Bombay (2025) arrives as a stylized dive into Mumbai’s underworld, set against the backdrop of post‑riot turbulence. Directed and written by Sanjay Niranjan, the film centers on Ulas Mhatre (Gavie Chahal), a formidable don whose empire crumbles when his trusted aide, Tatya, vanishes under suspicious circumstances reddit.com+6en.wikipedia.org+6zoomtventertainment.com+6. Over its 135‑minute runtime, the narrative unravels through betrayal, supernatural interventions, and a city’s simmering unrest.
🧩 Plot & Premise
The film opens in Bombay, 1993, where communal strife still echoes, and underworld allegiances are shifting. Ulas leads his tightly knit crew—Nana, Tatya, Sherry—until Tatya disappears. What follows is a tense internal hunt: Is a rival gang at play, or has betrayal struck within? The tension rises sharply not just from gunfights and power plays but also when vengeful spirits begin targeting the cartel, delivering a supernatural twist to the conventional crime narrative imdb.com+7zoomtventertainment.com+7digit.in+7.
🎭 Performances
-
Gavie Chahal anchors the film as Ulas. His presence is imposing, though critics note he seldom ventures beyond the typical don persona—arguably playing it a bit safe bollyy.com+8filminformation.com+8bollywoodhungama.com+8.
-
Danish Bhatt brings earnest grit as Nana, but struggles to stand out amid the ensemble reddit.com+15filminformation.com+15filmibeat.com+15.
-
Ganesh Pai as Tatya is underutilized—effective in brief scenes but overshadowed by the crowd letterboxd.com+9filminformation.com+9en.wikipedia.org+9.
-
Pari Mirza (Sherry), Vandana Lalwani (DSP Deshpande), and Deepshikha Nagpal (Rekha) offer solid support, but without memorable arcs nowrunning.com+8filminformation.com+8en.wikipedia.org+8.
-
A notable mention goes to Ashish Warang (Bhooteshwar) whose moments of levity add needed texture bollyy.com+6filminformation.com+6bollywoodhungama.com+6.
🎬 Direction, Screenplay & Atmosphere
Sanjay Niranjan attempts a bold fusion of underworld crime and supernatural vengeance, but the screenplay is uneven. As one critic commented: “Sanjay Niranjan has written a story … senseless… screenplay … an embarrassment” filmibeat.com+4filminformation.com+4digit.in+4. The inclusion of spirit‑based thrills offers novelty, but lacks consistent integration—jumping from supernatural assassinations to conventional underworld politics .
The atmospheric setting, evoking 1990s Bombay with seedy dens and looming tensions, is the film’s strongest pillar. S. Pappu’s cinematography captures grimy realism—moody alleys, dimly lit rooms—though it only intermittently sustains dread nowrunning.com+3bollyy.com+3filminformation.com+3.
🔊 Music, Action & Technicals
-
Action sequences are choreographed by Moses Fernandes, with intermittent high-energy clashes—but lack cohesive intensity and often feel disjointed nowrunning.com+2filminformation.com+2bollyy.com+2.
-
Honey Satamkar’s music and background score offer atmospheric undertones but fail to complement pivotal scenes convincingly filminformation.com+1nowrunning.com+1.
-
Editing (Komal Verma et al.) struggles with pacing—jammed transitions between spirit attacks and crime scenes disrupt momentum bollywoodhungama.com+15filminformation.com+15moviesverse.help+15.
-
Art design (Manohar Patil) and production values visually evoke 1990s Bombay, yet lack immersive richness—functional but unremarkable bollywoodhungama.com+15filminformation.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15.
✅ Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths:
-
Ambitious mix of gangland crime and supernatural revenge.
-
Authentic period mood and gritty visuals post‑Bombay riots.
-
Ensemble cast provides occasional depth, especially Ashish Warang.
Weaknesses:
-
A screenplay labeled “senseless” by critics, with jarring shifts in logic bollyy.comimdb.com+7filminformation.com+7bollywoodhungama.com+7.
-
Performances trend average—no character fully asserts itself .
-
Music, editing, and action direction unimpactful, diminishing overall tension filminformation.com.
🎯 Final Verdict
Bombay (2025) tries to break genre norms by weaving supernatural terror into a Mumbai crime saga. While its backdrop and ambition are commendable, inconsistent storytelling and modest execution keep it from hitting its mark. It offers sporadic thrills and occasional novelty, but lacks the cohesive punch to truly captivate.
Rating: 2 to 2.5 out of 5.
A film with potential, but ultimately undone by a fragmented script and underwhelming direction. Thriller lovers seeking a slick, genre-bending ride may find glimpses of creativity here—but most viewers will likely walk away disenchanted.
Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into its supernatural aspects, cast dynamics, or comparisons to other Mumbai underworld films.
