Alpha Review: YRF’s ‘Alpha’ Feels Like a 'Beta' Version Thanks to a Terrible Script
Rating: 1.5/5 Suyog Zore
A spy and espionage thriller demands a airtight script and sharp direction—a balance that proves exceptionally tricky in mainstream commercial Bollywood films, which must deliver clever plot twists while remaining accessible to general audiences by avoiding overcomplication. That is why, high-caliber spy thrillers remain a rarity in Bollywood.
Hoping to break this pattern, YRF Studios generated massive anticipation with its female-led espionage thriller 'Alpha', directed by Shiv Rawail (The Railway Men) and written by Soumil Shukla and Shridhar Raghavan. Starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh, the film ecame a major talking point following reports of extensive reshoots after the release of Dhurandhar (2025), which redefined the dynamics of the genre. Coming on the heels of War 2’s misfire, this film carried the heavy responsibility of reviving the YRF Spy Universe. Unfortunately, the film suffers under the weight of an incoherent narrative littered with obvious plot holes that are probably larger than potholes on our roads, eventually failing to interest and intrigue the viewer.
This is a story of Sita (Alia Bhatt), who was kidnaped after her birth and brought up by Colonel Fateh Singh Lakhawat (Bobby Deol), a patriot who is obsessed with using an experimental "Alpha serum" to create super-soldiers in order to give India an advantage over Pakistan. Following Sita's early setbacks, Fateh Singh gives her the serum and raises and trains her alone in secret place. After learning about the serum, an adult Sita sets out on a journey to exact revenge on everyone who caused her ordeal, including Fateh Singh and Colonel Vikrant Kaul (Anil Kapoor).
However, this promising premise quickly falls flat because the film never bothers to build the emotional core of Sita. The primary flaw in the movie is its character development; we are given very little insight into Sita's true nature, and the 140-minute runtime does very little to improve that. For the audience to truly care about the protagonist's predicament and become invested in her journey, the script needs to give more in-depth understanding about Sita than a brief synopsis of the surrounding pandemonium in order to sympathize with her. By failing to explore her inner anguish and emotional landscape, this script leaves a gap that prevents the movie from ever creating the genuine tension, emotional stakes, and heart-pounding expectation one expects from a high-stakes spy thriller.
Durga, played by Sharvari Wagh, is cast in a supporting role. The introduction scene of Durga appears less like a character introduction and more like a stylised sportswear commercial of Calvin Klein. She is sidelined whenever she appears on screen with Sita; like Sita, her potential is wasted as she is relegated to a basic action archetype despite having plenty of space for growth. Through the duo's divergent strategies for finding Fateh Singh, the movie tries to add humour, but the forced humour falls flat. The action choreography also suffers from over-refinement, with the hand-to-hand combat scenes seeming far too polished and staged to portray any real danger.
Alia Bhatt's portrayal of an authoritative "alpha" attitude comes across as fake and unnatural, making it impossible to empathise with her character's terrible past. She also suffers with the physicality of the part; the action scenes have notably choreographed timing, with stunt performers visibly waiting for impact, undermining the pleasure and tension required in the climax. Sharvari Wagh, on the other hand, has a more intriguing portrayal, exuding confidence in her moments as the duo pursues Fateh Singh.
Bobby Deol's overly dramatic and caricature-like Haryanvi accent detracts from his performance. He makes an effort to convey menace, but his stoic expressions reduce the impact of his character. Anil Kapoor, meanwhile, gives a strictly functional performance, fulfilling the role's requirements without going above and beyond.
The film tries too hard to add glamour where it does not belong. A prime example is an unnecessary swimsuit scene that feels thrown in just for show rather than for the story. Instead of making the film feel stylish, it breaks the flow of the movie and makes it hard to take the high-stakes story seriously.
The songs composed by Rohansh and Abeer Pandit is another major weakness. A good YRF spy movie needs strong, exciting music to create buzz, but the soundtrack here is completely forgettable. The songs feel like awkward interruptions that slow down the film, and the background music by Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara fails to make the action or dramatic scenes feel exciting. The visuals also look surprisingly cheap for a big budget movie. The green-screen effects during the chase scenes are painfully obvious. Instead of looking real and dangerous, the car and bike chases look fake and unnatural, which completely ruins the thrill.
'Alpha' had the chance to bring new life to the YRF Spy Universe, but it completely wastes its potential with a weak script and poor execution. Bad visual effects, forced glamour scenes, and flat performances keep this spy action-thriller from ever taking off, making it a dull and forgettable watch.
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari Wagh, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol
Writers: Soumil Shukla and Shridhar Raghavan
Director: Shiv Rawail
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