Thugs of Hindostan
2018 · Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya
Original language: Hindi
- adventure
- action
The story
After the British company’s officer Clive takes over the kingdom of Mirza, Princess Zafira and Khudabaksh aka Azaad form a band of rebel pirates who swear to defeat the English officer and win their freedom back. The British Company in return, hire the wily thug Firangi track Azaad’s gang and thwart his plans.
What it’s like
Big, bright, and proudly theatrical: sun-bleached 1800s India and the open sea rendered in saturated gold, ochre and deep teal, with wide sweeping compositions of ships, forts and desert dunes, plus slow-motion set pieces and a lot of kinetic camera work that keeps the swashbuckling moving. The score is loud and percussive, with dhol beats, big orchestral swells and bursts of pop-film choreography, so the sound is as busy as the picture. Its vibe is rousing, grandly silly and high-spirited, the kind of ticket-buying crowd-pleaser you'd pick for a weekend night with friends or a family film when you want spectacle over subtlety. Pacing is brisk in the action and loose and indulgent in the character scenes, and the emotional arc follows a rivalry between two pirates and a mercenary that slides into reluctant loyalty and grand, sweeping heroism. Violence is frequent and stylised: sword fights, gunfire and large-scale battles with plenty of injuries but little gore, and some sexual tension without explicit content. It suits viewers who want big-screen adventure, bravado and a bit of romance, not quiet, gentle or realistic storytelling.
More films like Thugs of Hindostan
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Thugs of Hindostanand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
