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IB 71 Movie Review : This 71’ saga around the Indo-Pak standoff is a gripping cinematic experience

• Times Of India

In-depth Analysis

Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

IB 71 - Official Trailer

IB 71 - Official Teaser

IB 71 - Dialogue Promo

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Sandy 503 100 days ago

IB 71 starring Anupam Kher and Vidyut Jammwal is based on an untold story of Indian Airlines hijacking in the year 1971 before the Bangladesh Liberation War in December 71. Ganga was an old aircraft in the Indian Airlines fleet, already withdrawn from service but was re-inducted just days before the hijacking. The film highlights the role of IB (Intelligence Bureau) in the months leading to 1971 War and how behind the scenes work of IB agents contributed to India's win in the liberation of Bangladesh. A must watch to understand the contribution of our men and women from the Intelligence community.

gangulyabhinandan 1 259 days ago

A must watch movie.

Pawan Kumar Singh 2074 274 days ago

CLEMENT PINTO 278 days ago

Ssrinivasa 1 281 days ago.

Good movie good acting

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The film revolves around Dev Jammwal (Vidyut Jammwal), an intelligence officer who receives critical information about Pakistan and China's impending attacks on Indian soil within a mere ten-day timeframe. With limited time and resources, the only viable strategy to counter this threat is by implementing an airspace blockade.

IB 71 Movie Review: This 71’ saga around the Indo-Pak standoff is a gripping cinematic experience

• Times of India

In-depth Analysis

Our overall critic’s rating is not an average of the sub scores below.

IB 71 - Official Trailer

IB 71 - Official Teaser

IB 71 - Dialogue Promo

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Sandy 503 100 days ago

IB 71 starring Anupam Kher and Vidyut Jammwal is based on an untold story of Indian Airlines hijacking in the year 1971 before the Bangladesh Liberation War in December 71. Ganga was an old aircraft in the Indian Airlines fleet, already withdrawn from service but was re-inducted just days before the hijacking. The film highlights the role of IB (Intelligence Bureau) in the months leading to 1971 War and how behind the scenes work of IB agents contributed to India's win in the liberation of Bangladesh. A must watch to understand the contribution of our men and women from the Intelligence community.

gangulyabhinandan 1 259 days ago

A must watch movie.

Pawan Kumar Singh 2074 274 days ago

CLEMENT PINTO 278 days ago

Ssrinivasa 1 281 days ago.

Good movie good acting

Rashmika Mandanna reigns as style queen​

Do THIS to wake up kids early in the morning

​Nyrraa Banerji, embodiment of unblemished beauty​

​The charming looks of Sneha​

​Stunning looks of Bavithra​

Nayanthara poses with grace and elegance in saree!

8 takeaways from 'Chamkila' star Diljit Dosanjh's fitness routine

What is Jaljeera, how to make it and its numerous health benefits

10 celeb-inspired dresses for the vacations

Stunning pics of Shrenu Parikh that enchant the eye!

• Entertainment /
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• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor. Share
• This film marks the first collaboration of uncle-nephew duo Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor. Arjun is the son of Anil’s brother Boney Kapoor.
• This is the second time Arjun Kapoor is playing a double role, the first being Aurangzeb (2013).
• The song ‘Yamma yamma’ from ‘Shaan’ is sampled in the song ‘Partywali Night' for the film.

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IB 71 movie review: Vidyut Jammwal steps out of his comfort zone only to leave us confused

Ib 71 movie review: vidyut jammwal breaks out of his action hero shell to play a spy in this sankalp reddy film..

An espionage thriller, IB 71 chronicles India’s top-secret mission that is said to have aided India’s victory in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Starring Vidyut Jammwal and Anupam Kher in pivotal roles, the film starts off on a high note, but soon goes off track. With visuals, voice over, text captions and flashbacks, there’s a lot happening for one to understand the exact timeline of the film. Until the interval, I genuinely couldn’t figure what the film was trying to show or say. Directed by Sankalp Reddy, IB 71 in the first half, seemed nothing but an attempt to take us on a ride, play some riddles and leave us all confused without any answers. But thankfully, the second half picks up, pieces of puzzles start to come together and it all made some sense. Was it too little, too late? Somewhat, yes.

IB 71 starts with Pakistan preparing for yet another war after being defeated in 1948 and 1965, and this time from the Eastern front in alliance with China. Upon receiving vital information about this impending attack, Intelligence Bureau Chief Avasti (Kher), along with his top agent Dev (Jammwal), comes up with a plan to save the nation without firing a single bullet or letting the neighbouring country get the slightest hint about it. As mobilizing the army at a short notice appears to be a tough task, they suggest blocking of the air space to prevent Pakistan and China from attacking India. Dev is assigned this task and how he accomplishes this confidential mission in the next 10 days, along with 30 other undercover agents is what the film shows in the second half.

Crisp editing makes for an easier watch

With a runtime of a little less than two hours, the film is tightly edited and that length, perhaps, is the only good part about it. The story doesn’t seem drag, stays to the point and ends before it turns into a snooze fest. Reddy, who has earlier helmed Ghazi Attack, has the intent right behind telling this untold story based on true events, but somewhere he loses focus and goes all over the place.

Aditya Shastri’s story is intriguing and holds a lot of potential to keep you hooked. What doesn’t really work is the screenplay for which six people are credited -- Sankalp Reddy, Arjun Varma, E. Vasudeva Reddy, Arun Bhimavarapu, Gargee Singh and Abhimanyu Srivastava. For the longest time, they looked like disjoined and scattered pieces of a puzzle. Even when the story is picking pace, there is very little or no connect with how it unfolds for audiences to understand. The background music gets a bit too loud at places, though cinematography in certain scenes elevates the whole experience, especially the ones involving the plane.

What left me utterly surprised, and somewhat impressed, is that despite being based on such a sensitive and serious subject, there is quite a lot of subtle humour peppered across the film. I mean, it’s not common to see people laughing out loud while watching spy thrillers, but some one-liners and punches make it hard to control that laughter. Full credit goes to dialogues by Junaid Wasi and Sahar Quaze.

Vidyut Jammwal leaves you confused

Jammwal delivers a decent performance and he looks quite unlike his earlier big screen outings. You are used to seeing an actor do high-octane and gravity-defying action on screen, and suddenly he underplays all that and turns into a one-dimensional character that has nothing larger-than-life about himself, it can leave many confused. As an IB agent, his body language and mannerisms are on-point and he aces the few hand combat scenes that are there in the film. Kher delivers a restrained performance where he steps back and let the story be in forefront. As the chief of intelligence bureau, he commands authority and a strong screen presence, and that very well comes out in the scenes we see him in. Yes, it’s for very limited time Kher appears in the film, but then the story is more about the mission and less about the people behind it. Vishal Jethwa as Qasim Qureshi, a brainwashed youth, is in his element. He may not be as impressive as he was in his debut outing Mardaani 2, or as convincing as his last, Salaam Venky, yet he manages to make his presence felt, and trigger a few laughs with the way his character has been written.

Watch IB 71 in theatres to witness yet another untold story of heroes who seldom get spoken or written about in history books. It may not give you an adrenaline rush but will give some goosebumps towards the climax that is high on patriotic flavour.

• Vidyut Jammwal

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IB71 Review: Vidyut Jammwal's Middling Spy Drama Is Not Without Its Moments

Ib71 review: vidyut jammwal's hunky presence is determined to shore up the film when it tends to flounder despite its unwavering adherence to the plot and its eschewal of cheap thrills.

Vidyut Jammwal shared this image. (courtesy: mevidyutjammwal )

Cast : Anupam Kher, Vidyut Jammwal, Dev, Dalip Tahil

Director : Sankalp Reddy

Rating : Two and a half (out of 5)

A war film that is more an espionage thriller than a battlefield drama, IB71 , directed and co-written by Sankalp Reddy (who made The Ghazi Attack six years ago), presents an account of “true events” masterminded by an Indian intelligence agent to scuttle a planned Pakistani operation against India on the eastern front during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.

Fronted by Vidyut Jammwal, who is also one of the producers of the film, IB71 is sparing in its dependence on action sequences, preferring a relatively sedate approach to the exploits of an intrepid IB operative, Dev, who hatches a daring hijack plot in order to land in Pakistan with a band of Indian secret agents.

The Ghazi Attack was an underwater action film that revolved around a submarine that mysteriously sank in the Bay of Bengal during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Parts of IB71 play out on a decommissioned airplane that is ready for a specific spy mission days ahead of the same military conflict.

Secret agent Dev's plan is to give India a pretext to block its airspace and thwart enemy plans to ferry men and ammunition to East Pakistan with Chinese assistance. The man is single-minded in his focus on the job at hand. He has no time for romance or other distractions.

IB71 is a two-hour film has no lip-synched songs. But it takes its own sweet time to get off the ground. The first hour is a veritable jigsaw puzzle – confounding and unconvincing. A great deal happens on the screen in this part of the film – Jammwal's steely spy sneaks into a Pakistani airfield with an assumed identity, gathers crucial intelligence and discovers that India is in danger of being attacked in ten days.

In a race against time, Dev heads to Kashmir with a fellow-spy, enlists two young Kashmiri liberation warriors, including a 17-year-old boy Qasim

(Vishal Jethwa). It is, however, hard to figure what on earth he is exactly up to. We do at best have a fuzzy notion of the exact nature of the spy operation. The stunning images of the slow-clad Valley help the audience keep itself occupied until some degree of clarity begins to dawn.

It is only in the second half, when Dev and his team are airborne with the two young Kashmiri radicals on their rickety passenger machine, that IB71 begins to gather something that feels like momentum. Less talk and more action are always the best policy when a film flies into a haze.

That is not to say that IB71 has no redeeming features at all. It definitely does. By far the best thing about the film is its surprisingly uncluttered storytelling in the second half. Like the aircraft, the film is low on fuel but it manages to stay afloat till such time that it can contemplate a safe landing

The screenplay stays firmly fixed on the drama that unfolds in constricted spaces – on the plane, inside the cockpit and finally in a hotel and its compound. The action that takes place outdoors has an appreciably different timbre given the stunning beauty of the landscape.

Part of the fault for the marked difference between the two halves of the film lies partly with the script, and partly with the editing. But the final moments of IB71 , no matter how facile they may seem, serve to somewhat offset the incoherence that mars the first half.

The breathtakingly lovely Kashmir Valley vistas are captured in all their wintry, snow-covered glory by director of photography Gnana Sekhar V.S. The lush visuals create an ambience that provides a contrast to a thin and unflashy storyline.

Jammwal's hunky presence is mined to shore up the film when it tends to flounder despite its unwavering adherence to the plot and its eschewal (for the most part) of cheap thrills and other convenient concessions. While the lead actor steers clear of the excesses that his action hero persona often triggers, he cashes in on every opportunity to peddle his on-screen invincibility.

A boat chase on the Dal Lake and a group fight involving him and his IB mates pitted against Pakistani security men – there isn't too much else in the film by way of explicit action – Jammwal does what he is there for – take the lead when danger looms, fight his way out, and emerge largely unscathed.

Anupam Kher, cast as the Intelligence Bureau chief from whom the hero takes orders, has a few scenes that allow him to make his presence felt. But once these are out of the way, he is reduced to pacing up and down in his office, reacting to news streaming in from many, many miles away of Dev's daredevilry.

The strangest treatment is reserved for Dalip Tahil. He plays Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but is given no lines to speak. If the idea is to convey the insignificance of the Pakistan head of state in the larger scheme of things that has been set in motion by a gutsy Indian secret agent, it definitely isn't a good one. It not only amounts to sidelining a veteran actor, but also to frittering away the opportunity to whip up some drama.

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The Pakistani officials in IB71 are, as one would expect, etched out with very broad strokes although it must be said that the film does not take recourse to overt jingoism. Hobby Dhaliwal. playing a highly stressed-out high-up in the Pakistani military establishment, and Ashwath Bhatt in the role of the ISI chief occasionally rise above the limitations of a screenplay that yields a serviceable spy thriller that is surprisingly shorn of massy elements.

IB71 leaves one with the nagging feeling that it could have been a much better film has the writing been a less of the by-the-numbers kind. But even as a middling spy drama, it is not without its moments.

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IB71 movie review: A Vidyut Jammwal film where he doesn’t get to physically pummel the enemy

Ib71 movie review: this vidyut jammwal film claims to have been cobbled together from actual events, but the execution is both simplistic-comic-book and convoluted..

Wars are won not just by the valour of those who fight the ground, but also by crafty intelligence agents. It is 1971, and the Indo-Pak war is looming. How best to stymie the dastards in Pakistan who are busy reaching out to their counterparts in China? Simple, declares superspy Dev (Vidyut Jammwal), just block the Indian airspace, and promptly gets down to doing just that.

IB71 claims to have been cobbled together from actual events, but the execution is both simplistic-comic-book and convoluted. Two Kashmir sympathisers, played by Vishal Jethwa and Ashwath Bhatt, are steered towards a clunky hijacking: an old plane is given a lick of paint, a bunch of primed spooks, led by the doughty Dev, are on it, and our two thickly-accented Kashmiri gents are given a chance to wave a pistol and demand that the pilots land in Rawalpindi. No can do, low on fuel, the pilots say, so Lahore it is.

Watch IB71 trailer:

Back in the war-room, senior intelligence officer Awasthi ( Anupam Kher ) and his team is working in tandem with our brave spies, who not only get to have a splendid Lahori meal, and given bunks in a stately hotel, but also manage to trump the Pakistani establishment good and proper. Just to keep things going, President Bhutto (Dilip Tahil) shows up, makes a few comments, and disappears. Rolling your eyes seems to be the only acceptable response.

Jammwal, who does oversee a couple of high-speed chases down the Dal, doesn’t get to physically pulp the enemy. What’s the point of a Jammwal flick then? I protest.

IB71 movie cast: Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher, Vishal Jethwa, Faizan Khan, Ashwath Bhatt, Dalip Tahil IB71 movie director: Sankalp Reddy IB71 movie rating: 1.5 stars

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• Vidyut Jammwal

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IB 71 Movie Review: Vidyut Jammwal's film lands despite rough weather, Vishal Jethwa steals the show

Vidyut jammwal's ib 71, which is based on true events, is an account of what happened during the indo-pak war of 1971. with a sluggish first half, followed by a thrilling second half, the film is a decent thriller, says our review..

Listen to Story

• Vidyut Jammwal turns spy for IB 71.
• He has also produced the film.
• It releases in theatres on May 12.

Cast & Crew

Vidyut Jamwal

Release Date: 12 May, 2023

Vidyut Jammwal is out there to prove his mettle. While he does not want to completely do away with his action hero image, he wants to also show his acting prowess. All his recent releases - be it Khuda Hafeez or Sanak or the latest IB 71, he does have action sequences but those are not the scene-stealers. This time, Vidyut not just acted but also bankrolled the project . But, is this spy-thriller just as taut as it promised to be, or does it falter? Let’s find out.

Dev (Vidyut Jammwal) is introduced as the flawless spy at the very onset of the film. He has a critical mission and while his face gives away fear, he oozes confidence in front of the enemy, thereby succeeding in it smoothly! However, the information revealed is frightening - Pakistan is planning an attack in 10 days and something drastic has to be done to prepare everyone for the war. This can’t be done in such short time, so he and Anupam Kher’s character have to devise a plan. They do have one, but it is extremely risky. A failure would not just mean over 30 lives being risked, but an impending war and bad image for the nation. Will Dev succeed in yet another critical mission where the stakes are so high? If he does, how will he achieve the feat? That’s the crux of the story.

The major fault in IB 71 is the slow first half, coupled with cringe dialogues. One that stayed with me is ‘ meri biwi pet se hai par khayal mere pet ka rakhti hai ’ (my wife is pregnant but takes care of what I eat). The spying continues for too long, breaking the pace. It gets painstakingly slow at points and even when Vidyut is out to fight, one might not feel a similar thrill like they always do.

See the trailer here :

However, it is the second half that redeems everything. It gets interesting and keeps us hooked. It is the second half where the action really begins, not literally. And by the end, thanks to the chest-thumping music meant to rouse your nationalism, you would not feel that bad.

Vidyut Jammwal is good with his performance. There are several sequences where he could have been better, but the character demands that he shows minimal emotions. When there is Vidyut, you expect action and he will give the audience just enough without overdoing it. Vidyut shoulders the film alone and takes up the entire screen time.

However, the show-stealer here is Vishal Jethwa. He might have limited screen space, but he simply excels in whatever he has been asked to do. Despite the over orange lipstick and cheek tint he is often given, he nails his role. From showing anger, fear or determination - he is good at all of it. He is severely underutilised and we hope we get to see him more.

Anupam Kher has what can be called an extended cameo . There is not much that he has to do and he does it effortlessly.

Director Sankalp, who had earlier worked in The Ghazi Attack, often loses control of the screenplay. His script could have been tauter and smoother. His hold on the reign is loose in the first half, which drowns the overall effect.

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IB 71 Reviews

Even by low standards of how ridiculous action movies can be, IB 71 mishandles its depiction of real-life espionage events in 1971. If you believe this movie, then you have to believe one IB agent has a superhero level of fight skills and defense plans.

Full Review | May 23, 2023

Better execution would have turned it into a cracking spy thriller but in its present avatar, IB 71 feels like an opportunity gone to waste…

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 23, 2023

Reddy’s staging skills abandons him when it comes to getting his characters to sound credible.

Jammwal steps out of his comfort zone only to leave us confused.

This Vidyut Jammwal film claims to have been cobbled together from actual events, but the execution is both simplistic-comic-book and convoluted.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | May 23, 2023

If you have an affinity for period action thrillers, this film successfully checks the boxes.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 23, 2023

Vidyut Jammwal's hunky presence is determined to shore up the film when it tends to flounder despite its unwavering adherence to the plot and its eschewal of cheap thrills.

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• IB71 Review: Vidyut Jammwal As Agent Dev Knocks It Out Of The Park

IB71 Review: Vidyut Jammwal as Agent Dev knocks it out of the park

Ib71 review: vidyut jammwal's film 'ib71' was released in theatres today. to find out how the movie is, read the review..

• Movie Name: IB71
• Release Date: May 12, 2023
• Director: Sankalp Reddy
• Genre: Action-spy

IB71 Review:  Vidyut Jammwal has once again delighted his fans with the release of a new film. The story of his film 'IB71' is about those young people who were willing to die for their nation, but no one knows about them today because the work of a hidden mission is not recognised and is kept secret. Vidyut has presented himself in an unusual manner in this film. You must read this review to find out what the story of this movie is, how the direction is, and how the film overall is.

The film is based on true events: 

The mission of the film is to go to Pakistan and block their airways to stop their plan to invade India. Pakistan is ready for this war, but India is not. The film is based on true events. Agent Dev (Vidyut Jammwal) goes on this mission with 30 agents in B7110 days.

  More mind game than physical: 

In an intriguing story, two young individuals, aged 17–18, who support Kashmir's independence, find themselves deceived by a fabricated hijacking incident. Believing they are soldiers of Azad Kashmir, they get used and are subsequently hijacked by the Intelligence Bureau aboard their own plane. The captors divert the plane to Lahore with the aim of preventing Pakistan and China's collaborative efforts against India by blocking Pakistan Airways. This captivating narrative promises to captivate audiences and generate significant interest, shedding light on an important historical perspective.   Vidyut himself is the producer of the film

The producers of the film are Vidyut Jammwal and Abbas Sayyed, the story is written by Aditya Shastri. It is directed by National Award winning director Sankalp Reddy.   These are the highlights of the film:

• The story, based on true events and characters, is very interesting.
• It's great to see action hero Vidyut Jammwal stepping out of his comfort zone and playing the mind game and not the physical one.
• In his very first home production, Vidyut Jammwal chooses a story based on the success of the country. He has given outstanding performance.
• Presence of Anupam Kher
• Excellent portrayal of Vishal Jethwa as a budding terrorist.
• The film starts well and has some special moments.

  These are the weaknesses of the film:

• Weak screenplay
• Passing each and every stage with ease, the way Intelligence Bureau agents fool Pakistani officials easily and come back to the border.
• In Hindi cinema, we have seen many intelligence-based films, in which case IB looks a bit weak. Although the topic is good, there is something missing.
• Anupam Kher

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IB 71 (2023)

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IB 71 movie review: This spy-thriller is a bit raw

Rating: ( 2.5 / 5).

The year was 1971. India and Pakistan would go to war over Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) by the end of the year. But, before that, India had to thwart a two-way attack by both China and Pakistan from the Northeast. Pakistan had plans to station its battle planes in the East. The only way to stop them was to block the Indian airspace. For that, the countries needed to be in a state of war. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) came up with a plan. Two Kashmiri separatists, Hashim Qureshi and his cousin Ashraf, who had been harbouring dreams of hijacking a plane, got some help from the intelligence agency. A plane was hijacked with wooden guns and grenades. It landed in Lahore. It had 30 intelligence officers masquerading as passengers. They somehow escaped from the enemy country. The plane was burned. India called destroying its property in a foreign land an act of war by Pakistan. The airspace was blocked.

Starring: Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher, Vishal Jethwa

Directed by: Sankalp Reddy

After the mission, the agents might have met over drinks to celebrate their victory. With cigars between their lips, they would have nodded in unison when somebody would have stated that their feat should be the subject of a film.

The film they get is  IB 71 . The agent they get is Vidyut Jammwal who plays Dev Jammwal, a flowy-haired (did they allow long manes in intelligence services back in the day?), chiselled-chin hunk with an affinity for V-neck cardigans. Now,   IB 71  steers clear of something that has been plaguing spy films for some time: chest-thumping nationalism. Thankfully, there are no parallels between Pakistan and ‘ desh ke gaddaar ’. We shouldn’t praise a film for not being propaganda, but that’s what we have come to.

There is a different way  IB 71  showcases its nationalism, by portraying its enemy as caricature-ish. A Pakistani general, for some reason, only hangs out at hangars. He looks like he will spurt words like ‘ keher ’ and ‘ khushamadeed ’ if he gets more screen time. ISI seems to be taken for a ride by Indian intelligence at every moment. The contest becomes one-sided. Vishal Jethwa, as the rookie hijacker Qasim, seems like he is in battle with a put-on Kashmiri accent (Plane, plan and plain all sound ‘pilain’).

The Sankalp Reddy directorial still has its moments.  IB 71  shines in its action sequences, particularly the ones on a wooden plank in Kashmir and in a hotel lobby in Pakistan with the lights out. Refreshingly, there is more brain than brawl in a film headlined by Vidyut. But, it lacks wit. For those who know about the real incident, it becomes predictable. The plot stretches and takes uninteresting turns.  IB 71  is based on a great tale that deserved better treatment.

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IB71 Review: Vidyut Jammwal Gives Another Top-Notch Performance In This Spy Thriller

IB71 is a 2023 Hindi-language action spy movie. A story by Aditya Shastri also has Sankalp Reddy as the director. Vidyut Jammwal , Anupam Kher , Vishal Jethwa, Ashwath Bhat, Dalip Tahil, Danny Sura, Suvrat Joshi, and Diwakar Dhyani are among the actors who appear in it. With IB71, Vidyut Jammwal’s debut as a producer. Here are all the details about the film.

Dev is introduced as the picture-perfect spy right away in the movie. He, too, has a crucial mission, and despite his fearful expression when facing the adversary, he exudes confidence. He does so without difficulty as well. The content that has been released, nevertheless, is terrifying. According to the report, Pakistan is preparing an attack for ten days, and something terrible must occur to prepare everyone for war. This cannot be done that quickly.

As a result, he and Anupam Kher’s character must come up with a strategy. They do have one, but it’s quite dangerous. A failure will also endanger more than 30 lives, signaling the possibility of conflict and damaging the country’s reputation. Will Dev be successful in yet another crucial mission with such huge stakes? If so, how is he going to pull it off? The main plot of the story is that.

IB71 Review

IB71 gets off to a solid, straightforward start. We are in for an exciting journey as soon as Vidyut enters the image. IB71 isn’t like other espionage thrillers. However, you’ll realize that as the film goes on. The world-building process takes time; the first half’s plodding pace might test your patience. However, the second half is also when the primary mission starts, and that’s when the movie begins to hold your attention.

Anyone who has any doubts about Vidyut’s acting abilities must watch his portrayal of Dev Jammwal. So it is safe to claim that if he appears in a movie, he will support his character and advance the story. Along with Vidyut, Ashwat Bhatt and Vishal Jethwa also stand out for their flawless performances. In addition, Sankalp Reddy, a writer-director, deserves recognition for bringing to light the unwritten tales from India’s deep history. He consistently shines while honoring the unsung heroes.

Even if the events take time, they culminate in an exciting narrative that thrills us. Additionally, the production value and set design are excellent. You experience a sense of being there the entire time. Gnana Shekhar, the director of photography, does a great job of depicting Kashmir’s lushness. IB71 just becomes a bit excited after this point. Also, by the conclusion, owing to the patriotic music that was playing to get you pumped up.

To show his mettle, Vidyut Jammwal is in the field. He doesn’t want to shed his action-hero persona entirely, but he also wants to demonstrate his acting skills.

Final Verdict

To watch another unknown tale of heroes rarely spoken or recorded in history, see the IB71 movie in a theatre. Although it won’t likely give you an adrenaline boost, the climax will surely cause you goosebumps. The movie also has a strong patriotic vibe. It follows a straightforward plot that adheres to a formulaic basic, predictable notion. We give this film is 3.5 out of 5.

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IB71 Movie Review: A Scorching Spy Action-Thriller

IB71 Movie Review: Vidyut Jammwal shines as charming IB agent Dev Jammwal in the film.

IB71 Movie Review: Vidyut Jammwal starrer is a red-hot spy action thriller that will take you on a thrill ride. With Jammwal in the film there are a lot of action sequences that are surely going to surprise you.

IB71 Movie Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

IB71 Movie Cast: Vidyut Jammwal , Anupam Kher, Vishal Jethwa, Faizan Khan, Dalip Tahil, Suvrat Joshi, Mir Sarwar and the ensemble.

IB71 Movie Director: Sankalp Reddy

IB71 Movie Story: Dev Jammwal is an IB agent assigned to prevent Pakistan and China from attacking India by blocking airspace in 1971.

IB71 Movie Review

Vidyut Jammwal as dashing, smart and athletic IB agent Dev Jammwal is a pure delight to watch. He aces the action scenes with finesse and makes everything look easy. However, there is much more to IB71 than just action and the film does manage to justify its storyline.

Vidyut Jammwal does seems stuck when it comes to displaying different emotions but overall he has done a decent job in IB71. There is still room for improvement when it comes to broadening the emotional skills as an actor for him. With that in mind, there is no one who comes close to Vidyut Jammwal when it comes to action in Bollywood. The absurd stunts in his film are always fascinating to watch and IB71 is no different.

Anupam Kher as IB Chief is a perfect fit. There is hardly any role which Anupam Kher cannot ace. His range as an actor is phenomenal and he displays another example of that in IB71. Vishal Jethwa, Faizan Khan and Dalip Tahil have done a sincere job in their respective roles.

IB71 starts off as a perfect thriller but the buildup collapses in the mid and you may feel disappointed with the direction of the movie around the interval time. However, the climax makes up for the sluggishness in the middle. Music could have been a bit better but it works just enough that you won’t feel it’s a nuisance. There are definitely a few things which are a miss but overall IB71 is a hit.

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• Vidyut Jammwal

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IB71 movie review: An interesting idea bogged down by contrivances and cliches

Vidyut Jammwal gives his brawn a rest and lets his brain do the talking in this mildly engrossing but otherwise trite thriller.

Cast: Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher, Vishal Jethwa, Dalip Tahil

Director: Sankalp Reddy

Language: Hindi

Spoilers ahead

Few years ago, I read something very interesting on Twitter. It spoke about the predictability factor in Hindi cinema, and how a film that’s predictable isn’t necessarily a bad film. For starters, in Lagaan , we knew it was always going to be the underdog villagers that would trump the British in their own game; in Chak De! India , obviously it was going to be India, otherwise what’s the use of adding the name of our nation in the moniker. Also, nearly all love stories are predictable too, unless the makers have something else as a plan. But when a film ends up being both predictable and pedestrian, there’s a problem. Vidyut Jammwal and Anupam Kher’s IB71 is unfortunately one such film.

First of all, Jammwal has always been an earnest hero, occupied by stories and narratives that are dying to let his fists and fury do the talking. Here, where he also turns producer, he gives his brawn a rest and let his brain do the talking, which means there’s going to be a lot of talking happening. His entry scene sees him masquerading as a Pakistani officer and trying to save his colleague held captive in the neighboring nation. One would expect this as a solid conflict for the star to break into some spectacular action, but as I said, he has chosen words and not wounds to get the job done. And of course, he does get the job done.

The film is directed by Sankalp, who also made the impressive The Ghazi Attack , and here too, he tries to tell a story that was lost in the pages of history, or maybe was never allowed to come out of those pages. The problem with most of the films based on true events in these times is their sheer dichotomy. In most of the interviews, the actors stand by the fact that their films are based on true stories, and the disclaimers in the beginning have a completely different story to tell.  IB71  opens with a disclaimer that says that it’s indeed inspired by true events but…The but here makes all the difference. But obviously suggests the makers would’ve taken creative liberties to perhaps add more pulp to the material. What’s the use of these creative liberties when you can’t even make your leading man break some bones? But as I said, he has chosen words this time.

The story is based in 1971, when both Pakistan and China were planning an attack on India, and our hero Dev (Jammwal) has an idea, a plan that looks very hard to put on paper. He wants the officials of the intelligence bureau to block the airspace to prevent the supposed attack from happening. Just at the same time, he’s informed about a young boy Qasim Qureshi ( Vishal Jethwa trying to have fun) who’s planning to hijack a plane for the release of his 36 brothers (brothers here obviously means something else). Even though Jammwal is a man with limited emotions and expressions, the background music does the job of informing us what he’s thinking and what’s going to happen next.

Cinematographer Gnana Shekhar does a fine job of capturing the lusciousness of Kashmir and it’s only from here that  IB71  gets a little intriguing. Qureshi buys a ticket to watch the 1965 romance Arzoo daily, and of course it has to be a part of his plan. Who would’ve thought a film as tender as this could inspire someone in all the wrong ways? The other scene that’s executed skillfully is a scene at the hotel lobby, with all the passengers of the aircraft telephoning their families and how their otherwise wise cover is blown just as quickly. But many other scenes fail to evoke any excitement or emotion, especially the one where the aircraft is hijacked or even the climax. Even a seasoned actor like Kher stays perplexed throughout, albeit cracking a faint smile in the end when India outsmarts Pakistan.

For all the restraint in the narrative, the end credits taking pride in India defeating Pakistan in the 1971 war in a span of just 13 days reeks of jingoism. The intent might have been to evoke a sense of pride and honour (Hi Garv ) but to make the neighboring country look like an army of cliched and dimwitted villains for the 10000th time is now both tiring and terrifying. Look what Meghna Gulzar did with the remarkable Raazi , and how she gorgeously showed humans on both the sides of the border. Here, we have a bunch of stern faces mouthing Janaab after every line, the same issue that bogged down Mission Majnu this year. The end credits are accompanied by a voiceover of Jammwal, what we read is also what we hear. As I said, the man has chosen words this time.

Rating: 2.25 (out of 5 stars)

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