Maalik Movie Review (2025): Rajkummar Rao’s Fierce Gangster Drama Hits Hard

Maalik Movie : WHEN RAJKUMMAR RAO TURNS ROGUE

Ever seen Rajkummar Rao smash a guy with a shovel, gun down enemies without blinking, and walk through political firestorms with a death stare? If not, “Maalik” will be your baptism by fire. Released on 11th July 2025, Maalik is not your regular underworld flick. It doesn’t pretend to be smart or artsy. Instead, it grabs you by the collar, throws you into a dust bowl of crime, betrayal, and revenge, and lets you soak in the bloodied journey of a man who turns into a monster.

Directed by Pulkit, and starring an absolutely feral Rajkummar Rao, Maalik is raw, rugged, and relentless. It’s a gangster saga drenched in sweat, grime, and the kind of rage that can make cities burn.

Maalik Movie Star Studded Cast: Names That Demand Attention

Rajkummar Rao as Deepak / Maalik: A poor farmer’s son who becomes the ruthless underworld boss of Allahabad in the late ’80s.
Prosenjit Chatterjee as SP Prabhu Das: The seasoned, honour-bound cop with a grudge.
Manushi Chhillar as Shalini: Deepak’s pregnant wife, the only human anchor in his tumultuous life.
Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla, Anshumaan Pushkar, Swanand Kirkire, Saurabh Sachdeva, and Rajendra Gupta round out the ensemble—each delivering rock-solid support that anchors the violent odyssey in emotional truth.

Maalik Movie Plot Breakdown: Rise, Reign, Ruin

Humble Beginnings → Catastrophe
Set in 1980s Allahabad (then “Illahabad”), Deepak is a diligent but impoverished farmer’s son. A tragedy strikes when his father is brutally assaulted to provoke Deepak into rebellion. The film’s early sequences are visceral, raw—and enough to hook keenly.
First Taste of Power
Driven by rage, Deepak avenges his father with shocking violence. This act sets him on a path toward becoming “Maalik”—the master. Initially about vengeance, the power trip spirals out of control.
Ascension & Consolidation
The narrative tracks Deepak’s rise through a clan of gangsters and corrupt politicians. Each confrontation—be it with MLA Balhar (Swanand Kirkire), mentor-turned-rival Shankar Singh (Saurabh Shukla), or professional killer Chandrashekhar (Saurabh Sachdeva)—is marked by violence and betrayal.
Love Under Siege
Shalini (Manushi Chhillar) provides Deepak a glimpse of redemption. Her pregnancy becomes a psychological turning point, offering a moral crossroads in his dark odyssey.
Climax & Collapse
The final act culminates in a massive showdown—revenge, massacre, but also an emotional betrayal that strips Deepak of everything he held dear. Critics praised the action crescendo for its execution, if not its narrative novelty.

Maalik Movie Technical Brilliance (And the Grit That Hides Its Flaws)

Cinematography (Anuj Rakesh Dhawan):
A bleak, sun-bleached palette that delivers eerie atmosphere. The rustic textures immerse you in a land poisoned by blood and power.
Music & Score:
With songs by Sachin–Jigar and a moody, tension-filled score by Ketan Sodha, audio plays a key role. While the songs—Naamumkin, Dil Thaam Ke, Raaj Karega Maalik—inject energy, it’s the haunting background music that steals the show.
Direction (Pulkit):
Pulkit demonstrates flair in staging raw action but stumbles when balancing spectacle with emotion. He paints in broad strokes—occasionally at the cost of narrative nuance.

RATINGS & REVIEWS ROUND-UP

Here’s how some of the biggest names in entertainment media are rating Maalik:

Platform	Rating	What They Said
IMDb	7.9/10	Users praise Rao, bash predictability
NDTV	2/5 stars	“An overlong, ultra-violent gangster drama”
Hindustan Times	3/5 stars	“Old wine, new swag. Rao is fire!”
Bollywood Hungama	2/5 stars	“Routine gangster flick elevated by performance”

Clearly, everyone agrees on one thing: Rajkummar Rao is the storm at the center of this chaos.

PERSONAL TAKE: WHY I THINK MAALIK IS WORTH A WATCH

Look, is Maalik perfect? No.

It has pacing issues. Some scenes are overcooked, and yes, the story walks on paths already paved by films like Vaastav, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Company. But despite the clichés, the film packs punches—literally and emotionally.

Rao’s performance is a revelation. You’re used to seeing him as the affable guy-next-door. Here, he burns with an intensity that’s almost uncomfortable to watch. Every glare, every breakdown, every bullet fired feels earned.

There’s also something deeply haunting about the world Pulkit builds. It’s not stylized crime—it’s sticky, real, and unforgiving.

If you’re a fan of character-driven gangster stories, Maalik might just hit the right nerve.

Maalik Movie : BOX OFFICE & BUZZ

Opening Day Collection: ₹3.35 to ₹3.48 crore
Advance Bookings: ~6,500 tickets
Social Buzz: Twitter lit up praising Rao’s avatar as “electrifying,” though many noted the film could’ve used tighter editing.

Maalik opened against Superman and Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan and held its own despite the tough competition. A modest but impactful debut.

Maalik Movie : FAQs

Q1: Is Maalik Movie based on a true story?
No. It draws inspiration from several real-world events but remains fictional.

Q2: Is it suitable for family viewing?
Not at all. With brutal violence, strong language, and adult themes, it’s strictly for mature audiences.

Q3: What’s the runtime?
Roughly 2 hours 30 minutes (152 minutes).

Q4: Where was it filmed?
Primarily in Lucknow, Varanasi, Unnao, and Kanpur.

Q5: Will it come to OTT soon?
No announcements yet, but expect a digital release in a couple of months.

Maalik Movie FINAL VERDICT

Watch it for: Rajkummar Rao’s beast mode, grounded action, and gritty visual style.
Skip it if: You’re expecting something fresh or revolutionary.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Maalik may not change the landscape of Indian gangster films, but it gives us something we didn’t know we needed—Rajkummar Rao, unchained.

So, have you watched it yet? What did you think of Rao’s dark turn? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk cinema.

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Prashant

Hi, I’m Prashant Jain — a curious soul, storyteller, and content creator at heart.I’ve always been drawn to the world of entertainment, travel, sports, health & lifestyle — not just as a writer, but as someone who genuinely lives these experiences. Whether I’m binge-watching the latest OTT series, exploring offbeat spiritual destinations in India, or diving deep into wellness routines and cricket match insights, I love sharing what I discover with like-minded readers.
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