TORBAAZ Out-of-date and predictable film fails to pique

Interest

THIS action-drama was first announced in 2016 and then finally limped its way to completion in early 2019. There has been very little interest in the film since then, and it finally found its way onto Netflix for a global premiere.

One look at the film and it is quite apparent why this film about child suicide bombers in Afghanistan and a man trying to turn their lives around by introducing them to the game of cricket generated such little interest.

Although the concept may have seemed like it had potential it has been written and directed in a way that seems like it belongs in another era. Torbaaz comes across as out-of-date in all aspects, including the caricature-like performances.

Sanjay Dutt attempts to put in a spirited effort, but like his other releases in recent years, he just doesn’t have good material to work with or a director able to bring out the best in him. Rahul Dev plays a cringe-worthy villain, who provokes unintentional laughter instead of any kind of scares and it is a similar story with other cast members.

The only ones who come away with any kind of credit are the young child stars in this film and even they begin to look bored.

The setting is decent and there are some interesting messages, but all that is lost in a predictable movie that seems like it has been plucked out of the 1980s.

Overall, this is a decidedly average film, which no one was interested in and will die a slow death on a stream site as a filler movie that you scroll past to get to something a lot better.

It’s a shame because great Afghan cricketers have emerged out of the ashes in recent years and they deserved better than this awful mess.