Netflix and Alchemy Films’ Ikka is a legal drama. Shouryamann (Akshaye Khanna) is arrested for a murder. His high-profile father (Shishir Sharma) hires lawyer Ajay Mehra (Sunny Deol) as he is considered the best. There are two things typical about Ajay — he always has an ace up his sleeve, which often turns the verdict in his favour; and he invariably fights for the underdog. When he becomes Shouryamann’s defence lawyer, the public is shocked as it is almost an open-and-shut case that Shouryamann had murdered the girl. Anyway, the prosecution lawyer, Madhura (Tillotama Shome), gives Ajay Mehra a tough fight in court. Is the prosecution able to prove Shouryamann as the killer or does Ajay Mehra prove that his client is innocent? Does Shouryamann go scot-free? What had prompted Ajay Mehra to go against his own principles and take up the case of Shouryamann?
Althea Kaushal has written a fairly nice story which holds the audience’s attention right from the word ‘go’. Kaushal’s screenplay and Mayank Tewari’s additional screenplay are fast-paced and reasonably engaging. Of course, the drama could have been more nail-biting, but the writers seem to have made getting evidences and clues quite easy. This, to an extent, robs the thrill element from the drama. Another shortcoming of the screenplay is that the writers have not been able to very effectively convey the tension for Ajay and his wife whenever it appears that Ajay might lose the case. The twist about the father of Avantika’s child is very good. Mayank Tewari’s dialogues are alright but ought to have been more forceful and entertaining.
Sunny Deol does a fine job as advocate Ajay Mehra. Akshaye Khanna plays Shouryamann with all the conviction at his command. Dia Mirza is fair in the role of Ajay Mehra’s wife, Avantika. Sanjeeda Shaikh is excellent as Shouryamann’s wife. Tillotama Shome may not match up to Sunny Deol but she is, nevertheless, quite good as prosecution lawyer Madhura. Akansha Ranjan is okay in a special appearance as Soma Mittal. Jyoti Mukerji makes her mark as Soma Mittal’s mother. Shishir Sharma provides decent support as Shouryamann’s father. Ivan Rodrigues makes his presence felt in the role of Dr. Galvankar. Daria Bedi is very realistic and endearing in her maiden attempt as Ajay’s daughter, Samaira. Abhinav Grover impresses as witness Sudhakar Pillai. Madhuri Bhatia stands her own in a tiny role as forensic expert Dr. Carol Hakim. Arun Mallik is natural as forensic expert Dr. Ghosh. Gurinder Singh (as Abhimanyu), Mahesh Sharma (as Junaid), Sajan Kumar (as the slum dweller) and the others lend reasonable support.
Siddharth P. Malhotra’s direction is mature. Mithoon’s music is more functional than anything else. Sayeed Quadri’s lyrics are nice. Julius Packiam’s background music is effective. Jishnu Bhattacharjee’s cinematography is of a good standard. Vicky Arora’s action and stunt scenes are realistic. Mayur Sharma’s production designing, and Sabyasachi Mishra’s art direction are proper. Shweta Venkat Mathew’s editing is sharp.
On the whole, Ikka is a fair entertainer for OTT viewing.
Released on 10-7-’26 on Netflix.
