Thumbs up, by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice : ...This is a film that tells you, it’s okay for a man to cry when he hurts . It’s okay to let it all hang out. Go have good cry in the movie theatres this weekend. Watch out for Seema Pahwa as a self-important professional match maker. She is part of an improper joke about stammering Luckily the film know exactly what to say and how to say it.... full review

Thumbs up, Bollywood Life : ...All said and done, Raksha Bandhan brings back old-school Hindi cinema with old-school values to good effect. BollywoodLife is going with 3.5 out of 5 stars.... full review

Thumbs up, Hindustan Times : ...Raksha Bandhan is a family entertainer that takes the form of social commentary at some places, but not at the cost of losing its main essence of celebrating the sibling bond and its beauty. Watch it with your folks and definitely your partner in crime, your siblings.... full review

So-So, by Aman Wadhwa, DNA : ...Aanand L. Rai and his writers, Himanshu Sharma and Kanika Dhillon, must be credited for getting the pulse of the heartland right. The emotional beats work well with Akshay and Bhumi shining in a couple of scenes, which will certainly get you teary-eyed. However, the implausible and over-dramatic sequences derail the film.... full review

So-So, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...The film rests squarely on Akshay Kumar’s able shoulders. He gives off the perfect elder brother vibes, despite the age difference he shares with his screen sisters, from the first and the last frame. And handles all the heavy-duty emotional scenes well too. Full marks to him for sincerity and commitment.... full review

So-So, by Umesh Punwani, koimoi : ...On the whole, despite being flawed, Raksha Bandhan will enjoy its theatrical run. Not-so-threatening competition from Laal Singh Chaddha, multiple holidays, and the absence of a major Bollywood film for the next two weeks will give a boost to the film. It is expected to earn between 85-105 crores at the box office.... full review

So-So, by Sameer Ahire, Movie Talkies : ...Akshay Kumar, ALR and company bring a rollercoaster of comedy, emotions, drama, family values, north flavour and socially important topics for the family audience who are not heading to theatres often in recent times. Hopefully, Raksha Bhandhan will “Done Kar Degi” Inka kaam.... full review

So-So, by Zinia Bandyopadhyay, News18.com : ...All in all, it is one of those films that you can watch with the entire family, as they come together for Raksha Bandhan. Moreover, it will make you laugh and cry in equal parts. And while it has its fair share of flaws, watch it for the simplicity, and for Akshay and Bhumi’s performance.... full review

So-So, by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu : ...There are times when it feels that, in the name of creating an atmosphere of everyday toxic patriarchy, the writers begin to enjoy fat-shaming and colour-shaming the sisters. But eventually, Himanshu and Kanika return to 2022 and redeem Raksha Bandhan.... full review

So-So, by Archika Khurana, Times of India : ...Raksha Bandhan’ reflects the stories of people from small-town India, and in that effort, it does entertain especially in the first half. However, the story about bandhan between siblings soon turns into a social commentary about dowry, which takes up a lot of screentime of this 110-minute movie. This highly emotional drama doesn’t fail to touch you, but it had the potential to be a far more entertaining watch.... full review

Thumbs down, by Jayadeep Jayesh, Deccan Herald : ...While the first half is objectively bland, the second half will polarise the audience. People looking for old-school entertainment may absolutely enjoy it but melodrama dilutes the message. None of the emotional scenes seems warranted due to flimsy c...... full review

Thumbs down, by Rahul Desai, Film Companion : ...Raksha Bandhan is, at its core, a nasty swipe at wokeness parading as a fable of family values. And there is no redemption for that, just like there is no redemption for a character that might have mocked my receding hairline as a “half-moon” despite sporting a glaringly fake moustache himself.... full review

Thumbs down, by Madhuri V, Filmi Beat : ...The songs composed by Himesh Reshammiya lacks recall value. However, they work fine when they play out in the narrative of the film.... full review

Thumbs down, by Rohit Bhatnagar, Free Press Journal : ...No Indian family will entertain or appreciate the ‘twist’ and a ‘so-called high point’ which they believe will impress the audience. 'Raksha Bandhan' is a big turn-off and a huge letdown just when Aanand gives a nod to the death sequence on the day of the Raksha Bandhan festival in the narrative. The social media boycott is for real since they both claim their writing sensibilities are rooted but Raksha Bandhan is definitely a regressive film in disguise of a progressive one. No congratulations to the team, only CONDOLENCES!... full review

Thumbs down, by Punarvasu Pendse, fullhyd.com : ...Stay home, or watch the Forrest Gump remake that also releases this week. If you really must watch Raksha Bandhan, wait for it to hit streaming platforms - you can skip to the last thirty minutes and be fine with it.... full review

Thumbs down, by Nitin Jain, Glamsham.com : ...Overall, like most Aanad L Rai films, this one too tries to deliver a message. Having said so, it still appears to be too late to satiate and convince in 2022.... full review

Thumbs down, by Tushar P. Joshi, india today : ...Raksha Bandhan scores with performances by its lead pair - Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar. This one is strictly for those who want to focus on the emotional appeal and leave their moral policing hat at home.... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...Raksha Bandhan is so, so yesterday in both substance and spirit that it could be passed off as a soggy 1950s film that has wended its way through the decades to land in our midst for no rhyme or reason.... full review

Thumbs down, Pinkvilla : ...All in all, a pure title like Raksha Bandhan warranted a better film. The film has all the trappings to manipulate the audience on the emotional front, but nothing really connects towards the end due to the rather superficial treatment.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sukanya Verma, Rediff : ...It's only 110 minutes long ,but by the time Raksha Bandhan is done moping over its manipulative melodrama and patriarchal virtue, an eternity has passed.... full review

Thumbs down, by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in : ...Rai crafts numerous sequences in which characters rush about from one end of the screen to the other. The dialogue, delivered at a volume aimed at waking up the dead, only amplifies its tin-eared quality.... full review

Thumbs down, by Isha Sharma, The Guardian : ...Really all the development and character depth is reserved for selfless, noble souled Lala. He hires matchmaker and is willing to spear a kidney to pay for his sisters dowries. Late in the day genuinely moving section featuring a woman in post marriage life, harassed by her husband and in lows who see her as a cash cow with awful cocsequences.Here is that massage about the ills of the dowry culture, and a bit of sincerity not quite enough and too late.... full review