Genius

Genius Story: A young IIT genius lands himself on a mission for the Research and Analysis Wing of India (RAW), but his heart beats as much for his lady love as it does for his nation. He must do what it takes to save both.

Genius Review: At one time he is a college goof ball, at another, a dashing charmer and a campus hero with top scores. Our man Vasudev Shashtri or Vasu (Utkarsh Sharma) can shoot vedic chants and bullets with equal ease, chase a speeding convoy on a bicycle with a limping foot and solve rubic cubes in record time to save lives. Director Anil Sharma mounts a huge responsibility on his son's lean shoulders to heroically outsmart everyone else including the film's villain Nawazuddin Siddiqui. For a first timer, Utkarsh delivers on many counts with his boyish charm even as the film's wobbly script falters repeatedly.

In an attempt to make a potboiler, the narrative packs in too many elements, but not all of them land. The campus romance between the young couple is glossy, but soulless. Film's debutante actress Ishita Chauhan has the glam quotient, but shows little expression to convey emotion.

There is a secret mission with dominant patriotic overtones, a slick A-team, caricature bad guys and a bunch of RAW agents who act like anxious school kids when faced with crises. Mithun Chakraborty as the National Security Advisor brings seriousness to his character, albiet a tad too much. Nawazuddin makes a grand entry but his act as a genius gone wrong is a hamfest.

Film's first half has some haunting melodies that are tastefully shot, but it’s downhill from second half onward.

Overall, 'Genius' is a messed up mumbo jumbo of some juvenile IIT hacks, loud sounds and verbose filmy dialoguebazi.