When scenes in court featuring Sunny Deol appear in cinema, viewers often recall his famous phrase 'Tarih par tarikh'. Against this backdrop of high expectations, the long-awaited film 'Ikka' was released on the streaming service Netflix. Although the trailer generated a lot of buzz among the public, the film failed to meet these hopes.
The plot of the film 'Ikka'
The story revolves around Arjun, known as Ikka (Sunny Deol), who is a lawyer who has never lost a case. The plot changes when a wealthy and influential man named Shuryaman (Akshay Khanna) is accused of attempted murder. Ikka initially refuses to take the case, but then, due to a medical condition revealed in the film, he agrees to represent Shuryaman in court. Madhurima (Tilotama Shom) represents the opposing side.
To maintain his winning streak and defend Shuryaman, Ikka makes every effort, but it remains an open question whether he can resolve this legal entanglement. This forms the main narrative line.
Weaknesses of the script and thriller
Viewers expecting a high-class courtroom thriller anticipate a gripping plot that raises new questions and builds tension towards the climax. However, 'Ikka' proves weak in these aspects. The script is written rather sluggishly, which makes the story feel drawn out and overly long. Although the climax could potentially be interesting if the viewer remains patient, overall there are no significant twists in the film.
From a legal standpoint, there are serious flaws in the story, which hinders its perception as a logical legal drama. Some scenes question the significance of the judge in the courtroom.
Acting and direction
Regarding acting, Sunny Deol presents a completely different persona. He acts very naturally because in this role, he did not have to resort to shouting or use his famous 'one-and-a-half-kilogram hands' technique. His old style of dialogue delivery might appeal to fans. On the other hand, Akshay Khanna's performance causes some disappointment; he looks like the old 'Rahman Dhakaat' character, just with a changed name. His characteristic bent neck and subdued voice are more irritating than impressive this time.
Diya Mirza handled her role excellently, and her eyes say a lot. Sanjida Sheku had few scenes but made a good impression, and Daria Bedi seemed sweet. Tilotama Shom fully immersed herself in the role of a worried lawyer, and her work is recognized as excellent. Vikram Singh's voice, playing the judge, resembles the announcer of the show 'Bigg Boss.'
Technical aspects and directorial approach
Technically, the cinematography in 'Ikka' is quite simple. The background music sounds acceptable in some places but is not innovative; there is often a feeling that it has been heard before. Altiya Kaushal and Mink Tiwari had the opportunity to create a brilliant film in terms of script but missed the chance. They presented the lifestyle and working methods of both large and small lawyers well on screen. Nevertheless, due to the weak script, director Siddharth P. Malhotra managed to make the film watchable, but he could not exert a deep emotional impact on the audience. Sunny Deol's role in court seemed weaker than ever before. The film and actors failed to reach the level set by the trailer.
