Ulajh (transl. Entangle) is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language spy thriller film[4] directed by Sudhanshu Saria and produced by Junglee Pictures. It stars Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah, Roshan Mathew and Adil Hussain.[5] The plot focuses on a young IFS officer with a legacy of patriots in her family, entangled in a dangerous personal conspiracy amidst a career-defining post far away from her home.[6][7]
| Ulajh | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sudhanshu Saria |
| Written by | Parveez Shaikh Sudhanshu Saria |
| Dialogues by | Atika Chohan |
| Produced by | Vineet Jain |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Shreya Dev Dube |
| Edited by | Nitin Baid |
| Music by | Shashwat Sachdev |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Pen Marudhar Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 134 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹50 crore[2] |
| Box office | est. ₹11.05 crore[3] |
The film was announced in May 2023 and was shot in India and London, with principal photography beginning in June 2023 and ending by September 2023.[8] Ulajh was released on 2 August 2024 to mixed reviews from critics.[9] The film became a box office bomb, grossing only ₹11 crore worldwide.[10]
Cast
edit- Janhvi Kapoor as Suhana Bhatia
- Roshan Mathew as Sebin Joseph
- Gulshan Devaiah as Nakul Bhatia / ISI agent Humayun / David
- Adil Hussain as Dhanraj Bhatia
- Meiyang Chang[11] as Jacob Tamang
- Rajesh Tailang as Salim Sayeed
- Rajendra Gupta as Manohar Rawal
- Jitendra Joshi as Prakash Kamat
- Sakshi Tanwar as Roshni Sengupta
- Arun Mallik as Ambassador Khurana
- Amit Tiwari Anand as Deputy Counsel Solanki
- Priyanka Pal as The Scarred Woman
- Rushad Rana as Pakistan PM Shahzad Alam
- Himanshu Malik as Yaseen Mirza
- Bhavna Singh as Yaseen's Wife
- Vivek Madan as Pakistan Defence Minister
- Swati Verma as News Reporter
- Natasha Rastogi as Saroj Bhatia
- Swastika Chakraborty as Suhana's Bhua
- Alyy Khan as Ambassador Kazi
Production
editPrincipal photography commenced in June 2023[12] and wrapped in September 2023 in London.[13][14]
Music
edit| Ulajh | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | 29 July 2024[15] |
| Recorded | 2022–23 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 21:47 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Label | Sony Music India |
The soundtrack is composed by Shashwat Sachdev and lyrics is written by Kumaar, Jasmine Sandlas and Sudhanshu Saria.[15]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Shaukan" | Kumaar | Jubin Nautiyal, Neha Kakkar, Shashwat Sachdev | 2:47 |
| 2. | "Aaja Oye" | Jasmine Sandlas, Sudhanshu Saria | Jasmine Sandlas, Shashwat Sachdev | 2:37 |
| 3. | "Main Hoon Tera Ae Watan" | Kumaar | Shashwat Sachdev | 4:15 |
| 4. | "Ilahi Mere Rubaroo" | Kumaar | Sanjith Hegde, Shahzad Ali, Shashwat Sachdev | 5:16 |
| 5. | "Jao Ji Jao" | Sudhanshu Saria | Garvit Soni, Priyansh Srivastava, Shashwat Sachdev | 3:59 |
| 6. | "Thoda Galat" | Kumaar | Jubin Nautiyal, Shashwat Sachdev | 2:53 |
| Total length: | 21:47 | |||
Release
editUlajh was scheduled to release on 5 July 2024 but was later postponed to 2 August 2024.
Reception
editA critic of Bollywood Hungama rated the film 1.5/5 stars and noted "Ulajh is a niche and confusing film which is devoid of any entertainment value".[10] Sreehari Nair of Rediff.com rated the film 1.5/5 and observed that "Ulajh strikes you as an attempt at statement-making gone horribly wrong, a punchline that doesn't land, a roar that never reaches the ear"[16]
Tanmayi Savadi of Times Now gave the film a rating of 3.5/5 and wrote "Sudhanshu maintains a balance between Suhana’s vulnerabilities and the tightness of the script. Often thrillers get predictable after a point; Ulajh holds onto itself well".[17] Filmfare gave the film a rating of 3.5/5 and wrote "A more nuanced writing would have served her better."[18] Sreeparna Sengupta of The Times of India gave the film a rating of 3/5 and wrote "As a spy-thriller 'Ulajh' is gripping in parts and a tad flat in others".[19]
Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated the film 2/5 and wrote the film is a "damp squib, wastes fine ensemble cast on amateurish plot-line".[20] Rating the film 2/5, Suparna Sharma of The Week wrote "It’s a joyless film about a daddy’s little girl who must somehow redeem herself at least in her father's eyes. On that count the film delivers. On all other counts, it fails."[21] Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day rated the film 11⁄2 and commented "Untangling this pretentious nonsense".[22]
References
edit- ^ "EXCLUSIVE: CBFC mutes 'f**k, 'c*****a' in Jahnvi Kapoor-starrer Ulajh; also blurs vulgar hand gesture". Bollywood Hungama. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Box Office Collection Day 1: Janhvi Kapoor Starrer Opens On Decent Note, Mints Rs 1.37 Crore". Times Now. 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Box Office Collection". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Excl! Gulshan Devaiah Says Janhvi Kapoor's Spy-Thriller Ulajh Is His 'Most Complex Role So Far'". Times Now. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Roshan Mathew pens a heartfelt note post 'Ulajh' wrap, Janhvi Kapoor reacts!". The Times of India. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (10 May 2023). "Janhvi Kapoor to play imperilled IFS officer in thriller 'Ulajh'". The Hindu. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ "Janhvi Kapoor to play IFS officer in Ulajh alongside Gulshan Devaiah and Roshan Mathew". India Today. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah wrap the London schedule of Ulajh, check out BTS pictures". The Indian Express. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor, Roshan Mathew, Gulshan Devaiah starrer Ulajh postponed; set for August 2, 2024 release". Bollywood Hungama. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Ulajh Movie Review: ULAJH is a niche and confusing film". Bollywood Hungama. 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Meiyang Chang applauds Ulajh co-star Janhvi Kapoor's dedication: 'There is a misconception that starkids don't work hard'". The Indian Express. 18 October 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor begins shooting for 'Ulajh' in London". The Times of India. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Janhvi Kapoor wraps up Ulajh shoot, says 'it's story coincidently intertwined with things happening in my life'". Hindustan Times. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ PTI (11 September 2023). "Janhvi Kapoor wraps up 'Ulajh', shares valuable lessons learnt during film's shoot". India Today. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Ulajh – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". JioSaavn. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Nair, Sreehari (2 August 2024). "Ulajh Review: Diplomatic Doldrums". Rediff.com.
- ^ "Ulajh Movie Review: Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah Weave A Compelling Political Web". Times Now. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Movie Review | Filmfare.com". Filmfare. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh Movie Review : An engaging watch despite some flaws". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Ulajh movie review: Janhvi Kapoor film a damp squib, wastes fine ensemble cast on amateurish plot-line". The Indian Express. 2 August 2024.
- ^ "'Ulajh' review: A joyless spy thriller that Janhvi Kapoor is forced to carry on her shapely shoulders". The Week.
- ^ "'Ulajh' movie review: Janhvi Kapoor, Gulshan Devaiah's film is pretentious nonsense". Mid-day. 2 August 2024.
External links
edit- Ulajh at IMDb
- Ulajh at Bollywood Hungama