The film uses a repeating image—Hanuman attempting to consume the sun, like Icarus, only to be held back by divine intervention. It’s possible Dev Patel recognized how effectively this metaphor would represent his ambitious first effort as director; he strives for the narrative he envisions but ultimately holds back. The irony is striking, considering the film wouldn't even make it into Indian theaters, despite his efforts at restraint. Despite that, I found the movie quite entertaining. However, its commentary on contemporary Indian society—the class and caste divisions we’ve created—feels somewhat weak and diluted. Dev addresses religious faith intertwined with politics, along with issues of caste and patriarchy; there's even a sequence featuring actual videos illustrating these problems. Yet, everything feels overly sanitized, failing to provoke a strong reaction. I wasn’t truly immersed in the film's ideas; they remained just at the surface level. Water and fire also appear repeatedly, perhaps foreshadowing how his vision would be dampened, leaving us skimming along the top of things. Still, I appreciate the action sequences and the way Indian music and instruments are incorporated. **Zakir Hussain makes an appearance—now *that's* a proper cameo, completely unexpected.** I’ve always enjoyed Dev Patel’s acting, and here he demonstrates his skill behind the camera is just as impressive as in front of it. It was nice to see familiar faces from India too. There’s also a reference to _Ghajini_ that felt like a clever acknowledgment. One final point: while the fictional towns and villages feel authentic and populated, they also possess a slight Western influence that prevents them from feeling distinctly Indian.

Source on TMDB