A wanna-be intellectual film ends up being a boring affair. IB 71 is directed by Sankalp Reddy who made The Ghazi Attack. The Ghazi Attack was such a fine film with a solid star cast. The Ghazi Attack was also based on true events like IB 71 and was presented in a powerful way. The Ghazi Attack was a very engaging and inspiring flick which succeeded in building tense and nail biting situations. The Ghazi Attack didn’t have any big superstar but had a bunch of talented actors who were enough to pull off the subject with such an ease. The Ghazi Attack got everything right and IB 71 got everything wrong. IB 71 lacks intelligent punch and has boring moments all over it. The film being a spy thriller never manages to engage nor holds the attention of the viewer.
A spy thriller should have intellectual moments, thrilling scenes, engaging events, etc. IB 71 doesn’t have anything. IB71 tries to be realistic and intellectual but messes up and ends up being a dud affair. The writing is so boring and dull for a spy thriller. The screenplay seems to be dead. The script didn’t have anything to offer. IB 71 would have turned out to be a stunning film if the writing and direction would have been powerful. We have seen many classic spy thrillers like Baby, Argo, etc. This film doesn’t even match half of these films. There is not a single twist in the whole narrative. The treatment given to the subject is so boring. 1st half is unbearable and 2nd half becomes torture for you as a viewer. The film breaks all the protocols of a spy thriller.
IB 71 tells the untold story about the true events that happened in 1971. Indian Intelligence Bureau agent Dev (Vidyut Jammwal) is assigned to prevent Pakistan and China from attacking India by blocking airspace. Dev goes to Pakistan and becomes one of their officers and fools them by discovering Pakistan’s plan to destroy India. Pakistan plans to attack India and tries to conquer Kashmir and western states. For conquering, Pakistan has to travel to East Pakistan then, now Bangladesh and the only way is to go through Indian airspace. India plans to hijack the plane so that Pakistan commits an act of terrorism and will be blocked from entering Indian airspace according to the law. IB Chief N. S. Awasthi (Anupam Kher) helps Dev in fulfilling the mission. Qasim Qureshi (Vishal Jethwa) a resident of Kashmir is assigned by Pakistan to hijack the plane. Qasim along with his companion hijacks the plane which has 30 passengers (Indian agent) and Dev fools them and succeeds in the plan which the Indian had to carry. The agents land in Pakistan and are taken into custody by the Pakistan Army. Pakistan Army doubts of passengers being Indian Agents. These agents try to fool those army persons and how they escape and reach India back safely is IB 71 all about.
Talking about performances, Vidyut Jammwal is decent. Vidyut has that physique and looks like a spy. We have seen Vidyut only in serious roles till date in Commando series, Baadshaho, Khuda Haafiz Series and Sanak and in IB 71 he gets a serious kind of role. This kind of role is well suited to John Abraham, Vidyut Jammwal, etc. A talented actor like Anupam Kher is totally wasted. The script doesn’t let Anupam Kher perform up to his potential. Vishal Jethwa was deadly in Mardaani 2 as the villain. In IB 71 also, Vishal plays the role of a bad guy but fails to leave an impact like Mardaani 2. The writing and characterization is to be blamed here. Dalip Tahil in his short role is passable. Rest of the cast doesn’t get much to explore.
IB 71 reveals the planning much beforehand and we all know what the results would be. As the planning is already revealed there is no scope for much thrills and suspense. IB 71 tries to create tense situations but fails miserably. IB 71 misses the mark by a huge margin. A potential classic is ruined by dead writing. IB 71 also has dumb moments which are full of flaws. A spy thriller needs to have intelligent characters but here many of them behave like dumb fellows. A thriller should keep viewers fully engaged in the show but here the boredom makes you look at your watch again and again. The film is too slow and there are many unnecessary stretched scenes.
IB 71 turns out to be crap. By looking at the trailer, I was expecting a decent flick but Sankalp Reddy had delivered a disappointing product. The Director of The Ghazi Attack had raised expectations of viewers, but this is a huge disappointment. This film is nowhere near The Ghazi Attack. IB 71 should have joined the list of some decent and good spy thrillers in Bollywood like Raazi, Holiday, Madras Cafe, D-Day, Phantom, Force 2, Bell Bottom, Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW), etc. but it joins the list of craps. IB 71 is like a sleeping pill. The makers had a mission to make the audience bored and they have accomplished it. The film should have been titled SP 10 (Sleeping Pill of 10 mg) instead of IB 71. Skip it.
Rating – 2/5*
Watch the trailer below:
