Ratings:3.5/5 Chakravyuh Review by Taran Adarsh Bollywood Hungama CHAKRAVYUH isn't a dry film or a docu-styled feature on how and why the Naxalite movement has spread in various parts of the country. Jha knows, and knows well by now, that a message rings loud and clear if it's conveyed with a riveting plot and interesting characters that the common man expects from popular/mainstream cinema. CHAKRAVYUH is about Naxalites, but at the centre of the conflict is the story of two friends and how the issue [Naxalite] drives a wedge between two thick friends. CHAKRAVYUH is for the thinking man in the audience. It's serious in temperament, remains loyal and faithful to the issue it sets to illustrate on screen and puts forth the point of view of the Naxals and the government, both in the public domain. Also, it's violent and intense, with several ferocious moments. On the whole, CHAKRAVYUH is an engaging drama. It chronicles a burning issue, but is entertaining concurrently, something that Prakash Jha balances beautifully in film after film. Watch it!
Ratings:3.5/5 Review by Meena Iyer Times Of India Chakravyuh is a hard film to make and marks must be given to Jha for sticking his neck out. Staying true to the subject, he gives us an insight into uncomfortable truths unfolding in our backyard. He is one of the few filmmakers with such audacious work to his credit. Jha must also be complimented for the scale and performances he has extracted from his lead cast. The men - Manoj, Arjun and Abhay - are compelling; of the girls, Esha starts on a shrill note but improves later. Newbie Anjali Patil shines. Tip-off: You may not like this movie if socio-political entertainers are not your cup of tea.
Ratings:2.5/5 Review by Sukanya Verma Rediff A dramatised account of real events is effective so long it is both expressive and informative in a sensible measure. But Prakash Jha's Chakravyuh, which builds its nucleus around the Naxalite activities in East of India , employs familiar ploys and plot points to credibly work as either. In the end, Chakravyuh is nothing more than an average action flick in the garb of relevant cinema where socio-politico turmoil is nothing more than a prop and gun-toting militants in uniforms and bandanas hollering 'Lal Salaam' fill up the frames
Ratings:2.5/5 Review by Suprateek Chatterjee Hindustan Times There are films that try to tell emotionally complex stories and succeed in making an impact. Chakravyuh, unfortunately, is not one of those films.To be fair, Chakravyuh does get a few things right. The violence, though a tad excessive, is well orchestrated. Certain set-pieces, especially one that shows an entire village being razed, are executed well.Alas, all of this is undone by the film's frenetic pacing, raucous background score and puerile writing. Chakravyuh is, ultimately, a victim of typical Bollywood excesses. A little more subtlety, a little less jingoism, and it might have worked better.
Ratings:2.5/5 Review by Rumanna Ahmed Yahoo Prakash Jha picks a sensitive subject of social relevance but in his attempt to pander to popular cinema, he incorporates too many Bollywoodisms that prevent 'Charavyuh' from becoming an intense political drama. Jha spends too much time trying to make the film entertaining rather than focus on the nuances that make a coherent plot.The narrative is peppered with an unclear romantic track and has an item song thrown in just for the heck of it. Prakash Jha should understand that a bold topic is not enough, unless the execution matches the noble intentions of the plot.
Ratings:3/5 Review by Mayank Shekhar Dainik Bhaskar This intellectual honesty is the film’s finest achievement. For most parts, the director ensures the audiences engage with a masala, action thriller – packed with the sound and fury of guns and bombs. This doesn’t force him to dumb down thought as well. The film – informative and entertaining at the same time – ends up reflecting the world we live in. These are the sort of Bollywood films that continue to document our times, and therefore survive much beyond their opening weekend.
Ratings:2/5 Review by Shubhra Gupta Indian Express It is the latest in Prakash Jha’s line of films which puts the spotlight on a burningly important issue, but which comes off less than trenchant because of mainstream considerations. How else can you do naxalism and 'mao-wadi-ism’ and idealism and pragmatism, and still expect to entice multiplex viewers? Because finally, that’s what all the good intentions and all those `isms’ come down to : packaged in a trying-to-be-palatable-to-all plot, which works intermittently in the first half, and not too well in the stretched second.
Ratings:2/5 Review by Roshni Devi Koimoi What’s Good: Abhay Deol and Anjali Patil’s performances. What’s Bad: Arjun & Esha’s acting; the screenplay. Loo break: Any time in the first half.Watch or Not?: Watch Chakravyuh for a semi-decent take on the plague of Naxalism. The story also takes a lot of time to pick up. The story only picks up after the interval when Kabir and Adil’s conversation changes to “teri” and “hamari”, but by that time you’ve already lost your patience. Chakravyuh tries to grapple with too many nexuses in the movie, but gets bogged down with the script and mediocre performances.
Ratings:4/5 Review by Bikas Bhagat Zee News Enter Prakash Jha with his thought provoking ‘Chakravyuh’ - and it can be decisively said that there cannot be a more balanced approach to create an illustration around something as complex a subject as Naxalism. The topic is such that if not handled craftily, it would fail to make a mark. There are as many supporters for the issue as are counters.Here’s a fight which we have heard about and seen through the ages – the fight between the Capitalists and the Communists. Prakash Jha presents it in his own way; and going by illustrious line of work, it would be a big mistake on your part if you happen to give ‘Chakravyuh’ a miss.
