Renowned film critic Taran Adarsh has delivered a scathing review of Yash Raj Films' latest offering, "Alpha," rating it a mere 1.5 out of 5 stars and labeling it the "weakest film" in the YRF Spy Universe. Adarsh's review, shared widely on social media, criticizes the film's writing despite acknowledging its "brilliant action set pieces" and "stunning visuals." The film, directed by Shiv Rawail, features Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol, and includes a cameo by Hrithik Roshan.
Adarsh stated, > "Weakest film in the #YRFSpyUniverse... Brilliant action set pieces, stunning visuals, and a few well-executed sequences, but the writing simply doesn't connect... Missed opportunity!" He further noted that the film follows the typical YRF template of "gloss, glamour, and high-octane action," but lacks the crucial "patriotic emotion" despite a Pakistan angle. This sentiment echoes a growing critical trend comparing YRF's traditional spy thrillers to the "Dhurandhar duology," which has set a new benchmark for grounded and patriotic espionage narratives.
The critic found Alia Bhatt "miscast in a role like this," while Sharvari was "relegated to the background." Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol delivered "competent performances," but Hrithik Roshan's cameo was described as "forced and doesn't work." The execution, according to Adarsh, felt "too Western in its approach," leading to a lack of "emotional identification and relatability" for the audience.
"Alpha" marks the first female-led installment in the YRF Spy Universe, a franchise that includes successful titles like "Ek Tha Tiger," "Tiger Zinda Hai," "War," and "Pathaan." However, the film's critical reception, including Adarsh's, suggests it has failed to meet the high expectations set by its predecessors or the new standards established by films like "Dhurandhar." Initial box office reports also indicate a soft opening, with the film collecting approximately ₹6.25 crore net on its first day.
Adarsh concluded his review with a direct call to action for the production house, stating, > "YRF needs to reset and reboot the #YRFSpyUniverse and bring back the believability, emotional connect, and relatability that got audiences hooked on these films in the first place." This highlights a perceived shift in audience preference towards more realistic and emotionally resonant spy thrillers, a direction where the YRF Spy Universe is currently seen as faltering.
