Mission Majnu

Plot

In 1971, Amandeep “Aman” Singh IPS is a deep-cover RAW field operative who is in Pakistan on an undercover assignment under the pseudonym Tariq Hussain. During this time, Aman falls in love with Nasreen Hussain, a blind woman, and the two marry. In May 1974, India conducts its first nuclear test, prompting Pakistan to secretly accelerate its own nuclear weapons programme with the assistance of nuclear engineer Abdul Qadeer Khan.

During the 1977 Indian general election campaign, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is apprised of the situation by RAW Chief R. N. Kao, and she directs him to locate the nuclear facility. Kao assigns the mission to Aman. Aman's handler, Sharma, informs him of his new assignment, named “Mission Majnu”. Along the way, Aman encounters two other RAW agents—Aslam Usmaniya and Raman Singh (under the pseudonym Maulvi Saab)—who are stationed in Pakistan. Aman manages to gather information confirming that Pakistan is indeed developing a nuclear weapon.

Following the general election in India, a new government is formed, and its leader, the new Prime Minister Morarji Desai, believes in building relationships through Diplomacy and peaceful means, opposing any form of warfare, including espionage and intelligence gathering. Kao resigns in order to keep the operation in Pakistan active and concealed from the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, Israel prepares an attack on the Quetta military facility, mistakenly believing it to be a nuclear weapons site. Aman manages to locate the nuclear facility in Kahuta, but is unable to obtain physical evidence.

Sharma discovers that Israel is planning to attack Quetta within 48 hours. Aman returns to Kahuta and collects hair samples from Army personnel working at the nuclear facility, which he secretly sends to India. There, they are tested and found to contain traces of radiation, indicating the presence of plutonium in Kahuta. Israel's attack on Quetta is subsequently averted. The matter is then disclosed to Desai in light of the new evidence, leading him to reassess Pakistan's position and its reliability. The ISI begins hunting down and killing covert RAW agents operating in Pakistan, including Aman's colleagues Aslam and Raman.

Aman attempts to escape to Dubai with a pregnant Nasreen, who remains unaware that ISI agents are pursuing them. He distracts the agents long enough for Nasreen to board an aeroplane and depart safely, but is killed in the process. Nasreen arrives in Dubai, where she meets Kao at the airport and reads a letter from Aman revealing his true identity. She breaks down after reading it, and the film concludes with her in tears, remembering their love.

Production

The film was announced in December 2020. Principal photography began in February 2021 at Lucknow and the film wrapped up in September 2021.

Soundtrack

The score is composed by Ketan Sodha. The songs are composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Rochak Kohli, Raghav Sachar and Arko, and the lyrics are written by Manoj Muntashir, Shabbir Ahmed, Rohit Sharma and A. M. Turaz.

The first single titled "Rabba Janda" was released on 25 December 2022. The second single titled "Maati Ko Maa Kehte Hain" was released on 17 January 2023.

Reception

Mission Majnu received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 25% of 12 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.3/10.

Bollywood Hungama rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and termed the film as a "gripping saga" with a tight script, intelligent scenes, taut execution, and a memorable performance." Tushar Joshi for India Today rated 3 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Sidharth is good in scenes where he is battling the stigma and pain of his past yet wants to move ahead and show his loyalty to his country and team. Rashmika Mandanna doesn’t have much to do apart from trying to strike up some chemistry with Sid." Dhaval Roy of The Times of India rated the film 3 out of 5 and wrote that the film is "gripping in parts, but it’s too convenient, which takes away from the narrative. While great, the action stretches in places and makes the movie seem formulaic". Dishya Sharma of News 18 rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Mission Majnu robs you of the thrills of a spy film. Watch it to see Sidharth and Rashmika in a different avatars".

Anuj Kumar for The Hindu wrote "There are interesting twists in the way Tariq ekes out information and how Nasreen could sense the truth by touch, but the execution makes it a tad too cloying for a thriller. Thankfully, the film is not overtly jingoistic and makes a clear distinction in the way Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai handled the tenuous relationship with Pakistan in the 1970s. At the same time, the writers place characters on both sides of the border who could see history beyond the divisive version that the politicians often present." Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the movie only 2 stars out of 5 and wrote "Mission Majnu does not deliver a thrill a minute nor does it produce any exceptional degree of tension and suspense. Yet, parts of the film, especially in the second hour, do spring to life." Shilajit Mitra for The New Indian Express rated 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Mission Majnu isn’t as crudely jingoistic as something like Bhuj: The Pride of India. The film also does not comment on the moral implications of nuclear proliferation; for that, you will have to see the pilot of Rocket Boys."