Starring: Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Rahul Bose, Anupriya Goenka, Kabir Bedi
Director: Atul Sabharwal
‘Berlin’, a political thriller recently released on ZEE5 Global, takes the audience into a world of espionage, conspiracy and intrigue.
When a sign language teacher who teaches at a school for the deafmute, Pushkin (Khurana) is hired by the Indian intelligence to assist with an investigation involving a deafmute suspect, it pulls him in a world of lies, deceit and danger.
Ashok (Singh) is a deafmute man who is arrested on the suspicion of spying by the Indian intelligence. The investigation is led by Jagdish Sondhi (Bose), a determined official who brings in Pushkin to crack the case and get Ashok talking about his accomplice, motives and methods.
As Pushkin questions Ashok, he begins to realise that there is more to the story than meets the eye. His involvement in the case puts him in crossroads with another intelligence agency, called the ‘Wing’. With their own agendas in the mix, Pushkin finds himself stuck between a tug of war which puts his own, and his family’s, safety on the line.
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As the questioning continues, the story shifts back and forth between flashbacks and present day as Ashok recounts his story up until his arrest. The story revolves around a café called Berlin, located at a prime location surrounded by Indian intelligence agencies and foreign embassies in Delhi. This makes it a hub for diplomats and government officials to trade information, secrets and other things. When Ashok is employed there as a waiter, he eventually gets involved in the dark world of secrecy and ambiguity.
The film’s biggest asset is the performance of its cast. Khurana shines as Pushkin as he perfectly brings out the naivety, stress and anger of his character, while Bose also fits the role of an established intelligence officer with many secrets of his own very well. Singh’s portrayal of a deafmute man who can only communicate using sign language is no less than impressive.
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Although the film’s recreation of the 1990s vibe is effective, creating a vintage feel, it’s slow-burn approach tends to feel drawn out at times. The premise too, while unique and intriguing, can also feel unnecessarily complicated and difficult to follow. The storytelling could’ve been more impactful to underscore the highlights of the plot and the climax.
Having said that, the film – streaming after winning much praise and awards across the film festival circuit – is definitely worth a watch for its truly great performances and an intriguing premise.