core ideology of a film, need to endure two hours of incoherent, derivative meandering for a few minutes of chest-thumping declarations? This is cheating the art and the format of cinema itself. 

Cast: Nikhil Siddhartha, Abhinav Gomatam, Ishwarya Menon, Jisshu, Makarand Deshpande Director: Garry BH

Rating: 1/5 stars

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Spy Telugu Movie Review : A Template film

Spy Telugu Movie Review

Telugu360 Rating 2.5/5

Jay( Nikhil) is a raw agent who is on a mission to checkmate Glodal terrorist Khadir Khan. Jay’s another task is to find who killed his brother, Subhash ( Aryan Rajesh) who died in a five year old mission. Another dimension to the script is a missing file related to Netaji Subhash Chandrabose. Rest of the film is about how Jay is able to resolve all three points.

Spy script is an overambitious one.The team has included all the keywords that are of global scale but the direction is of Ameerpet league. When we need to make a film on international secret services agent, apparently it needs to be on a mega budget and solid casting.Alternative approach is a small scale one with smart writing and engaging direction. Unfortunately, Spy film misses all above checkmarks. Only one thread in this film succeeded partially is when it talks around Netaji Subhash Chandrabose. The controversy surrounding his disappearance, His principles etc episodes play to the galleries well. That is the only saving grace of the film.

Production values are adequate if we measure from a typical Telugu film point of view . But the budget is sub par for the given theme.

The script is so silly that at somepoint, the film shows the proceedings cause China Vs India war. The terrorist Khadir Khan episodes are so monotonous. The second half introduces another villain ( Jisshu sengupta ) but still remains ineffective.Garry Bh direction is not adequate. Cinematography by Mark David is good. Background score by sricharan is okay.

Performances : Nikhil is fine as RAW agent ‘ Jay ‘. But not as effective as his previous outings. Abhinav Gomatam one liners are fine from comedy angle, but watching him as On field raw agent is a joke on audience. Atleast, his character should have been limited to a backoffice agent. Makarand Deshpande as Raw Chief overacts in many scenes. Jissu Sengupta is just Ok. Iswarya Menon acted as an NIA agent. Nitin Mehta as Khadir Khan is good pick but he could have got more screen presence.

Positives :

Few scenes on Netaji Subhash Bose principles

Sticks to the point

Nikhil’s Image

Negatives :

Flat Narration Overstuffed, All over the place story Poor direction

SPY film has big ideas with mediocre execution. The scenes written around Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose are a bit consolation in this template film. The scripts written around International SPY theme demand huge budget , which apparently one cannot match. Overall, SPY film could have been better.

Telugu360 Rating : 2.5/5

Movie : SPY (Telugu) Release date: 29th June 2023 Director: Garry Bh Music director: Vishal Chandrashekhar, Sricharan Pakala Cinematography: Mark David Language: Telugu Producers: K. Raja Shekhar Reddy

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Waste of time. Better to. Watch. In. OTT. Worth. 2/5.

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Spy telugu movie review: 'స్పై' మూవీ రివ్యూ.

టాలీవుడ్ హీరోలంతా ఇప్పుడు పాన్ ఇండియా పేరు తెగ కలవరిస్తున్నారు. హీరో నిఖిల్ కూడా ఇందులో ఉన్నాడు. తెలుగులో చిన్నహీరోగా పలు హిట్స్ కొట‍్టిన నిఖిల్.. 'కార్తికేయ 2'తో దేశవ్యాప్తంగా గుర్తింపు సొంతం చేసుకున్నాడు. ఏ మాత్రం అంచనాల్లేకుండా వచ్చిన ఆ చిత్రం సూపర్ హిట్ అయింది. అది దైవభక్తి నేపథ‍్యం. ఇప్పుడు దేశభక్తి కాన్సెప్ట్ తో తీసిన 'స్పై' సినిమాలో నటించాడు. విడుదలకు ముందే మోస్తరు అంచనాలు ఏర్పడ్డాయి. తాజాగా ఈ చిత్రం థియేటర్లలోకి వచ్చింది. మరి ఎలా ఉంది? ఏంటనేది రివ్యూలో చూద్దాం!

కథేంటి? జై(నిఖిల్).. 'రా' ఇంటెలిజెన్స్ లో ఏజెంట్‌గా పనిచేస్తుంటాడు. శ్రీలంకలో ఓ మిషన్‌ని పూర్తిచేసి స్వదేశానికి తిరిగొస్తాడు. ఈ క్రమంలో 'రా' చీఫ్ శాస్త్రి (మకరంద్ దేశ్‌పాండే).. ఓ మిషన్ లో భాగంగా చనిపోయిన ఏజెంట్ సుభాష్ వర్ధన్ (ఆర్యన్ రాజేశ్) ఫైల్ అప్పగిస్తాడు. అతడి చావుకి కారణం తెలుసుకోమని ఆర్డర్ వేస్తాడు. ఈ మిషన్‌లో భాగంగా జై పలు సవాళ్లని ఎదుర్కొంటాడు. చివరకు ఏం తెలుసుకున్నాడు? ఈ కథలో ఖాదిర్ ఖాన్, అబ్దుల్ రెహ్మాన్(జిషుసేన్ గుప్తా) ఎవరు? చివరకు మిషన్ సక్సెస్ అయిందా లేదా అనేదే 'స్పై' స్టోరీ.

ఎలా ఉందంటే? సాధారణంగా స్పై సినిమాలు అనగానే కథ ఎలా ఉంటుందనేది మనకు తెలుసు. ఎందుకంటే అప్పుడెప్పుడో వచ్చిన సూపర్‌స్టార్ కృష్ణ 'గూఢచారి 116' నుంచి అడివి శేష్ 'గూఢచారి' వరకు ఈ తరహా మూవీస్ చూస్తూనే ఉన్నాం. ఓ ఏజెంట్ ఉంటాడు... రా డిపార్ట్‌మెంట్.. దానికి ఓ చీఫ్.. ఆయన సదరు హీరో అనబడే ఏజెంట్‪‌కి ఓ మిషన్ అప్పగిస్తాడు. ఫైనల్ గా అది పూర్తి చేసి, విలన్ ని చంపాడా లేదా అనేదే స్టోరీ. సరిగా ఈ టెంప్లేట్‌ని ఉన్నది ఉన్నట్లు నిఖిల్ 'స్పై' సినిమా ఫాలో అయిపోయింది. పైపెచ్చు కొత్తదనం అస్సలు లేదు.

ఫస్టాప్ విషయానికొస్తే.. జోర్డాన్ లో ఆయుధాలని స్మగ్లింగ్ చేసే విలన్ ఖాదిర్ ఖాన్ ని మన రా ఏజెంట్ సుభాష్ కాల్చి చంపేస్తాడు. ఆ వెంటనే సుభాష్ ని ఎవరో చంపేస్తారు. కట్ చేస్తే శ్రీలంకలో జై పాత్రలో నిఖిల్ ఎంట్రీ, ఓ మిషన్ పూర్తి చేసి.. స్వదేశానికి వచ్చేయడం. ఇక్కడొచ్చిన తర్వాత సుభాష్ ని ఎవరు చంపేశారో తెలుసుకోమని నిఖిల్ కు మిషన్ అప్పజెప్తారు. అలా నేపాల్ వెళ్తాడు. అక్కడ ఏజెంట్ వైష్ణవి(ఐశ్వర్య మేనన్) వీళ్ల టీమ్ తో కలుస్తుంది. ఈమెకి జై పాత్రతో గతంలో ఓ లవ్ స్టోరీ ఉంటుంది. అది చాలా రొటీన్ గా అనిపిస్తుంది. 

ఓ మంచి సీన్ తో ఇంటర్వెల్ బ్యాంగ్ పడుతుంది. సెకండాఫ్ లో ఖాదిర్ ఖాన్ కోసం వెళ్తే.. ఏజెంట్ జై టీమ్ కి బోలెడన్ని కొత్త విషయాలు తెలుస్తాయి. అలానే మన దగ్గర నుంచి సుభాష్ చంద్రబోస్ డెత్ మిస్టరీ ఫైల్ మిస్ అయినట్లు తెలుస్తోంది. ఇంతకీ అది ఎవరి చేతికి చిక్కింది? ఫైనల్ గా జై ఏం తెలుసుకున్నాడు? ఎవరిని చంపాడు లాంటివి తెలుసుకోవాలంటే మీరు థియేటర్ కి వెళ్లి సినిమా చూడాల్సిందే. 

టీజర్, ట్రైలర్ చూసి ఇదో మంచి ఇంటెన్స్ థ్రిల్లర్ అనుకుంటే మీరు పప్పులో కాలేసినట్లే. ఎందుకంటే ఇందులో దేశభక్తి అనే కోటింగ్ తప్ప రొటీన్ రెగ్యులర్ స్పై తరహా సినిమానే. ఏ మాత్రం కొత్తదనం లేదు. అలానే చాలాచోట్ల సినిమాటిక్‌ లిబర్టీ విపరీతంగా తీసుకున్నారు. ఓ సీన్ లో ఓ అమ్మాయి చిన్నప‍్పటి ఫొటో దొరుకుతుంది. దాన్ని ఫోన్ లో ఫొటో తీసి 25 ఏళ్ల తర్వాత ఎలా ఉంటుందో జై టీమ్ కనిపెట‍్టేస్తారు. అది కూడా కేవలం నిమిషాల్లో. ఈ సీన్ చూడగానే.. ఆడియెన్స్ మరీ అంతా పిచ్చోళ్లగా కనిపిస్తున్నారా అనే డౌట్ వస్తుంది. అలానే జై ఏజెంట్ కావడానికి, సుభాష్ చంద్రబోస్ ఫైల్ లో ఏముందనేది చూపించలేదు. పోనీ యాక్షన్ సీన్స్ అయినా కొత్తగా ఉన్నాయా అంటే అదీలేదు. బోరింగ్ కే బోరింగ్ అన‍్నట్లు తయారయ్యాయి.

ఎవరెలా చేశారు? ఏజెంట్‌గా నిఖిల్ ఫెర్ఫెక్ట్‌గా సెట్ అయ్యాడు. తను ఇప్పటివరకు చేయని జానర్ కావడం వల్లనో ఏమోగానీ మంచి ఈజ్ తో చేసుకుంటూ వెళ్లిపోయాడు. అభినవ్ గోమఠం.. ఏజెంట్ కమల్ పాత్రలో యాక్షన్ కంటే కామెడీనే ఎక్కువ చేశాడు. కొన్నిసార్లు ఆ కామెడీ ఓకే అనిపించినప్పటికీ.. మరికొన్నిసార్లు స్టోరీని సైడ్ ట్రాక్ పట్టించినట్లు అనిపించింది. హీరోయిన్ గా చేసిన ఐశ్వర్య మేనన్.. ఏజెంట్ వైష్ణవి పాత్రలో ఓకే. ఏదో ఉందంటే ఉందంతే. నిఖిల్ పక్కన ఉండటం తప్పితే పెద్దగా చేసిందేం లేదు. మిగతా వాళ్లు పర్వాలేదనిపించారు. రానా.. కాసేపు అలా కనిపించి అలరించాడు. పోసాని కృష్ణమురళి, ఆర్యన్ రాజేశ్, సచిన్ ఖేడ్కర్, సురేశ్ లాంటి మంచి నటులు ఉన్నప్పటికీ.. వాళ్లందరికీ ఒకటి రెండు సీన్లకే పరిమితం చేశారు. 

ఈ సినిమా టెక్నికల్ పరంగా అయినా బాగుందా అంటే పెద్దగా చెప్పుకోదగ్గ స్థాయిలో ఏం లేదు. శ్రీచరణ్ పాకాల బ్యాక్ గ్రౌండ్ స్కోరు బాగున్నప్పటికీ.. విశాల్ చంద్రశేఖర్ పాటలు థియేటర్ నుంచి బయటకొచ్చాక గుర్తుండవ్. సినిమాటోగ్రఫీ పర్లేదు. గ్రాఫిక్స్ అయితే కొన్నిచోట్ల తేలిపోయాయి. యాక్షన్ కొరియోగ్రఫీ బాగుంది కానీ ఇంకా బెటర్ గా చేసి ఉండాల్సింది. నిర్మాణ విలువలు పర్లేదు. డైరెక్టర్ గ్యారీ బీహెచ్.. స్వతహాగా ఎడిటర్. కానీ ఈ సినిమాలోని ఫస్టాప్ లో కొన్ని సీన్లు అలానే ఉంచేశారు. వాటి వల్ల ల్యాగ్ అనిపించింది. వాటిని ట్రిమ్ చేసుంటే బాగుండేది. ఓవరాల్‌గా చెప్పుకుంటే 'స్పై'.. రెగ్యులర్ రొటీన్ బోరింగ్ డ్రామా. పెద్దగా థ్రిల్ పంచదు, అలా అని ఇంటెన్స్ స్టోరీ కూడా ఉండదు. స్పై సినిమాలను ఇష్టపడేవాళ్లకు అంతో ఇంతో ఈ చిత్రం నచ్చుతుంది.

-చందు, సాక్షి వెబ్ డెస్క్

మీ అభిప్రాయం చెప్పండి

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• Movie Reviews

SPY (2023) Telugu Movie: What's Behind

Nikhil Siddhartha attained national stardom with his spiritual thriller Karthikeya 2. He later entertained with the romantic entertainer 18 Pages. He is now starring in a spy thriller SPY. The film directed by BH. Garry is releasing on 29 June 2023. The film's teasers and trailers got tremendous response and expectations are high over the project. The film's OTT partner is Amazon Prime and the streaming will be after the end of its theatrical run. Let us find out how Nikhil thrilled as a SPY.

Nikhil Siddhartha SPY Movie: Story Review

SPY is all about a RAW agent and how he resolves the mystery behind the Country's missing files and the reason behind it. RAW chief Sastry (Makarand Deshpande) gets information that the international terrorist Khalid who was perceived dead is really alive and is on a deadly mission. He ropes in his best agent Jai (Nikhil Siddharth) and all boils down to how Jai nabs Kahid and who is behind them.

Watch SPY to find out what happened to Jai's brother Subhash (Aryan Rajesh), who are Vaishnavi (Iswaraya Menon), Saraswathi (Sanya Thakur), Kuldeep (Ravi Varma), Kamal (Abhinav Gomatam), Rahman (Jisshu Sen Gupta), Arjun (Rana) and how Indian PM (Sachin Khedekar) reacts while dealing with the tough situation.

SPY Telugu Movie: Artists Review

Nikhil tried hard to slip into the role. He looked good as a loverboy but failed to evoke the intensity of the spy. But these action-packed roles are not his cup of tea and SPY proved it once again. Iswarya Menon is good in her role and so too is Sanya Thakur. There are many other actors like Abhinav Gomatam, Aryan Rajesh, Ravi Varma, Sachin Khedekar, and Ravi Varma, who performed their roles accordingly. Rana did a cameo and he showed his intensity.

SPY (2023) Movie: Technicians Review

SPY story provided by K.Rajasekhar Reddy tried to highlight the operations of the Indian agency RAW and he linked it with the missing files of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to generate interest among movie lovers. BH. Garry directed SPY and he starts on an interesting note. But the interest evaporates quickly as numerous action blocks follow along with a couple of romantic tracks. Though at first, the action scenes look ok, as the narration progresses, viewers get irritated as all the characters just pass through the motions.

The director thought that action scenes will bring success and stardom and propel the film to the successful shores but he was proven wrong completely. The story lacked the emotions and with no real twists and turns, the viewers missed the thrill factor. The screenplay is unidimensional and except for the scene where Rana in his cameo talk about Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, nothing excites everyone. Everything turned mediocre from a decent start as the writers and the director and the dialogue writer failed to liven up the proceedings with their work.

The music tuned by Vishal Chandrasekhar and Sricharan Pakala failed to impress. None of the songs are appealing. The background music of Sricharan Pakala is good in parts and at times elevated the scenes. However, at other times, turned out to be loud. Dialogues penned by Abhishek Maharshi did not highlight the proceedings. Editing of BH. Garry left many drags and it impacted the tempo of the film. The cinematography of Vamshi Patchipulusu and Mark David is good and gave a rich feeling to the film. Production values of ED. Entertainments are good.

SPY Movie: Advantages

• Few Dialouges on Subhash Chandra Bose

SPY Movie: Disadvantages

• Insipid Screenplay
• Predictable Plot
• Missing Emotions

SPY Telugu Movie: Rating Analysis

Altogether, SPY turned out to be a spineless spy drama. Director Garry tried to show Nikhil as an action hero but as Rajashekhar Reddy's story did not offer much scope, he faltered with his screenplay and direction. Routine, monotonous elements, and missing emotions played spoilsport with SPY. Considering all these aspects, Cinejosh goes with a 2 Rating for SPY .

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SPY Review – Operation Failed

OUR RATING 2/5

U/A, 2h 15m

Khadir, a most wanted terrorist, is planning a nuclear attack on India. The RAW forms a team to catch him, which leads to his death. However, they lose a few men in the process. But has Khalid died?

Jay (Nikhil) enters the scene and leads another mission to find out the presumed dead Khadir. Did he find Khalid and stop the attack? The link to Subash Chandra Bose during the mission forms the movie’s overall plot.

Performances

Nikhil is seen playing a spy agent here. However, there is no visible change in his body language related to the part apart from the costume makeover. He goes about his work sincerely, and nothing is there to complain about. One can’t help but feel if the role was a bit heavier (leading such a huge mission) for him to pull off, though, like his previous flicks, where he felt adept and right.

Nikhil also has a lot of action sequences in the movie. He is adequate, and the effort to do well in them is seen. In the end, Spy ends up as a regular fare for him performance-wise, mainly due to the weak writing with no high and predictable moments.

Iswarya Menon is fine. She looks good and carries off her limited presence with confidence. There is nothing more to it, though.

Garry BH, an editor, turns director with Spy. As the name suggests, it belongs to the spy thriller genre and is set in the backdrop of an Indian RAW agency with a terrorism-related plot.

Spy thrillers are getting made frequently in recent years. A readily available blueprint, aka formula, with easy placement of actions and thrills, is the luring factor. However, despite the availability of a ‘formula’, only a few with an intriguing plot or larger-than-life execution or a combination of both have succeeded. The rest fell flat.

First thing first, Spy is not a larger-than-life attempt despite the presence of several action blocks and chases. Therefore, the content must have the thrills, and the execution has the grip to hold the attention. Spy fails on both counts and manages to deliver only in parts.

The problem with Spy is evident from the beginning itself. The opening mission and hero introduction follow the cliche in execution. But they leave no emotion behind. There is no feeling – neither a sense of high or low. Things just go on blandly.

And that’s how things progress until the subplot related to Subhas Chandra Bose is revealed around the pre-interval mark. It makes one hopeful about the events ahead and looks forward to the second half despite a standard interval bang.

Unfortunately, the narrative doesn’t give it (Subhash Chandra Bose angle) much chance and progresses on the spy genre cliches with the twists and turns in place. Nothing should come as a surprise if one has seen enough movies in the genre. Some of them are, in fact, used in previous flicks.

Again, around the pre-climax mark, some interest is generated via a twist or two, but they are short-lived. The bland execution with no high should get the blame here. The climax following it is a strength ticking all the mambo jumbo related to the genre. The whole thing gets monotonous long ago, and the end provides a relief to all the endless tirades.

Overall, Spy ticks all spy genre-related cliches and serves them in a screenplay with nonstop action. Only here, the ‘action’ neither thrills nor awes. It is as bland as it comes. If you like the genre, there is hardly anything new.

Spy comprises a cast of notable names. We have the likes of Aryan Rajesh, Tanikella Bharani, Jissu Sengupta, Makrand Deshpande, Abhinav Gomatam, Sachin Khedekar, Sanya Thakur, Posani Krishna Murali, Prudhvi, Ravi Varma, and last but not the least Rana Daggubati in a cameo appearance. It is an exhaustive list, but none of them leaves a mark.

Makrand Deshpande has a critical role and goes through the chore in his style. The rest doesn’t have such length and only appears in a scene or two. Rana Daggubati’s cameo is dialogue-based, and he does his usual work.

Vishal Chandrasekhar and Sricharan Pakala provide the music. There are two songs, and they are forgettable. The one in the second half had potential, situation-wise, but got wasted. Sricharan Pakala provides the background score, and it’s adequate for the setting.

Vamshi Patchipulusu and Mark David’s cinematography is okay. Given the multiple locations and backgrounds, it could have been better. Garry BH, the director, also handles the editing. It is okay. The writing is the weak link here. It lacks depth and comes across as formulaic from the start. There are many action scenes, but the adrenaline required to give the high through them is missing.

Highlights?

Some Intrigue Related to Subhash Chandra Bose

Formulaic To The Core

Zero Highs or Thrills

Ordinary Action Blocks

Bland Narration

Will You Recommend It?

SPY Movie Review by M9News

Final Report:

Second half of the Spy movie has a few scattered moments, but overall, it falls far from being satisfactory for the ‘Spy’ genre.

First Half Report:

First half of the Spy movie unfolds within a typical RAW setup, but the mission proceedings lack thrills. The second half needs to compensate and deliver significantly.

— Spy movie takes off with a RAW setup, introducing agents and establishing the primary target, followed by an action sequence. stay tuned for the first half report.

Cast: Nikhil Siddharth, Iswarya Menon, Sanya Thakur, Abhinav Gomatam.

Directed and Edited by: Garry BH Story and Produced by: K Rajashekhar Reddy

CEO (ED Ent): Charan Tej Uppalapati

DoP: Vamshi Patchipulusu, Mark David Music Directors: Vishal Chandrasekhar, Sricharan Pakala Background Score: Sricharan Pakala Writer: Anirudh Krishnamurthy

Banner: ED Entertainments

SPY Telugu Movie Review by M9News

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

After receiving the news of the death of his elder brother Subash, who worked for R&AW, Jay sets out on a mission to find out what happened leading him into a bigger conspiracy of a possible... Read all After receiving the news of the death of his elder brother Subash, who worked for R&AW, Jay sets out on a mission to find out what happened leading him into a bigger conspiracy of a possible nuclear attack threat to the country. After receiving the news of the death of his elder brother Subash, who worked for R&AW, Jay sets out on a mission to find out what happened leading him into a bigger conspiracy of a possible nuclear attack threat to the country.

• Anirudh Krishna Murthy
• K. Raja Shekhar Reddy
• Charantej Uppalapati
• Nikhil Siddharth
• Iswarya Menon
• Aryan Rajesh
• 32 User reviews
• 4 Critic reviews

• Jai Vardhan

• Subhash Vardhan

• Jai and Subhash's father

• Prime Minister
• Khadir Khan

• Principal Secretary

• Rahman's daughter
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• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Soundtracks Jhoom Jhoom Music by Vishal Chandrashekhar Written by Kittu Vissapragada Performed by Anurag Kulkarni , Ramya Behra Duration: 4:46

User reviews 32

• jazzpattambi
• Jul 29, 2023
• How long is Spy? Powered by Alexa
• June 29, 2023 (India)
• Kochi, Kerala, India (Exterior)
• Ed Entertainments
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 2 hours 15 minutes

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SPY Movie Review: Nikhil Siddhartha Tries Hard To Impress In An Otherwise Bland Thriller

Actor Nikhil Siddhartha successfully ventured into the pan-India market with director Chandoo Mondeit's Karthikeya 2, which was quite a blockbuster film. He then hit the screens with an experimental film, 18 pages, which didn't do so well albeit with positive reviews.

The actor teamed up with debut director Garry BH, who has a vast experience in film editing for a slick action-thriller, SPY. The movie hit the screens worldwide on June 29 in five languages. Here's what the SPY movie is all about.

Jai (Nikhil Siddhartha) is a RAW agent and is on a mammoth mission to nab a global terrorist Khadir Khan. He also has an underlying personal reason to find out who killed his brother Subhash (Aryan Rajesh) on a mission that ran for five years in which he kills Khadir Khan. In between, there is a missing file related to India's best-kept secret concerning the death of Subhash Chandrabose. What and How Jay solves all these conflicts forms the crux of Spy.

Performances:

Nikhil Siddhartha does it again, pulling it all on his shoulders. The female lead actresses have good roles, and they try to fit in with the narration and their characters. The rest of the actors do their part as required. There are many actors like Makrand Deshpande, Posani Krishna Murali, Suresh, and Sachin Khedekar who appear as notable characters.

Technical Aspects:

The film's background score by Sricharan Pakala is just adequate and sets the tone right. Camera work and editing are on point. Budget restrictions show in the film's initial scenes, which would have come out well otherwise. Garry BH could have done a bit better in terms of executing the first half without deviating from the seriousness of the film as far as direction is concerned.

The film's trailer promoted the film as something that deals with India's best-kept secret about the freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose. But the movie only superficially dabbles with the topic. Only Rana's cameo gives an impactful moment in the second half during the pre-climax.

Nikhil's Image A Few Scenes Around Subhash Chandra Bose Second-half Runtime

Distracting love track/flashback All over the place first-half Lack of tight narration

SPY makes for a routine action thriller that has its flaws and high moments. However, a packed narration would have made this film even better. Go watch the movie if you have no big plans this weekend.

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The 25 best spy movies of all time, ranked

It's not all shaken martinis and gimmicky gadgets.

Everett (3)

When you think of spy movies, your mind likely envisions Daniel Craig in a tux or Tom Cruise hurling himself off something very high and dangerous. But the best espionage films run the gamut from moody procedurals to wrenching character studies, some of which interrogate the outright unglamorous lives of those secret agent types who choose covert surveillance and duty-bound betrayal over individual happiness. Don’t worry, though, even the most studious spies eventually have to engage in some action. 

Without dilly-dallying, here is Entertainment Weekly’s ranking of the 25 best spy movies ever made, and where to watch them.

25. Mission: Impossible (1996)

Tom Cruise has turned Ethan Hunt into his own personal, age-defying performance art project, relishing the chance to give stunt performers as much time off as possible. Here, his IMF lieutenant is thrust into leadership (after a twist that pissed off fans of the original TV series to no end), gathering a squad to locate an undercover agent list before Vanessa Redgrave’s baddie can get her hands on it. Along the way, director Brian De Palma keeps things moving with signature visual aplomb. A helicopter-train duel sets the tone for even more ludicrous Mission: Impossible stunts to come, and the plot is merely a pretense to get from one crowd-popping spectacle to the next. 

Where to watch Mission: Impossible : Paramount+

24. Pascali’s Island (1988)

For some (albeit, fictional) spies, the job is one of danger, seduction, and improbable gunplay. But for others, it’s just a job, one more beset by boredom and disillusionment than exploding fountain pens and helicopter pursuits. For a lonely depiction of low-level espionage work, seek out James Dearden’s Pascali’s Island , in which Ben Kingsley plays a forgotten spy on a Greek island in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire.  

Dutifully filing reports to his uncommunicative and far-off superiors, Pascali regards his pay as proof that his work is imperative. But the arrival of Charles Dance ’s mysterious Englishman sends Pascali into a tailspin of doubt about his purpose (and his friendship with a beautiful Austrian artist played by Helen Mirren ). Soon, it becomes clear that his earnest attempts at spycraft may have set a political disaster in motion. Kingsley is achingly vulnerable as the loyal little man whose devotion to an indifferent government costs him the only intimacy he’s ever known. 

Where to watch Pascali’s Island : Tubi

23. True Lies (1994)

It’s easy to chide Hollywood spy movie franchises like Mission: Impossible for excess, but they’ve got nothing on James Cameron’s ludicrously entertaining, over-the-top comic action flick. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a super spy improbably pulling off a double life and as an ordinary guy with his unknowing wife ( Jamie Lee Curtis ), True Lies bulges with heightened, well, everything. 

After missing yet another family event (to be fair, he was thwarting a nuclear threat by the dreaded “Crimson Jihad”), Arnold’s Harry Tasker struggles to reconcile his wife’s disillusionment with their marriage and prevent a terrorist plot against various major U.S. cities. With fine comic (and physical) turns from Curtis and Tom Arnold, True Lies is — in action craftsman Cameron’s hands — a bombastic hoot. 

Where to watch True Lies : Hulu

22. Bridge of Spies (2015)

Leave it to Steven Spielberg to find the bright side of espionage, as all-American icon Tom Hanks courageously leads a landmark Cold War prisoner exchange story co-written by the Coen Brothers. It’s not all rosy, of course, as Hanks’ crusading attorney continually asserts the constitutional rights of Mark Rylance ’s captured Russian spy, something that Red Scare America regards as tantamount to treason. 

Rylance won an Oscar as mild-mannered minor agent Rudolf Abel, while Hanks (as real-life lawyer James B. Donovan) endures mounting suspicion for maintaining supposedly sacred American principles, facing career setbacks and death threats from his own countrymen. But it’s in the meticulously recreated Checkpoint Charlie swap (involving downed U.S. spy plane pilot Gary Powers) that Spielberg shows off what a master filmmaker can do with a suspense sequence. 

Where to watch Bridge of Spies : AppleTV+

21. Munich (2005)

Steven Spielberg proved he could also tap into the dark, violent side of spy movies 10 years before Bridge of Spies . See: His gripping account of the real-life assassinations by Mossad after the 1972 Olympics terrorist attack in Munich that murdered 11 Israeli athletes. Eric Bana and Daniel Craig embark on a global search for the Palestinians responsible for the massacre, all the while battling assassins and their own tortured consciences. Both enemies prove to be equally dangerous, while Spielberg portrays the men as dutiful but conflicted instruments of national vengeance. 

Putting lauded director Spielberg at the service of such a politically and historically loaded incident is a recipe for controversy, something Munich reaped from all sides. While garnering Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, the film was assailed for being too soft on both ends of the Israel/Palestine conflict — and for turning the thorny subject matter into a more palatable morality tale about the nature of violence. Still, Munich ’s many suspense and action set pieces drive the story along with undeniable tension. 

Where to watch Munich : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

20. Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

After six films spanning 27 years, the Mission: Impossible franchise continued with this nearly three-hour-long installment. ( Part 2 is scheduled for summer 2025 .) Once more, Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt is not so much a super spy as a superhero, while the now 61-year-old actor once again pushes the limits of what a (fictional or, in Cruise’s stunt person-averse case, actual) human being can withstand.

Since long-running spy series are often signposts of our fears, Dead Reckoning ’s antagonist is a pernicious AI threatening the world’s military and financial systems. Director Christopher McQuarrie — with nearly $300 million and a fanatically dedicated lead actor — pulls out every stop imaginable as the crew races across the globe (like when Hunt rides his motorcycle off a towering cliff and then parachutes onto a speeding train). There’s a circular trajectory to Mission: Impossible ’s brand of high-flying spy intrigue, given the filmmakers cited North by Northwest (also a major inspiration for the James Bond films) as influential to this franchise’s thrills. Regardless, Dead Reckoning is the apotheosis of the big-budget spy blockbuster. 

Where to watch Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part 1 : Paramount+

19. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Matt Damon is the perfect actor to play Jason Bourne, an all-American soldier twisted into a pre-programmed, merciless killer by his own government. Damon’s handsome blankness as the tortured Bourne, first seen floating amnesiac in the Mediterranean in 2002’s The Bourne Identity , grounds the spy franchise’s impeccably choreographed action with a leavening somberness. This first sequel is arguably the series’ pinnacle, crafting a thrilling quest for revenge and redemption. 

After Paul Greengrass and his hand-held cameras took the directing reins from Doug Liman, The Bourne Supremacy asserted that happy endings are rarely in a spy’s cards. (Fans of the first film, or those familiar with the “women in refrigerators” cliche, might be upset at how a major character is dispatched to kick off this sequel.) With Jason Bourne framed for a mysterious bombing and theft in Germany, it’s up to Damon’s still memory-deprived agent to hop the globe, utilizing the impressive muscle memory of every dirty espionage trick he was taught by a rogue CIA super-assassin program to seek out the truth. 

The supporting cast remains stellar ( Joan Allen , Brian Cox , Julia Stiles , Karl Urban ), as Bourne navigates ingenious spy gambits, daring last-minute escapes, and some truly brutal fight scenes to reach his goal. The reveal of his true purpose only underscores the ugly toll of this international gamesmanship. 

Where to watch The Bourne Supremacy : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

18. The Ipcress File (1965)

During the initial wave of James Bond mania, Michael Caine played a different sort of spy in 1965’s The Ipcress File — but that was by design. Intended as a more ironic and downbeat alternative to the then-burgeoning Bond franchise, this spy thriller (from the novel by Len Deighton) sees Caine as a dapper, lightly insubordinate, glasses-wearing British agent who uncovers clues to a conspiracy against the world’s scientists. This Caine is something of a foodie, and the film was produced by Bond’s Harry Saltzman and scored by frequent Bond composer John Barry, but that’s where Harry Palmer’s similarities to 007 end. 

Cocky, cockney, and constantly beset by everyday duties, this (along with Alfie the following year) is the birth of Michael Caine the everyman superstar. Dragooned into the service after a criminal past, Caine’s Palmer disdains oppressive authority and regulation, even while proving himself a most capable sleuth and, when need be, efficiently violent. All the Cold War staples (brainwashing, torture, top secret microfilm) are in play as Palmer (whom Caine portrayed in four additional films) doggedly proves his mettle against foes foreign and domestic. 

Where to watch The Ipcress File : Not available to steam

17. Julia (1977)

The life of writer Lillian Hellman may seem like an odd inspiration for a suspenseful spy story, but this crackling drama delivers the goods. Following the playwright’s ( Jane Fonda ) career and relationship with detective novelist Dashiell Hammett (Jason Robards), Fred Zinneman’s film truly comes alive in the second half, when Hellman goes to wartime Europe in search of her childhood friend Julia (a striking Vanessa Redgrave ) whose own intellectual journey has turned her into an anti-fascist crusader. 

With the liberal but sheltered Hellman (herself later accused of “un-American activities”) making a dangerous voyage to Nazi Germany to supply Julia’s WWII resistance colleagues with funds, Zinneman pulls off one of the most tense and expertly performed sequences in spy movie history. After a horrifying scene in which fascists hurl academics over balconies, we watch as Julia walks Lillian through a terse exchange, with the duo’s loving reunion taking the form of a high-wire act of perilous espionage. 

Where to watch Julia : Google Play (to rent)

16. Ronin (1998)

Of course, spy movies aren’t just about sad, shadowy men poring over microphones and microfiche. Sometimes it’s about sad, shadowy men shooting it out over scenic French roadways in speeding cars, double-crosses, and foot chases. This thriller from director John Frankenheimer sees an aging and battle-worn action star in Robert De Niro encounter all of the above. 

De Niro plays a mercenary recruited to an international team by a mysterious Irish woman (Natascha McElhone) to track down and retrieve a specific metal attache case. Ronin never gets around to telling us what’s in the hotly-contested suitcase, and that’s the point — for all the assembled foot soldiers on every side, there’s always a suitcase. Frankenheimer deploys his twists (and a couple of all-time best car chases) like a devious puppet master, and De Niro, in one of his last great performances, keeps his character’s true nature expertly under wraps until the film’s final swerve. 

Where to watch Ronin : Max

15. Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Like Munich , Kathryn Bigelow ’s Oscar-nominated, fact-based tale of terrorism and the revenge reaped as many accolades as it did (often contradictory) criticism. American intelligence agencies’ hunt for Osama bin Laden is portrayed as a global manhunt, with Jessica Chastain ’s dogged CIA analyst chasing down sparse and scattered leads — even when they come from the euphemistically termed “enhanced interrogation techniques” used on suspects at black sites. 

Bigelow turns Chastain’s obsession into a crackling detective story, complete with enough real-world intelligence-gathering gadgetry to put James Bond to shame. As the hunt gains momentum, a post-9/11 America’s descent into (graphically depicted) torture remains an open moral question, with the stoic Chastain maintaining her singular pursuit of justice. Above all, Zero Dark Thirty is a riveting recreation of one of the most intense intelligence operations of all time, while its lack of cut-and-dry ethical stances speaks to the darkest side of the espionage game — and human nature. 

Where to watch Zero Dark Thirty : Starz

14. The 39 Steps (1935)

If, as cinema contends, there are vast, intertwining networks of devious agents around us at all times, it’s only natural that some of the best spy movies involve regular folks finding out things they’re not supposed to. Such is the case in Alfred Hitchcock ’s template-setting spy drama The 39 Steps , which sees two very different people face constant (and entertaining) peril in a pre-WWII English countryside teeming with spies lurking in unexpected places.

An innocent man (Robert Donat) drags an even more innocent bystander (Madeleine Carroll) into his escape from a network of spies after some top-secret information falls into his hands. The two naturally fall for each other (their enforced intimacy was pretty racy for the time), but not without Hitchcock putting them into some deliciously sticky situations, leading to a still-sensational finale at the London Palladium. 

Where to watch The 39 Steps : Tubi

13. On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)

George Lazenby ’s sole outing as 007 — which came between Sean Connery ’s fifth and sixth films — goes above and beyond to distinguish itself as an utterly unique entry in Britain’s premier espionage franchise, injecting a welcome helping of grit and heart into the proceedings. It’s the first (and, for most of the character’s history, the only) Bond movie to add genuine emotional vulnerability to its central superspy, allowing him to fall in love with the romantic lead rather than cast her aside as another one-night stand. 

On Her Majesty’s Secret Service sees Bond called to protect Contessa Teresa "Tracy" di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg), the daughter of a prominent criminal overlord who helps him track down Ernst Blofeld (Telly Savalas) and SPECTRE’s biological warfare operation in the Swiss Alps. As his affection for the countess blossoms, we’re treated to a more complicated, well-rounded vision of the agent, which makes sense given that the relationship was possibly inspired by Ian Fleming’s real-life tragic romance during WWII. Additionally, the snowy action sequences — including chaotic downhill skiing and slippery car chases on ice — are among the very best in Bond history.

Where to watch On Her Majesty's Secret Service : Max

12. The Quiet American (2002)

A genre giant gets a deceptively muted adaptation in this Vietnam-set drama based on Graham Greene’s novel (who, like Frederick Forsyth and John le Carré, is a veteran of the intelligence service MI6). The film — while nominally a love triangle — gradually reveals itself as another instance of empathy and espionage colliding.

Michael Caine plays a sodden British journalist during the 1950s occupation of what was then known as French Indochina. Losing his much younger Vietnamese lover (Do Thi Hai Yen) to an American undercover operative ( Brendan Fraser , outstanding as the brash embodiment of U.S. anti-communist foreign policy) leads the seen-it-all Caine to finally play the spy game with tragic results. It’s Caine’s movie, as his dissolute reporter’s confused tangle of self-interest and world-weariness sows the seeds of this quietly devastating story. 

Where to watch The Quiet American : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

11. The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Frederick Forsyth is another all-time great spy writer, and his fictionalized version of the 1962 assassination attempt on French President Charles de Gaulle (from within France’s military) forms the backbone of this icy, meticulous thriller. Like le Carré, Forsyth was an associate of MI6 (as a longtime unpaid informant). The journalist used his investigative skills to craft this story about the fallout from Gaulle granting independence to colonial Algeria, which put him in the merciless crosshairs of a paid killer. 

A little-known actor at the time, Edward Fox is impeccable as “the Jackal,” an assassin hired by the right-wing group OAS to gun down the president. There’s nothing flashy or even passionate about this spy — he’s a surgically sharp instrument, assuming various disguises and dodging the several intelligence services on his quest to fulfill his contract. Michael Lonsdale matches the Jackal as the French cop tasked with thwarting the rumored assassination. When Fox’s Jackal kills, it’s out of pragmatism; when Lonsdale’s detective succeeds, it’s because his methods are similarly dispassionate and tenacious. Thus, the film’s white-knuckle finale boils down to a miniscule misstep, one that reveals how espionage is vulnerable even to a grain of sand. 

Where to watch The Day of the Jackal : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

10. The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (1965)

Based on the John le Carré novel, Martin Ritt ’s bleak spy thriller also features George Smiley (see No. 3 on this list), although the spymaster’s machinations here better exemplify just how cold-blooded someone in his position must be. Smiley tasks disillusioned MI6 agent Alec Leamas ( Richard Burton ) with defaming an East German intelligence officer during the height of the Cold War. Though he initially seems ripe for defection, Leamas soon discovers (and too late) that this ingeniously deadly espionage game makes mere pawns out of friends and foes alike. 

Thanks to Burton’s affecting performance, Leamas’ downward spiral feels all too real as he’s manipulated by the English and East Germans in equal, heartless measure. The puppetry trickles downward when he romances a naive British communist (a heartbreaking Claire Bloom) and makes her collateral damage in his double-agent balancing act, proving that surveillance leaves little room for sentiment. Even so, these “seedy squalid bastards” (as Leamas calls them) rely on human beings for intel, and the film’s devastating conclusion shows the cost of cutting yourself off from your soul. 

Where to watch The Spy Who Came In From the Cold : Kanopy

9. North by Northwest (1959)

One of the most purely entertaining thrillers of all time, Alfred Hitchcock mines his go-to plot — an innocent man accused — and runs it with some of the most memorable sequences in movie history. Cary Grant was never more suave and effortless than as Roger Thornhill, an unsuspecting ad man mistaken for a government agent by an ever-widening gang of thugs, spies, and an anti-American spymaster (James Mason). Along the way, our wily protagonist meets up with Eva Marie Saint ’s Eve Kendall, whose quick infatuation is only partly due to him being played by Cary Grant. 

For a standard MacGuffin microfilm-and-treason plot (the explanation of which is hilariously drowned out by a convenient airplane engine), the film hooks us from the start and drags us happily from one stunning set piece to another. Eventually, the whole tangled tale hangs (literally) from the impassive visages of the presidents at Mt. Rushmore, setting a template for high-concept, outlandish thrills for decades to come.

Where to watch North by Northwest : Tubi

8. The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

For a more baroque tale of undercover operatives and the shadowy forces underwriting them, John Frankenheimer’s The Manchurian Candidate is a sure bet. Frank Sinatra could really act when he wanted to, and his hard-boiled Korean War vet is formidable as he unravels why his former army buddy and rising political candidate (Laurence Harvey) remains a blurry memory to him and his surviving squad mates. 

Crisply choreographed action (Sinatra and Henry Silva have an improbably gripping, early-for-America martial arts battle) and an all-time great villainous turn by Angela Lansbury combine with the film’s zippy, trippy tone for potent doses of Cold War paranoia. It’s a myth that President Kennedy’s assassination the following year caused Sinatra to demand The Manchurian Candidate be pulled from theaters. Still, the story of a lone gunman with seemingly shady motivations continues to prickle audiences adamant that nothing in world politics is ever what it seems on the surface. 

Where to watch The Manchurian Candidate : Tubi

7. Casino Royale (2006)

The neverending James Bond series has so informed and/or warped our ideas of spies, that choosing entries for this list means deciding which eras of over-the-top popcorn silliness comes closest to personal preference. That said, it’s tough to bet against the most recent Bond, Daniel Craig , especially in his first outing, a typically loose adaptation of Ian Fleming ’s 1953 novel Casino Royale .

After the increasingly cartoonish Pierce Brosnan years, the iconic character is reinvented (again) as a brutishly effective MI6 agent who just got his license to kill. Craig’s Bond is defiant to the point of insubordination (no small feat when facing off against Judi Dench ’s imperious boss, M) as he violently pursues clues leading directly to a high-stakes poker game against Mads Mikkelsen ’s criminal mastermind, Le Chiffre. (That the game comes down to a round of “who has the most outrageously impossible hand” is prime James Bond.) 

Meanwhile, this 007 flirts with the requisite femme fatale (a great Eva Green ), banters with enabling CIA pal Felix Leiter (an also great Jeffrey Wright ), and engages in sequences that are so spectacular, they could serve as climaxes of multiple smaller-budgeted thrillers. If this glowering Bond isn’t as suave as some of his predecessors, Craig’s gravitas amidst all the over-the-top action lends him an almost-human presence. Almost. 

Where to watch Casino Royale : Amazon Prime Video

6. The Lives of Others (2006)

Many of the best spy movies mine the divide between duty and conscience in an infamously unfeeling business. This wrenchingly intimate German drama sees the late Ulrich Mühe play a dedicated surveillance expert in East Germany tasked with spying on an artist couple, only to become inconveniently touched by their lives. That the film’s story shockingly mirrors a betrayal from Mühe’s own life (his ex-wife allegedly kept tabs on the actor for the Stasi) only makes his performance as the increasingly conflicted snooper more compelling.

The Lives of Others makes a fine double feature with another movie on this list, 1974’s The Conversation (see below). Like Gene Hackman ’s Harry Caul, Mühe’s Hauptmann Wiesler imagines that living in isolation will absolve him of the horrors wrought by his work. As a divided Germany grinds towards reconciliation during the latter part of the film, the race between the surveillance state’s omnipresent brutality and Wiesler’s flicker of humanity forms a decidedly modern tragedy.

Where to watch The Lives of Others : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

5. Army of Shadows (1969)

Sticking it to the Nazis is always a crowd-pleaser, even as this French Resistance tale combines adventure and moral relativism into a bracing, crushing watch. Following Lino Ventura’s Resistance agent Gerbier as he infiltrates (and repeatedly escapes) the fascists occupying France, director Jean-Pierre Melville crafts a film that’s both a rip-roaring spy thriller and a soul-crushing examination of a good man forced to do terrible things — and the toll it takes on his soul. 

Amidst the movie’s various prison breaks (including one Nazi guard game sadistic enough to anticipate Sophie’s Choice ), Gerbier gathers the titular cadre of allies to carry out his daring missions. But he knows their shadowy work will inevitably put them in positions where unthinkable calls must be made. Released in a France still reeling from President Charles de Gaulle (see The Day of the Jackal above), Army of Shadows was thought to be an unfashionably laudatory depiction of the Resistance’s violent methods. However, as times and attitudes have changed, many now regard the film as a complicated, ugly portrait of how incompatible espionage is with a clean conscience. 

Where to watch Army of Shadows : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

4. Three Days of the Condor (1975)

Spy movies often play up the action, but there’s a lot of paperwork behind the derring-do. This exceptionally taut thriller from Sydney Pollack shows that even functionaries find themselves in the thick of things, with Robert Redford ’s nominal CIA analyst (he reads spy novels in search of coded plots) accidentally uncovering sensitive information and going on the run. 

Redford’s protagonist, who must hurriedly remember that his codename is “Condor,” is forced to dodge the shadowy forces pursuing him through 1970s New York. (Including a scene-stealing hitman played by the late, great Max von Sydow .) That involves kidnapping a photographer ( Faye Dunaway , also outstanding) in a desperate moment. But the gorgeous duo’s inevitable attraction never distracts from the danger — or the stakes of even the most tangential espionage. 

Where to watch Three Days of the Condor : Amazon Prime Video

3. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

John le Carré is one of the most adapted spy novelists, and it’s easy to see why. A former member of Britain’s MI5 and MI6, he penned exquisitely detailed fiction based on insider knowledge, with one of his finest creations being dogged spymaster George Smiley. Gary Oldman plays the iconic character to Oscar-nominated perfection in this searing spy drama from Tomas Alfredson ( Let the Right One In ).

With the Cold War at its height and British intelligence under siege from Russian moles, Oldman’s unassuming Smiley assembles an underground team of similarly dedicated agents after he’s ousted as head of “The Circus.” The film portrays spy work in all its understated, politicking self-importance, punctuated by shocking violence and narrow escapes. Meanwhile, Oldman and Alfredson make Smiley’s gamesmanship as masterful as it is chillingly subtle, and the cast is crowded with some of Britain’s best actors, including John Hurt, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Toby Jones, Tom Hardy, and Benedict Cumberbatch. 

Where to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy : Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

2. Notorious (1946)

Alfred Hitchcock's greatest spy movie, and one of the greatest spy movies in general, came via this romantic thriller about undercover operatives, Nazis, and a secret cache of potentially world-destabilizing secrets. Teaming Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant at their respective heights of star power, talent, and beauty, Hitchcock crafts a suspenseful story about espionage and the unthinkable sacrifices it demands. 

In the aftermath of WWII, Bergman’s party girl tries to drink away the shame of her father being a Nazi collaborator, leaving her ripe for recruitment by Grant’s government superiors when an enclave of escaped Nazis in Rio de Janeiro starts plotting a comeback. Tasked with pimping the conflicted Bergman out as a bride to a charming fascist (Claude Rains), Grant finds himself in an untenable war between love and duty. Meanwhile, Bergman’s position undercover becomes more and more fraught with danger and compromise. 

Replete with nerve-shredding, suspenseful set pieces — the wine cellar sequence is Hitchcock at his most sadistically brilliant — Notorious , for all its melodramatic beats, explores the horrible moral tension that lurks in even theoretically altruistic espionage. 

Where to watch Notorious : Tubi

1. The Conversation (1974)

Courtesy Everett Collection

Harry Caul is a spy only in the mercenary sense. Gene Hackman’s surveillance expert is a pair of ears for hire, sent to make a seemingly impossible recording of a couple’s hushed conversation amidst a noisy crowd. That Harry succeeds (in a brilliantly conceived scene) marks him as a true master in his grimy field, but that victory is soon overshadowed by his detecting an unsettling secret. 

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola , The Conversation fits into (and exemplifies) the spy genre by interrogating how power and covert surveillance are inextricably linked to moral rot. Harry fancies himself nothing but a technician, having cut himself off from all but the most superficial personal connections after a past disaster related to his work. But taking pride in an invasive and potentially devastating craft is, as Harry discovers with increasing paranoia, destined to boomerang when the observer becomes the observed. Hackman delivers one of his greatest performances here, with Harry’s fumbling conscience laying bare the no-win situation of a professional interloper.

Where to watch The Conversation : PlutoTV

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Family Star Hindi Dub Release Date Window Confirmed, Claim Reports

By Aditi Rathi

Family Star is just around the corner, and Vijay Deverakonda and Mrunal Thakur’s fans eagerly await to watch it. It marks another collaboration between the actor and director Parasuram. Since Deverakonda’s last two outings did not impress the audience as their makers had anticipated, fans’ hopes are high for his upcoming family drama. While the movie is simultaneously being released in Telugu and Tamil, details of its Hindi release date are not yet available. However, a new report claims the release will not take much time.

Family Star follows the story of Govardhan, a common man who loves his family. As per the trailer, he does not think twice before fighting goons when it comes to his dear ones. His life seemingly changes when he crosses paths with Indhu, who eventually becomes his better half. Producer Dil Raju has already revealed that most of the movie is a romance comedy, and the rest is a family drama. Therefore, seeing how the movie will unfold on the silver screens would be interesting.

When will Family Star Hindi version release?

Family Star’s Telugu and Tamil exclusive theatrical releases are taking place on April 5, 2024. Now, all eyes are on the movie’s Hindi dub’s release date. According to a report by 123telugu.com, the Hindi version will be out in the next two weeks. Alongside the Hindi dub, the movie will be released in Malayalam.

Fans are upset with the news as there is a massive buzz around Vijay Deverakonda and Mrunal Thakur’s pairing.

Apart from the two leads, the Family Star also features Abhinaya, Vasuki, Ravi Babu, and Vennela Kishore. Moreover, a cameo by Rashmika Mandanna is also making rounds. However, when the producer was questioned about the same, he refused to answer and asked the audience to watch the movie.

Always lookin' for what's cookin', Aditi is a fan of American sitcoms and Indian cinema. The combination is as quirky as she is. Apart from writing all day, you can catch her playing with her street dogs, painting, or cooking.

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Vijay Deverakonda’s The Family Star is set to arrive in cinemas this Friday. Dil Raju, who produced this flick, has turned an anchor and interviewed the team. Dil Raju asked Vijay Deverakonda what aspect of The Family Star excited the latter the most.

Vijay Deverakonda said, “During the narration of Geetha Govindam and The Family Star, Parasuram and I were continuously laughing. The script contains many incidents that happened in my life. The events shown in the movie will resonate with one and all at some point. The audience will be surprised to watch the scenes that happen in their daily lives. This is the most exciting aspect of Family Star.”

Vijay Deverakonda added, “Every household has a family star, but Govardhan (Hero’s character name) is someone who is an extreme version of such family stars. His love, anger, and grumpiness will be extreme to the core. The problems of middle-class people will be depicted, but there won’t be a shortage of entertainment.”

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