Prahaar review: Rajkummar Rao leads 4-star 26/11 courtroom drama

The first critical verdict is in for Prahaar – The Ujjwal Nikam Story, and it arrives with rare enthusiasm. Bollywood Hungama has rated the film 4 stars out of 5 and called it a “must-watch experience” — praise that rests on sharp writing, a heavyweight cast and courtroom scenes that refuse to let go.

How the film frames 26/11

Many viewers already know the broad strokes of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks from news reports and bulletins. What Prahaar promises, according to the review, is a shift in vantage point. Director Avinash Arun takes the audience inside the courtroom, where the prosecution builds its case piece by piece and Ujjwal Nikam fights for justice. The result is not a rehash of familiar images but a legal thriller with emotional stakes.

The attack at CST, recreated

The review notes that the recreation of the attack at CST is chilling. It does not simply present violence; it brings up anger, grief, helplessness, heartbreak and sadness. That emotional range, the reviewer suggests, is what makes the film more than a procedural — it keeps the human cost in view while the legal arguments unfold. The father-son thread is also singled out for adding a sensitive layer to the drama.

Rajkummar Rao leads the class

Rajkummar Rao is described as exceptional and commanding as Ujjwal Nikam, with the conviction and intensity the part demands. Lalit Prabhakar, as Kasab, takes the opposite route — unsettling and controlled, avoiding melodrama and making the character land through restraint. Wamiqa Gabbi makes her presence count, while Jaideep Ahlawat is called flawless. Sikandar Kher, Ashish Vidyarthi, Ritwik Sahore and Ajinkya Deo also receive praise, and child actor Dior Ranju Varghese is credited with a stunning moment in the second half.

Moments to watch for

Without giving away spoilers, the review points to several sequences that stand out:

• Ujjwal Nikam dismantling Kasab’s claim of being a juvenile.
• A powerful pre-interval block.
• A young girl’s testimony after the interval, reliving the horrors of the attack.
• A finale that caps the film’s emotional and legal arc.

Music, score and the big-screen case

Prahaar has no room for songs, and the review argues it does not need them. The background score takes over, heightening tension at exactly the right moments and giving the courtroom confrontations their charge. At 2 hours and 20 minutes, the film stays engaging because, as the review puts it, the writing is as sharp as the performances.

For Hindi film fans

This is a film for viewers who prefer argument and pressure over spectacle. The review’s 4-star verdict is a strong signal that Prahaar delivers on the promise of a true-life legal drama. If you have followed the 26/11 trial or simply enjoy a tightly made courtroom film, the early word around Prahaar is that it belongs on your watchlist.

Source: bollywoodHungama.com