While the film brings fresh faces into the franchise as Durga and Sita, it raises an important question: Did this story really need to be part of the YRF Spy Universe?

The answer, surprisingly, is not necessarily. Alpha has enough potential to stand on its own as an action thriller. Its connection to the spy universe adds little to the overall narrative, making it feel more like a marketing choice than a storytelling necessity.

An Intriguing Premise

The film's central concept revolves around the "Alpha" serum, named after the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Once injected, the serum enhances human abilities dramatically, giving recipients extraordinary strength, lightning-fast reflexes and the endurance to survive extreme conditions.

Written by Uday Chopra, the science-fiction element offers an interesting foundation. However, the plot also borrows familiar themes, blending lost-and-found family drama with patriotic spy-film tropes. The screenplay moves at such a rapid pace that viewers rarely get time to question its logic.

A Gripping First Half

Director Shiv Rawail keeps the first half fast-paced and entertaining. One stylish action sequence follows another, while frequent twists ensure the audience remains engaged.

Alia Bhatt makes a confident entry with an impressive action set piece. Bobby Deol's arrival raises the stakes, and the mystery surrounding the Alpha serum adds intrigue. As details about Alia's emotionally guarded character begin to emerge, the film gains additional depth.

Perhaps the biggest strength of the first half is its willingness to reveal major secrets before the interval rather than saving everything for the climax. While this keeps viewers hooked, it also creates an unexpected problem: once the biggest surprises are already out, there's little left to build toward.

Second Half Struggles

Unfortunately, the second half fails to maintain the same energy.

The screenplay becomes increasingly convenient, with several developments unfolding too easily to feel believable. The sharp twists that made the first half engaging are replaced by predictable storytelling, and the climax lacks the emotional and dramatic payoff the film promises early on.

The film's biggest weakness lies in its writing rather than its direction. Shiv Rawail does his best to keep the narrative engaging through slick visuals, stylish action and brisk pacing, but even strong direction cannot fully overcome a screenplay that gradually loses focus.

Performances

Alia Bhatt carries the film with confidence. She looks convincing in the action scenes and brings determination and attitude to her role. Her dialogue, "Sher to sirf khoonkhar hone ki acting karta hai, asli shikar to sherni karti hai ( A lion only pretends to be the fiercest hunter. The lioness is the real predator," reflects the personality she builds throughout the film.

Although she performs the action sequences with conviction, a few confrontations with Bobby Deol require viewers to suspend disbelief due to the obvious physical mismatch between the characters.

Sharvari delivers a sincere performance but isn't given enough standout moments to leave a lasting impression. The character feels underwritten, limiting her impact on the story.

Bobby Deol once again commands attention with his screen presence, but the way his character arc concludes feels underwhelming. Anil Kapoor adds gravitas in his supporting role, while Hrithik Roshan's cameo serves as a pleasant surprise. However, his appearance seems designed primarily to reinforce Alpha's connection to the YRF Spy Universe rather than significantly advancing the plot.

Technical Aspects

The film scores well on the technical front.

Action directors Craig Macrae and Sunil Rodrigues choreograph several stylish, high-energy action sequences that allow both female leads to showcase impressive stunt work. Arif Sheikh's editing keeps the narrative moving at a brisk pace, while the background score effectively amplifies the film's major moments.

The songs, however, occasionally interrupt the momentum. The narrative may have flowed better without them.

Verdict

Alpha starts with tremendous promise, delivering a thrilling first half packed with action, mystery and surprising twists. Unfortunately, its momentum fades after the interval as the screenplay loses coherence and the climax struggles to deliver a satisfying payoff.

Alia Bhatt's commanding performance, stylish action sequences and slick direction make the film worth watching, but inconsistent writing and an underwhelming finale prevent it from becoming one of the stronger entries in the YRF Spy Universe.

If you're looking for an entertaining action thriller, Alpha has enough to offer—but don't expect it to reach the heights set by the franchise's best films.

Rating: 2.5/5