Avantika Productions and Mise En Scene Films’ Code Name Abdul (A) is a spy thriller.
Four Indian counter-intelligence agents are on a mission to move dreaded terrorist Tariq from the USA to India. At the pick-up point, they find Tariq’s mysterious sister-in-law, Salma (Tanishaa Mukerji). They take her to a safe house for interrogation. Who is Salma and how does she know so much about the working of Tariq’s terrorist group? Do the four Indian agents succeed in bringing Tariq to India?
Eshwar Gunturu’s story and screenplay are too ordinary to make any real impact on the viewers. They have some exciting moments but they are few and far between. The drama is replete with predictable scenes and, therefore, becomes monotonous after a while. His dialogues are routine.
Tanishaa Mukerji is so-so as Salma. Ashok Chaudhary does an average job as Stalin. Akku Kulhari performs ordinarily in the role of Johny. Khatera Hakimi delivers a routine performance as Mehak. Sumend Wankhade is dull as Ajay. Anshuman Sharma hardly impresses as Anwar. Deepak Ravella lends ordinary support as Srinivas. Anil Sachdeva (as Khalid), Bharat Tiwari (as Ali Baksh), Vikram Singh (as Sahab), Madhukar Reddy (as Jamal), Deepen Shah (as Major), Rome K. Chopra (as Frank), Adriano Esposito (as Jimmy), Aman Singh Mukar (as Ali), Ashish Mathur (as Seth), Angie Jerez (as Sally), Adrian Luke Sinclair (as Tariq’s bodyguard), Mickie Banyas (as Barbara), Jeffrey Goldenberg (as Mark), Vaibhav Vaid (as the interrogator), Dominick Perrier (as Jim) and the others lend routine support.
Eshwar Gunturu’s direction is ordinary. Amar Mohile’s music and Rishabh P. Nair’s lyrics are functional. Background music is commonplace. Camerawork (by Ajayender Reddy Loka) is appropriate. James Northrup’s stunts and action scenes are quite thrilling. Editing needed to be sharper.
On the whole, Code Name Abdul is a flop show.
Released on 10-12-’21 at PVR Lower Parel (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Flowing Water Studios P. Ltd. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was dull everywhere.