Is 'Brahmāstra' India’s answer to The Avengers?

Ahead of Brahmāstra: Part One–Shiva, the most-awaited movie of the year, one that's all set to redefine VFX and its future in India, I decided to watch the Hindi movie that had the best visual effects to date (all puns intended). I'm talking about Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani. If that wasn't enough, seeing the parrot from Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon and Bill Gates in top form in Half Girlfriend set the tone for the fantastic Friday that I didn't bargain for.

Would the Ayan Mukerji film, one that’s taken more than five years in the making, raise the bar?

To begin with, I went in with a lot of expectations, and it didn't take long to be engrossed in the Astra Verse created by Dharma Productions. After all, we see a fine actor back on screen after ages looking like he had never gone away (nope, we are not talking about Ranbir Kapoor, but SRK). The breathtaking visual spectacle created by Prime Focus and him ensure that we’re always on the edge of our seats. No time is wasted in explaining the gravity of the situation and the events that lead to the present, plus, the good vs. evil battle context is perfectly positioned early on.

But what works wonders in the first chapter of this trilogy are the visual effects that give you several heart-in-the-mouth moments. We’ve got countless fight and chase sequences that will make your jaw drop. The elements of fire, water, and wind, along with the animals that are larger-than-life in scale set the tone for the film. Mukerji has definitely pushed the envelope with this one. While there is absolutely no denying the fact that a film like this deserves to be watched on the big screen, a film needs more, right?

What Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva doesn’t do is draw a connection between Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor), his love interest Isha (Alia Bhatt), the origins of the Astras, and the group of warriors called the Brahmansh. There’s little information as to why these characters are doing what they’re doing. The film is easy on the eye, however, that cannot be said of the storytelling. This is among the many areas where the film falters.

So is Brahmāstra: Part One–Shiva India’s best made VFX film? It’s surely one of them. But one cannot deny the vision of S.S. Rajamouli—the man behind Baahubali: The Beginning, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, and RRR. It wasn’t just the VFX in these films, the story and the depth of characters portrayed had us immersed in the narrative right from the word go. The makers of Brahmāstra: Part One–Shiva didn’t want their film to be compared—there’s no denying that they’re now part of the VFX films conversation and comparison.

Here’s a film that will be remembered for its special effects, not its story. Brahmāstra: Part One–Shiva could have been so much more than what I saw today. And to answer my first question—Is Brahmāstra: Part One–Shiva India’s answer to The Avengers? No. But did the film give me hope for better days? It certainly did.