Naam Shabana

Naam Shabana which is touted to be a spin-off to Neeraj Pandey's critically acclaimed Baby turns out to a damp squid and leaves you heartbroken . Blame it on the weak and disjointed screenplay which doesn't just let the film rise above the average. Shivam Nair pulls off a decent job of directing but fails to cover up the loopholes in the script which play a spoilsport. What's quite surprising is that this film has been written by the same man (Neeraj Pandey) who had brilliantly penned Baby that stood out back then for its gripping narrative and tensed moments! Just like the name, the film belongs totally to Shabana Khan aka Taapsee Pannu. She gets to break the bones and indulge in some serious butt-kicking. She aces the action scenes like a pro and carries the film on her slender shoulders. In a scene or two, the actress even gets to display her emotional side and shines in those moments. Naam Shabana is a major letdown especially when you walk into the theatre halls carrying good ol' Baby nostalgia and expecting a similar adrenaline rush. In a nutshell, we would prefer to settle for a rewatch of the 2015 espionage-thriller instead!