Genius - 2018

Introduction

Genius is a 2018 Hindi action thriller starring Utkarsh Sharma, Ishita Chauhan, Mithun Chakraborty, Ayesha Jhulka, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The movie was directed and written by Anil Sharma.

The movie is about Vasudev Shastri, a brilliant RAW agent, is deemed incompetent after a mission failure and injuries. Flashing back to his IIT days, he outsmarts Nandini, the second ranker who initially dislikes him. After expressing his love, Vasu sacrifices his IIT ranking for Nandini, who later joins him in caring for his injuries. When hallucinations plague Vasu, he fakes them to track down his enemies, rescues Nandini from a kidnapping, and eliminates his nemesis with RAW's support, leading to a triumphant reunion.

The movie was released on 24th August 2018 across India. With a budget of ₹22 crores, the movie was only able to earn ₹4.32 crores. The movie is now available to watch on Zee5.

Table of Contents 

• Details

• Story

• Release

• Reviews

• Casting

• Crew

• Character Analysis

• Songs

• Behind the Scenes

• Box Office Collection

• Interesting Facts

• How to Book Personalised Celebrity Video Message on Tring?

Details

Story

Play

Genius unfolds as an engrossing story that revolves around Vasudev Shastri, a brilliant and charming man, who is initially appreciated for his intellectual prowess in IIT Roorkee but later labeled incompetent as a RAW agent following a failed mission.

In his early days at IIT Roorkee, Vasu wins over everyone with his affable nature and remarkable intelligence. This leads to an intense rivalry with his closest academic competitor, Nandini Chauhan, who makes his life challenging out of jealousy. Despite all the adversities, Vasu's intense dedication and love for Nandini change the dynamics between them when he purposely submits a blank exam paper, ensuring that she tops. However, Nandini never reveals her budding feelings and moves to the U.S for pursuing her dream job.

Simultaneously, Vasu's remarkable skills catch the attention of senior RAW members who persuade him to join their wing. Upon learning the tragic truth about his parents' death orchestrated by the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, Vasu complies, driven by a motive for revenge.

Fast forward to the present, and a heavily injured Vasu is living with Nandini, who has returned from the U.S to care for him. The peaceful routine is disrupted as Vasu has painful hallucinations about his botched mission, leading to a heart-wrenching narration of his unresolved past to Nandini. All these supposedly debilitating conditions are ultimately revealed to be an elaborate ruse put on by Vasu to lure his enemies into a trap.

The climactic tension escalates as MRS, the head of ISI in India, kidnaps Nandini during his vengeful pursuit of Vasu. With the recognition of Vasu's competence by the senior RAW members, an intricate rescue mission is launched leading to a high-octane finale where Vasu saves Nandini, prevents a massive explosion in Mathura, and eliminates MRS. The film concludes on a tender note with Vasu and Nandini sharing a heartwarming embrace.

Release

Genius was released on 24 August 2018 in India. The movie was made o a budget of 22 crore and earned a total of 4.32 crore.

Where to Watch

Genius is available to watch on Zee5 with a subscription plan. The movie is in the Hindi language with English subtitles.  

Reviews

Genius is a complex tapestry of college camaraderie, patriotism, and the classic game of cat-and-mouse, set across a backdrop filled with elements of intrigue and romance. The movie offers a mixture of different moods and tones, which can both captivate the audience and leave them somewhat confused.

Utkarsh Sharma shines in his role as Vasudev Shastri, a polymath hero who displays an impressive range from a charming academic to a deceptive RAW agent. Despite the task of navigating a convoluted script, Utkarsh's rendition of Vasudev emanates a unique blend of intellectual charisma and relatable charm, which highlight his commendable acting skills. Ishita Chauhan, the debutante, may lack in her ability to convey genuine emotions, but she is undoubtedly a refreshing addition to the drama through her radiant screen presence.

Under Anil Sharma's direction, the film aspires to weave in numerous facets but falls short with its half-baked execution. The narrative attempts to encompass a whirlwind of themes, which can make the potboiler narrative an overwhelming watch.

The animation, VFX, and graphics, integral part of an action thriller, are acceptable but lack the wow factor. On the editing front, the movie struggles to keep a consistent flow and tends to dawdle in the second half. Consequently, the pace of the movie can seem off-putting to some viewers as it rapidly fluctuates, thereby disrupting the viewing rhythm.

As for supporting characters, seasoned actors like Mithun Chakraborty and Nawazuddin Siddiqui add depth to the plot. However, their performances tend to overstep into the realm of hyperbole at times. Music serves as a high point of the movie, with melodies that are not only pleasing to the ears but compelling to the eyes by virtue of their tasteful cinematography.

The film certainly has its moments but may only appeal to a niche audience that appreciates a mixed genre of romance, patriotism, and unremitting taste for dialogues. To conclude, Genius lays out an unusual concoction of subplots and motifs. While some flourish under skilled performances, others wither due to inconsistent narrative and over-ambitious attempt at complexity.

Ratings

Casting

-	Actor Name	Character Name	About
	Utkarsh Sharma	Vasudev Shastri	Utkarsh Sharma is an bollywood actor, born to filmmaker Anil Sharma. He made his debut as a child in the 2001 film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha.
	Ishitha Chauhan	Nandini Chauhan	Ishitha Chauhan is an Bollywood actress who started her career in Bollywood as a child actor.
	Mithun Chakraborthy	NSA Chief Jaishankar Prasad	Mithun Chakraborthy is an iconic actor of Indian cinema and former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament. He made his acting debut with the arthouse drama Mrigayaa (1976) and is best known for his role in the dance musical Disco Dancer (1982).
	Nawazuddin Siddiqui	Mr Samar Khan / MRS	Nawazuddin Siddiqui is an actor, hailed for his ability to portray complex characters with nuance. His first lead role came in Black Friday (2004), but his stellar performances in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012) and Sacred Games (2018-2019) garnered international fame.
	Malti Chahar	RAW Agent Rubina	Malti Chahar is an actress and model known for her work in Hindi cinema. She doesn't have a traditional debut, but rather rose to prominence through roles in various commercials and smaller film parts.
	Ayesha Jhulka	Nandini's mother	Ayesha Jhulka is an actress primarily known for her works in Hindi Cinema. She debuted with the film Qurbaan (1986), but gained popularity due to her role in the film Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992).
	KK Raina	Mr Das	KK Raina is an Indian actor and writer. He debuted with 27 Down (1974), and is praised for his appearances in successful projects like Bheja Fry (2007) and TV series, Byomkesh Bakshi (1993).
	Zakir Hussain	Minister	Zakir Hussain is an actor best known for his negative and comic roles. His debut was the movie Maachis (1996), but his breakthrough performance was in Sarkar (2005).
	Abhimanyu Singh	Mr. Praveen Joshi	Abhimanyu Singh is an Indian film actor who works mainly in Bollywood and Telugu cinema. He made his debut in Aks (2001), and is notable for his roles in Gulaal (2009) and Rakta Charitra (2010).
	Dev Gill	Mr. Rajiv Ranjan	Dev Gill is an film actor primarily known for his work in Telugu cinema. He debuted in Desamuduru (2007), but his role as the main antagonist in Magadheera (2009) is widely recognized.
	Ashok Samarth	Commander Arjun Singh Rathore	Ashok Samarth is an film and television actor. He made his debut with 'Tarkieb' (2000), and his impressive portrayal in Shiva (2006) is praised by critics and audiences alike.
---	Rajesh Bhati	Samar Khan's right hand	-
---	Anirban Mitra	NSA Officer Bablu	-
---	Arjun Dwivedi	Saleem	Arjun Dwivedi is an actor. He made his debut in 2009 with Fox and is known for his appearances in Mumbai 125 KM (2014).

Crew

Character Analysis

Utkarsh Sharma as Vasudev Shastri

The main protagonist of the movie, Vasudev is a genius who has a photographic memory and exceptional intelligence. He is recruited by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) to stop a terrorist attack.

Ishita Chauhan as Nandini

Nandini is Vasudev's love interest in the movie. She is a college student who initially dislikes Vasudev but eventually falls in love with him.

Mrs. Shastri as Ayesha Jhulka

Mrs. Shastri is Vasudev's mother, who is a Sanskrit professor. She is very protective of her son and wants him to pursue a career in academics rather than working for RAW.

Zakir Hussain as RAW Chief

The RAW Chief is Vasudev's boss in the agency. He is impressed by Vasudev's intelligence and recruits him for a mission to stop a terrorist attack.

Abhimanyu Singh as Samar Khan

Samar Khan is the main antagonist in the movie. He is a terrorist who wants to avenge his father's death and carry out a major attack in India.

KK Raina as Mr. Walia

Mr. Walia is a scientist who has developed a chemical weapon that can be used in a terrorist attack. He is forced to help Samar Khan with his plan.

Mithun Chakraborty as Shishupal Singh

Shishupal Singh is Vasudev's mentor and a former RAW agent. He helps Vasudev with his mission to stop the terrorist attack.

Songs

Behind The Scenes

The making of Genius involved a lot of effort and dedication from the cast and crew. The movie's director, Anil Sharma, trained his son Utkarsh Sharma for the lead role, while Hollywood stunt coordinator Glenn Boswell choreographed the action sequences. The movie was shot in various locations in India and abroad, and the script underwent several revisions before the final version was approved. The movie's soundtrack was composed by Himesh Reshammiya, who also appeared in a special song sequence. The lead actress, Ishita Chauhan, had to learn Hindi for the movie as she is originally from Himachal Pradesh and did not speak the language fluently. Despite the hard work, the movie faced mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike and did not perform well commercially.

Box Office Collection

Interesting Facts

• Anil Sharma's son, Utkarsh Sharma, who previously starred in Gadar: Ek Prem Katha as a child actor, made his full feature debut in Genius.
• After a long hiatus, actress Ayesha Jhulka returned to the big screen with Genius.
• Nineteen years after being a popular on-screen pair in the 90s, Mithun Chakraborthy and Ayesha Jhulka reunited for Genius.
• The film, Genius, drew criticism for inaccurately portraying Lahore's Arfa Technology Park as the ISI headquarters in Islamabad, a slip-up that Pakistani IT expert Umar Saif took issue with.
• Genius served as the launchpad for actress Ishita Chauhan, marking her debut in Bollywood.
• KC Sharma launched his son Anil Sharma as a director on 14th July, a date that is also celebrated as Kairvina Sharma's birthday. The family suggested the same date for Utkarsh's launch, but due to scheduling conflicts, the film was announced on another day.
• In Genius, Ayesha Jhulka portrayed a mother for the second time, her first motherly role being for Sharad Kapoor in 1997's Vishwavidhaata.
• Genius became the first film to shoot at Lakshadweep Airport.
• With Genius, Utkarsh Sharma and Ishita Chouhan stepped into the limelight as lead actors, both having worked as child artists prior to this.

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