Zee5 Film "Berlin" Movie Review

Berlin on ZEE5, helmed by Atul Sabharwal is a truly thrilling espionage drama based times back in 1993 and set in New Delhi. Based on a gripping story, the film is described to follow Pushkin Verma (Aparshakti Khurana), who is a sign language expert and his assignment takes him back in history as he encounters an intricate investigation revolving around Ashok Kumar (Ishwak Singh) -- a deaf-mute orphan. Rahul Bose as the menacing intelligence officer, Jagdish, who is in charge of the case.

The film invigorates the political intrigue with personal crises, both as Pushkin finds himself ensnared in a conspiracy, and seems to straddle opposing loyalties. The plot delves into ideas about truth and manipulation, good intentions and the grey-area morality of intelligence agencies, as Pushkin—whose consciousness is in fact spread across three different temporal points in his life—works to discover his place during unravelling events involving an assassination attempt on the President.

Aparshakti Khurana stands out with his performance moving beyond the comedic roles he normally plays and infusing his character with vulnerability and decisiveness. Ishwak Singh is kept on the mute but He shines through his expressions and body language, adding a lot of layers to his character. There's little to fault in Rahul Bose who asserts such a calculated intensity into the role of Jagdish, the shrewd officer.

Shot through with a moody, atmospheric sepia that perfectly captures the political turmoil and general state of confusion at the time, The cramped, oppressive confines of the interrogation room stand in stark contrast to broader political stakes, hooking viewers in this slow-burn thriller.

Though less full of action, Berlin does far better at building suspense and keeping viewers engaged with its constructed narrative and emotional breadth. A close viewing is necessary to pick through the labyrinth of flashbacks and present events which slowly peel together a lie. It is basically a spy-thriller where instead of concentrating only on crucial takeaways and high-pitched dramas mirroring micro-and macro-geopolitical settings, the film goes around focusing on complex situations which are realistic in nature . The film is a slow starter but gels well towards the climax. For people who like action ,masala,song and dance this is not a film for them .