John Abraham is one of the few actors who can hold a movie together almost single handedly. It's a gripping narration and well made movie. Highly recommended if you want to be moved and not entertained. Powerful.
165 Reviews
Outstanding Work by John
supeshjain15 August 2019
Curtain raiser of appeasement policy of Indian Politicians exposed via court narration filmed
dr_hgj-4823119 August 2019
Very small liberty is taken by this film makers from swaying away from truth and the court room drama Revelation of this unfortunate incident. In doing so first time a Police Officer's Mental is touched truly medically. Cops are doing their duties goons political Asylum and Political Support Communal support is really damaging the society. In fact Police is a Friend of the accused in reality ! The only un necessary dance intruded as item song is a cheap shot. Rest of the film lies in pressured couple life due to vocational incidents is really just given a say. Solidarity of Police force in general is re validated. In reality people are blaming some party as a whole but the ruling party awarded the police officer with Police Medal and Defense Minister has spoken in favor of the police party. It is only those few who are routinely since long practicing these un wanted and damaging in longer run appeasement that is really given a full and honest exposure. We really feel the tension of police party against terrorism. Some read between line type of message is certainly re affirmed. Story is a true incident. An honesty in narration was required. As it happened so is said. Decorating the police social pressure life job wise personal sacrifices all said without saying it . Simply story telling in proper way wins the audience's praise.
After Parmanu, another powerful performance by John Abraham.
prafullasrivastav16 August 2019
Direction: Nikkhil Advani must received standing ovasion for bravest attempt to convert encounter in celluiod format. Showcasing real life of policemen is really good attempt and definely value addition to the cinema.
Performances: Once again John Abraham played captain's knock in this encounter saga. Mrunal Thakur played similar role like she did in her recent release Super 30. Ravi Kishan played small and effective supporting role. Rajesh Sharma shines in negative role as defence lawyer. Nora Fatehi looks pretty in "O Saki Saki" song.
Script and Screenplay: Ritesh Shah has done brilliant job in term of thriller writing. Screenplay was so powerful that you will be engage with this movie till the climax.
Music: Tanishk Bagchi, Ankit Tiwari and Rochak kohli gave music for one song each. "O Saki Saki" song is already chartbuster.
Box-Office: It opened with good figure of 15 crores when it is clashing with Akshay Kumar's Mission Mangal at box-office. This movie can complete century at box-office based on weekdays' performance.
Last Words: If you love reality based cinema, you must go for it.
Performances: Once again John Abraham played captain's knock in this encounter saga. Mrunal Thakur played similar role like she did in her recent release Super 30. Ravi Kishan played small and effective supporting role. Rajesh Sharma shines in negative role as defence lawyer. Nora Fatehi looks pretty in "O Saki Saki" song.
Script and Screenplay: Ritesh Shah has done brilliant job in term of thriller writing. Screenplay was so powerful that you will be engage with this movie till the climax.
Music: Tanishk Bagchi, Ankit Tiwari and Rochak kohli gave music for one song each. "O Saki Saki" song is already chartbuster.
Box-Office: It opened with good figure of 15 crores when it is clashing with Akshay Kumar's Mission Mangal at box-office. This movie can complete century at box-office based on weekdays' performance.
Last Words: If you love reality based cinema, you must go for it.
Excellent movie done by john abrahm
smanukumar15 August 2019
What a riveting narrative
ronakkotian17 August 2019
Who would have thought that the director of atrocious films like Hero and Chandni Chowk to China would've made a gripping and compelling movie like Batla House.
Batla House follows the story of the real life Batla House encounter, which became a huge controversy, and the impact it had on the Delhi Police and the encounter's leading man: ACP Sanjay Kumar.
From start to finish, this movie was captivating. The opening starts off with the encounter and the second it starts, your eyes are glued to the screen. I'm really surprised that Nikkhil Advani directed this movie because some of his previous films were not to my liking but here he's done an impressive job with the direction. Ritesh Shah's screenplay is well thought out and some of the dialogues he's written will initiate claps among the audience. I liked the realistic approach Shah took. It made the story feel much more believable in my eyes.
John Abraham did a great job here. He suits these types of roles and his restrained performance shows it. The film brought a lot of moments relating to the encounter and his personal life that developed his character so we fully understand what he's going through. Mrunal Thakur also did a good job. However I wish the film did a bit more with her character.
I thought the use of archive footage was a good choice since it made the movie feel more authentic. The film has a lot of social commentary about the mentality of the media and public. It's crazy to think how the public base their opinions on one side of the story without looking at the entire picture.
I have a few issues with the film. The pacing of the first half was a tad slow but eventually it picked up during the second half. The songs dragged on for a bit too long. If they shortened its length then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Whilst Advani's direction was good, I felt the action during the encounter could have been directed better.
All in all, Batla House is a riveting and engaging movie that teaches you about one of the most controversial cases in India in a very sincere manner. It's definitely worth a watch.
Batla House follows the story of the real life Batla House encounter, which became a huge controversy, and the impact it had on the Delhi Police and the encounter's leading man: ACP Sanjay Kumar.
From start to finish, this movie was captivating. The opening starts off with the encounter and the second it starts, your eyes are glued to the screen. I'm really surprised that Nikkhil Advani directed this movie because some of his previous films were not to my liking but here he's done an impressive job with the direction. Ritesh Shah's screenplay is well thought out and some of the dialogues he's written will initiate claps among the audience. I liked the realistic approach Shah took. It made the story feel much more believable in my eyes.
John Abraham did a great job here. He suits these types of roles and his restrained performance shows it. The film brought a lot of moments relating to the encounter and his personal life that developed his character so we fully understand what he's going through. Mrunal Thakur also did a good job. However I wish the film did a bit more with her character.
I thought the use of archive footage was a good choice since it made the movie feel more authentic. The film has a lot of social commentary about the mentality of the media and public. It's crazy to think how the public base their opinions on one side of the story without looking at the entire picture.
I have a few issues with the film. The pacing of the first half was a tad slow but eventually it picked up during the second half. The songs dragged on for a bit too long. If they shortened its length then I wouldn't have a problem with it. Whilst Advani's direction was good, I felt the action during the encounter could have been directed better.
All in all, Batla House is a riveting and engaging movie that teaches you about one of the most controversial cases in India in a very sincere manner. It's definitely worth a watch.
A good thriller
cool-naveendaniel-230-20127015 August 2019
This guy John here is improving his acting so much that he is a better actor than so many superstar now.... And his movie selection last few years are so damn good... This movie here with such a controversial plot doesn't take any sides with bieng neutral it questions us on so many levels.... It keeps us on the edge of our seats... Director here is the clear winner ...
Good Cinema
tilakponnappa18 August 2019
JHON Abraham in Making of his own image
noughtravi16 August 2019
Loving his all his movies since Madras Cafe To shoot out at wadala and many many more .if you watch JHON Abraham's earlier movies like paap,zism,or other you didn't find this guy can act but nowsdays he is selecting sum gem of movies and Batla house is one of them Keep doing Jhon there is nothing wrong in doing true events based movies
'Batla House' is gripping, intense watch.
Tejas_Vinda_AITS15 August 2019
BATLA HOUSE is the story of a cop. The year is 2008. The Indian Mujahideen has conducted a series of blasts across the country.
On September 19, he(John) is informed by his team that the terrorists responsible for this blast are holed up in a flat in L-18, Batla House in the Okhla locality of the city Delhi.
Sanjay(john) meanwhile reaches and he along with the rest of the police team eliminate the shooters. One of them, Tufail (Alok Pandey) is arrested. Even before the cops could leave, the residents begin raising slogans against the police. Soon, the media and political leaders blame the police for staging a fake encounter.
Sanjay meanwhile finds it difficult to prove that he's right and that these residents of Batla House were indeed a part of Indian Mujahideen.
Many might not be aware of this case and how it led to such a huge controversy at that time.
The courtroom drama is quite exhilarating and clap worthy. Also, once the entire scenario becomes clear, the film becomes simpler. As a result, audiences would be even more interested once they know the complete picture.
BATLA HOUSE belongs to John Abraham, without a shred of doubt.
BATLA HOUSE is a powerful saga which is sure to spark off discussions and debates. clapworthy moments and terrific performance by John Abraham make BATLA HOUSE one of the finest films of the year.
On September 19, he(John) is informed by his team that the terrorists responsible for this blast are holed up in a flat in L-18, Batla House in the Okhla locality of the city Delhi.
Sanjay(john) meanwhile reaches and he along with the rest of the police team eliminate the shooters. One of them, Tufail (Alok Pandey) is arrested. Even before the cops could leave, the residents begin raising slogans against the police. Soon, the media and political leaders blame the police for staging a fake encounter.
Sanjay meanwhile finds it difficult to prove that he's right and that these residents of Batla House were indeed a part of Indian Mujahideen.
Many might not be aware of this case and how it led to such a huge controversy at that time.
The courtroom drama is quite exhilarating and clap worthy. Also, once the entire scenario becomes clear, the film becomes simpler. As a result, audiences would be even more interested once they know the complete picture.
BATLA HOUSE belongs to John Abraham, without a shred of doubt.
BATLA HOUSE is a powerful saga which is sure to spark off discussions and debates. clapworthy moments and terrific performance by John Abraham make BATLA HOUSE one of the finest films of the year.
Must watch film for independence day
spiderrajarya15 August 2019
Engaging and Powerful
Jini-B18 August 2019
I knew very little about the Batla House Encounter and I didn't really know much about the movie either, when I decided to go in and watch it. The trailer was pretty gripping, and since John Abraham has lately been part of some good films, I was naturally curious about this one.
I went in without looking at the reviews and it was quite refreshing... going in without any preconceived notions about the film. Initially I wanted to go in and watch Mission Mangal but to be honest, looking at the reviews of that film, I'm glad I chose this one instead.
John Abraham is fantastic in his turn as Sanjay Kumar Yadav, ACP, Delhi Police. His acting skills have improved a lot and I was extremely surprised to see him in action in this film. He is not only convincing in the action sequences, he is great in the emotional scenes as well. His acting as the tortured ACP, grappling with his conscience and dealing with a difficult situation, was really quite a marvel. I am surely going to watch his upcoming films after this one. He has done really well. Mrunal Thakur, as Nandita Kumar Yadav was quite good too and she has done a nice job with her limited screen time. The supporting cast was convincing in their respective roles.
The first half dragged a little in parts, although the politics and the protest scenes were quite believable. The action sequences and the courtroom drama in the second half was compelling, although the actor playing the judge seemed to be overacting a little bit.
Overall, the film is a must-see for me, not only for the details behind the Batla House Encounter case and the associated happenings, but also for John Abraham, who truly did a fantastic job here.
I went in without looking at the reviews and it was quite refreshing... going in without any preconceived notions about the film. Initially I wanted to go in and watch Mission Mangal but to be honest, looking at the reviews of that film, I'm glad I chose this one instead.
John Abraham is fantastic in his turn as Sanjay Kumar Yadav, ACP, Delhi Police. His acting skills have improved a lot and I was extremely surprised to see him in action in this film. He is not only convincing in the action sequences, he is great in the emotional scenes as well. His acting as the tortured ACP, grappling with his conscience and dealing with a difficult situation, was really quite a marvel. I am surely going to watch his upcoming films after this one. He has done really well. Mrunal Thakur, as Nandita Kumar Yadav was quite good too and she has done a nice job with her limited screen time. The supporting cast was convincing in their respective roles.
The first half dragged a little in parts, although the politics and the protest scenes were quite believable. The action sequences and the courtroom drama in the second half was compelling, although the actor playing the judge seemed to be overacting a little bit.
Overall, the film is a must-see for me, not only for the details behind the Batla House Encounter case and the associated happenings, but also for John Abraham, who truly did a fantastic job here.
Slow, Unwatchable and Full of Plot Holes
mrk32922 August 2019
First off, the story and subplots of this movie go absolutely nowhere. Is Batla House a story about media treatment of the police? Is it about terrorism? Is it a mystery? Bad husbands? Biceps? Insane lawyers? Your guess is as good as mine, and Nikkhil Advani has no idea either.
The characters are witless and melodramatic and have absolutely no business running an anti-terrorism unit. Motivations and objectives change at a whim, and nobody ever listens to anybody else. The direction is wayward and has no grip on the plot.
The premise of the movie is an encounter which the media and public believe to be fake. Nobody believes the police until about 2 and half hours into the movie when John finally gives a speech from the court witness stand where he discloses the evidence. Had this evidence been shared at the beginning of the movie, we could have avoided this mess of a movie altogether.
There's absolutely no reason to watch this god-awful movie. 2/10.
The characters are witless and melodramatic and have absolutely no business running an anti-terrorism unit. Motivations and objectives change at a whim, and nobody ever listens to anybody else. The direction is wayward and has no grip on the plot.
The premise of the movie is an encounter which the media and public believe to be fake. Nobody believes the police until about 2 and half hours into the movie when John finally gives a speech from the court witness stand where he discloses the evidence. Had this evidence been shared at the beginning of the movie, we could have avoided this mess of a movie altogether.
There's absolutely no reason to watch this god-awful movie. 2/10.
Not great but not bad either!
SoumikBanerjee199619 November 2019
It's one of those films that's just Fine! Nothing less nothing more just fine! Packed with good cinematography, pumping sound score, engaging screenplay, decent performances ; this one surely won't disappoint! But the potential was huge. It clearly missed the center spot with it's weak direction and non realistic dramatization of some scenes! But they did a good job on balancing both point of views in the encounter case! They didn't just pick up on their bias and agendas like some films actually do! They never judged anyone. Not the Police department nor the Protestors or the People who died! It's an intelligent approach to a sensitive issue which could have easily gone wrong! And I'm glad they didn't misinterpret it. You can surely go for it if you love crime drama or are a John Abraham fan! But Don't go with higher expectations! As that could bring up some sigh of disappointment in the end.
Awesome Movie
sumeshcherian15 August 2019
Fantastic Movie. John is unbelievably Good in the movie. He has improved ages compared to the previous ones. He is better than all the so called Mega Stars who don't give their storylines any edge by their so called acting skills. Hats off to John and the entire crew.
Very good
Blumanowar4 October 2021
Engaging
alankarchauhan15 August 2019
Poor presentation and less of actions.
saptesh78619 August 2019
It is an appreciate attempt to take such controversial incident before people. But presentation looks like poor. First half movie is very dull. Story only trailing on TV news mostly and one can feeling that he is watching documentary.. Only action scenes before interval make you awaken. In second half is too such type, until Nora Fatehi enters then film. After that movie go live to till end. John has expressionless face and lesser action scenes make you disappointed. Ravi Kishan's role are not written properly and incomplete. Mrunal Thakur is only for looking beautiful rather than acting. Dispute between John and Mrunal shown at starting is not well described. However movie is watchable once, but not much recommended. It could have been better and shorter.
Fantastic
impraveengarg16 August 2019
Average movie
sunildaswaney-6364219 August 2019
"Batla House,at a length of 2hrs 26 minutes,it was definitely too long.It should have kept it to a maximum of 2hrs in order to make the film more gripping& interesting .The last 20 minutes were the best part of the movie.The direction and acting were competent,but the editing was poor.
On a lighter note,I really enjoyed watching the guy trying to sing like Mohammed Rafi!
Great man Great story
pmaniakmani15 August 2019
A Movie is based on true incident with some fictional story line but movie plot is very strong with all actors acting also very nicely play and Every Indian should be noeed to watch this movie in Independence day 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
O Saki Saki Re
roshan-713143 September 2019
It's a Good watch.1st Half was Average with a great chasing scene but 2nd Half takes flight and made it a worth watching.Grippy and Thrilling movie with Beautiful songs. O SAKI SAKI was the soul of the film.Good Direction by Nikkhil Advani and John Abraham gave a career best performance.
Batla House movie Review
mlearnsacademy27 December 2019
The Batla House movie review goes like The law enforcement officer seems to be John Abraham's favorite on-screen persona.
A cursory look will tell you that in the last decade, he has played some variation of this character in eight films, which range from Force to Romeo Akbar Walter to Satyameva Jayate.
In the last one, he is a vigilante who kills corrupt cops but once again; The motive is to uphold the law and the Indian flag. And John doesn't seem to tire of this character-Satyameva Jayate 2 and Dishoom Again are in production.
My theory is that these roles fit him like a glove because they showcase his outsized physicality-in Batla House also, we see him shirtless-and his stoic face. As an actor, John is most convincing in uniform, brimming with desh bhakti and righteous fury.
In Batla House, he plays DCP Sanjay Kumar Yadav, inspired by the real-life Delhi super cop Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. The film is based on a controversial police operation in Delhi. On September 13, 2008, there were a series of deadly bomb blasts in the city. Six days later, on September 19, DCP Yadav raided a flat in Batla House and two alleged terrorists were shot dead. The boys were university students, and the police came under severe criticism for literally jumping the gun. Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire. Political leaders, looking to score points, announced that it was a fake encounter. A judicial inquiry was ordered but eventually, the police department was given a clean chit by the National Human Rights Commission. Sanjeev Kumar Yadav is India's most decorated police officer with 9 gallantry medals. Batla House is a salute to his unstinting courage. The film starts on a high note. Director Nikhil Advani and writer Ritesh Shah instantly immerse us into the horrific pressures of Sanjay's life-his marriage is falling apart but he can barely a process that. His men are in the midst of a shoot-out at Batla House. A key member of the unit has already been wounded. It's a crowded locality. Every minute requires Sanjay to make a decision that could mean the difference between life and death-there are television cameras, protesters, outrage, and guns. You can feel the inch-thick tension and chaos. And in the middle of it all, stands the police officer, startled by his own brush with death, cornered by the citizens he has sworn to protect. After the encounter, Sanjay and his team are crucified by the press, politicians, and seniors.
The Batla House film tries to explore the headspace of a cop whose courage is rewarded with vilification. At one point he asks, kya hum galat thhe? Like Lady Macbeth, he is haunted by the blood on his hands. But the scenes that capture his emotional landscape and his post-trauma stress don't land. It's far more interesting to see Sanjay in hot pursuit of criminals. I think the weak link in the film's tonality.
Nikhil and Ritesh want both - the heft of fact and the drama of fiction. This blend incidentally seems to have become Bollywood's movie favorite genre-. it's a tricky tightrope act. Some scenes, like the opening in Batla House, are designed to feel like a documentary. Through the film, actual news clips with leaders like Amar Singh and L. K. Advani are bunged in to underline the authenticity of what we're seeing. But other scenes are full of theatrics-like one in which Sanjay recites verses from the Koran to a prisoner he's interrogating. And some, like a Nora Fatehi item number, are straight-up masala formula. Though here, Nora actually plays a character and even gets a few lines. The film's pacing is also uneven.
The action sequences are crafted with precision, but the songs make the story sluggish. Especially those that are inserted to show us the fraying relationship between Sanjay and his wife Nandita, played by Mrunal Thakur. Nandita is a television news journalist. But little about her demeanor suggests the pressures of her life personal or professional. She's always impeccably made up, even in a court where she comes to support her husband who she insists on calling him Sanjay ji. This relationship should have been the spine of the film but it doesn't have enough depth or emotion. What saves the day is a burst of full-blown melodrama. In the climactic courtroom scene, Sanjay gives a rousing speech and Rajesh Sharma as the defense lawyer has to glory. He presents the students' point of view. But make no mistake, Batla House isn't a Rashomon-like investigation of many truths.
This film is firmly on the side of the beleaguered cops and it makes its point with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Which is why Batla House will satisfy John Abraham's fans. Those biceps were not made for nuances. Viewers looking for a more layered exploration of izzat, farz, desh should probably go elsewhere.
A cursory look will tell you that in the last decade, he has played some variation of this character in eight films, which range from Force to Romeo Akbar Walter to Satyameva Jayate.
In the last one, he is a vigilante who kills corrupt cops but once again; The motive is to uphold the law and the Indian flag. And John doesn't seem to tire of this character-Satyameva Jayate 2 and Dishoom Again are in production.
My theory is that these roles fit him like a glove because they showcase his outsized physicality-in Batla House also, we see him shirtless-and his stoic face. As an actor, John is most convincing in uniform, brimming with desh bhakti and righteous fury.
In Batla House, he plays DCP Sanjay Kumar Yadav, inspired by the real-life Delhi super cop Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. The film is based on a controversial police operation in Delhi. On September 13, 2008, there were a series of deadly bomb blasts in the city. Six days later, on September 19, DCP Yadav raided a flat in Batla House and two alleged terrorists were shot dead. The boys were university students, and the police came under severe criticism for literally jumping the gun. Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire. Political leaders, looking to score points, announced that it was a fake encounter. A judicial inquiry was ordered but eventually, the police department was given a clean chit by the National Human Rights Commission. Sanjeev Kumar Yadav is India's most decorated police officer with 9 gallantry medals. Batla House is a salute to his unstinting courage. The film starts on a high note. Director Nikhil Advani and writer Ritesh Shah instantly immerse us into the horrific pressures of Sanjay's life-his marriage is falling apart but he can barely a process that. His men are in the midst of a shoot-out at Batla House. A key member of the unit has already been wounded. It's a crowded locality. Every minute requires Sanjay to make a decision that could mean the difference between life and death-there are television cameras, protesters, outrage, and guns. You can feel the inch-thick tension and chaos. And in the middle of it all, stands the police officer, startled by his own brush with death, cornered by the citizens he has sworn to protect. After the encounter, Sanjay and his team are crucified by the press, politicians, and seniors.
The Batla House film tries to explore the headspace of a cop whose courage is rewarded with vilification. At one point he asks, kya hum galat thhe? Like Lady Macbeth, he is haunted by the blood on his hands. But the scenes that capture his emotional landscape and his post-trauma stress don't land. It's far more interesting to see Sanjay in hot pursuit of criminals. I think the weak link in the film's tonality.
Nikhil and Ritesh want both - the heft of fact and the drama of fiction. This blend incidentally seems to have become Bollywood's movie favorite genre-. it's a tricky tightrope act. Some scenes, like the opening in Batla House, are designed to feel like a documentary. Through the film, actual news clips with leaders like Amar Singh and L. K. Advani are bunged in to underline the authenticity of what we're seeing. But other scenes are full of theatrics-like one in which Sanjay recites verses from the Koran to a prisoner he's interrogating. And some, like a Nora Fatehi item number, are straight-up masala formula. Though here, Nora actually plays a character and even gets a few lines. The film's pacing is also uneven.
The action sequences are crafted with precision, but the songs make the story sluggish. Especially those that are inserted to show us the fraying relationship between Sanjay and his wife Nandita, played by Mrunal Thakur. Nandita is a television news journalist. But little about her demeanor suggests the pressures of her life personal or professional. She's always impeccably made up, even in a court where she comes to support her husband who she insists on calling him Sanjay ji. This relationship should have been the spine of the film but it doesn't have enough depth or emotion. What saves the day is a burst of full-blown melodrama. In the climactic courtroom scene, Sanjay gives a rousing speech and Rajesh Sharma as the defense lawyer has to glory. He presents the students' point of view. But make no mistake, Batla House isn't a Rashomon-like investigation of many truths.
This film is firmly on the side of the beleaguered cops and it makes its point with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Which is why Batla House will satisfy John Abraham's fans. Those biceps were not made for nuances. Viewers looking for a more layered exploration of izzat, farz, desh should probably go elsewhere.
batal house
aniruddhawaghmare15 August 2019
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