Alpha is a cringe-worthy espionage thriller that feels like the final nail in the coffin of YRF’s Spy Universe. Instead of building on the franchise’s strengths, it delivers an incoherent, derivative, and deeply frustrating experience that struggles on almost every front.

One of the film’s biggest missteps lies in its writing. Once again, the Spy Universe revolves around an Indian Army officer turning rogue, a trope the franchise has relied on repeatedly. This time, however, the twist is even more far-fetched. The central revelation surrounding Bobby Deol’s character of a Pakistani  agent infiltrating India army higher rank and the Alpha super-soldier program stretches credibility to such an extent that it ends up making the intelligence agencies and military establishment appear implausibly incompetent within the film’s fictional world. The screenplay treats major revelations with such little conviction that the climax loses whatever impact it hopes to create.

Bobby Deol plays the architect of the “Alpha” program, an elite super-soldier initiative allegedly discontinued by the Indian Army. After the project is shut down, his character secretly continues the program on his own. Alia Bhatt and Sharvari are revealed to be products of this experiment, possessing heightened reflexes and abilities that resemble powers borrowed from multiple Hollywood action and superhero films. Rather than feeling innovative, these elements come across as derivative and unintentionally comical.

The biggest casualty is logic. Scene after scene asks the audience to suspend disbelief beyond reasonable limits. As the narrative unfolds, it leaves you cycling through disbelief, irritation, amusement, frustration, and confusion. Instead of generating tension, the film often provokes laughter at moments that are clearly intended to be serious.

Alia Bhatt is undoubtedly one of the finest actresses of her generation, but action cinema demands a different screen presence. Despite her commitment to the role, the film never convinces you that her character can single-handedly overpower waves of heavily built, highly trained opponents. The action lacks physical credibility, making many of the combat sequences feel artificial rather than exhilarating.

Sharvari fares no better. While she looks convincing on screen, the choreography surrounding her action scenes feels uninspired. At several points, it appears that more effort has gone into styling her appearance than designing memorable action set pieces.

The screenplay by Sridhar Raghavan and Soumil Shukla, based on a story by Uday Chopra, is the film’s weakest pillar. Filled with convenient plot devices, inconsistent character motivations, and implausible developments, it ranks among the weakest scripts in the Spy Universe. The narrative never establishes emotional stakes, and the thrill that defines successful spy films is almost entirely absent.

Comparisons with larger, more accomplished action franchises would be misplaced. Alpha is better judged alongside female-led action films such as Naam Shabana, Akira, and Dhaakad. Even by those standards, it emerges as the weakest effort, lacking the emotional depth, grounded storytelling, or compelling action that those films attempted to deliver.

Bobby Deol’s antagonist is disappointingly underwritten. Despite his commanding screen presence, the character never evolves into a memorable villain. His inconsistent accent further dilutes the impact of what should have been the film’s biggest threat. Anil Kapoor, as always, is dependable, but his presence feels disconnected from the narrative and adds little to the overall story.

The emotional core is equally underwhelming. Patriotism, a recurring strength of many successful Indian espionage dramas, is surprisingly absent here. The only sequence that genuinely generates excitement is Hrithik Roshan’s brief cameo, which momentarily reminds you of the energy and charisma missing from the rest of the film.

Director Shiv Rawail delivers a visually polished film, but style alone cannot compensate for a screenplay this weak. When the foundation itself is riddled with problems, even competent direction cannot rescue the final product.

Final Verdict:

Alpha is a disappointing addition to the Spy Universe that suffers from weak writing, illogical storytelling, forgettable action, and underdeveloped characters. Despite a talented cast and high production values, the film fails to deliver the thrills, emotional investment, or entertainment expected from a big-budget espionage spectacle.

Watch it at your own risk.