Sikandar

wogma rating: Don't bother ^(?)

quick review:

What is worse? A film that wants you to leave your brain at home while watching it? Or one that is under the impression that it follows logic and has a heart, but is in reality a mess of a film? Sikandar might pass muster for both failing to engage or entertain.

Director: A R Murugadoss

Cast: Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna

Running time: 150 minutes

Genres: Action, Social

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The first few minutes of Sikandar fool you into believing that you might actually get something more than the low bar you have set for brand Salman Khan. Crawls creep under the skin—as is clearly the intention. You even admire Prateik Babbar for setting the tone, even as you want his character to be out of sight as soon as possible. And then Salman Khan enters. Logic and creativity leave, never to return.

Of the top ten members of the cast in terms of screen-time, Prateik Babbar was the most effective.

I know, one is not to expect that from a film of this genre. But the film is continuously wanting you to see its good heart. From organ donation awareness to frustration with the businessman-politician-police nexus, to battling poverty, beating patriarchy, confronting toxic masculinity, and even offering relationship advice, Sikandar, the character, tackles it all. And Sikandar, the film does it all in one fell swoop.

But the very basis is disturbing, especially because it seems like the makers think it is crowd-pleasing—the whole lot is quick to vandalise—hero, villain, regular people on the street. It’s troubling how far the film goes in glamorising both—the police intimidating the common citizen and the uncommon citizen intimidating the police.

And these are only the broader strokes that don't sit right. The shabby handling of the details only makes it worse. The writers have clearly decided that filling logical gaps isn’t worth the effort. Which is why you have this all-powerful protagonist's wife coordinate with his manager and henchmen to protect him without his knowledge. Yes, he's so stupid he hasn't figured it out.

And it's not even like there is a larger point being made about the character or the situation. Or if there is one, it is too convoluted and exists only to force-fit action sequences or Sikandar's casually violent personality.

It is amusing that almost every action sequence that has his henchmen around, they exist only to show how cool Sikandar is, that he doesn't even need them to raise a finger. The one scene in which they do get involved when Sikandar isn't around, and they get beaten up, only for Sikandar to come save them. The action in itself is dull and performed mainly by the camerawork and editing rather than choreography or Salman Khan's agility.

Of the top ten members of the cast in terms of screen-time, Prateik Babbar was the most effective. We know he is not the best actor on the block, but you feel the sleaze his character was to portray from a mile away. But the next nine cast members are all at one level, miles behind. Yep, that's how bad it is. As if, Salman Khan's frozen dialogue delivery is contagious and his colleagues have all caught it, including Sharman Joshi. Rashmika Mandanna is consistent and continues with the plain act from her earlier films.

Logic and creativity leave, never to return.

Despite that, maybe, maybe if there had been some time spent on tying logic in with some of the details, the film would have been a little less jarring. Yeah, but only a little less because the order of sequences and the patching up of them together is beyond repair. Especially since it seems intentional.

When it is assumed only minimal thought and effort needs to be put into drawing the crowds in; when it is assumed that the "star" is enough; when complex societal issues are resolved with a-line-or-two or a-punch-and-four from the star—this is the quality we will get. No better. Worse, maybe. So, maybe I should just be thankful that it wasn't worse.

- meeta, a part of the audience

28 reviewers^(?) - 3 yays 5 so-so 20 nays

Warning: clicking on "full review" will take you to an external website that could contain spoilers.

Thumbs up, by Simran Singh, DNA : ...Overall, despite the flaws, Sikandar works because Salman has given some huge disappointments in the past few years (read: Race 3, Radhe, KKBKKJ). Sikandar is much better than these films, and thus it marks a massy comeback of Salman Khan. With this film, Bhaijaan has given a strong message to his haters ki "Tiger Zinda Hai".... full review

Thumbs up, by Jaya Dwivedie, India TV : ...Sikandar is not just a film, but a festival celebration on Eid. Packed with high-octane action, great dialogues and star power, this film is worth watching in theatres. If you want a full package of action, emotion and mass entertainment, then definitely watch Sikandar.... full review

Thumbs up, by CHIRAG SEHGAL, News18.com : ...The music and BGM in Sikandar is praiseworthy. It perfectly complements the on-screen action and drama. The soundtrack tries to amplify the emotional impact, while the BGM perfectly crafts tension, suspense and excitement.... full review

So-So, by Smrity Sharma, Bollywood Life : ...Sikandar is a film that will likely appeal to die-hard fans of Salman Khan, thanks to his charismatic performance and the film's action-packed sequences. However, for those seeking a strong storyline and innovative direction, it might fall short. It's an entertaining watch for a festive occasion but doesn't offer much beyond the surface-level thrills.... full review

So-So, by Lipika Varma, Deccan Chronicle : ...Direction: A.R. Murugadoss delivers a film that, while emotional, lacks the imaginative depth needed to elevate it further. The direction is competent but feels repetitive, bearing similarities to narratives seen in several Tamil-Telugu films. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/movie-review/sikandar-review-salman-khans-star-power-ensures-mass-appeal-1869838... full review

So-So, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...Ultimately, the film lacks a compelling narrative arc and offers a rather underwhelming experience. For all its flashy action and bombastic spectacle, Sikandar feels like a missed opportunity – a film where style far outweighs substance. If you’re after an intelligent thriller, prepare for disappointment. But if you came for Salman Khan’s swagger and his larger-than-life charisma, well, you’ll get exactly that.... full review

So-So, by Aakash Kumar, Filmi Beat : ...Overall, Sikandar is a must-watch for Salman fans as he has returned to the silver screen after a long time. As expected, Salman Khan delivered a strong performance, is in his mass avatar and did really well in action scenes. Overall, the film is a one-time watch, salvaged only by Salman's action sequences and Rashmika's graceful presence.... full review

So-So, by "Mannath Sahu ", fullhyd.com : ...If you're in the mood for an action-packed entertainer with minimal logic but maximum flair, you can give this one a shot.... full review

Thumbs down, by Subhash K Jha, Bolly Spice : ...Now, if only Salman Khan tried to find out what suits him.... full review

Thumbs down, by Arkadev Ghoshal, Deccan Herald : ...This Salman Khan vehicle comes across as the brainchild of someone stuck in the 1980s, with sensibilities from that era bleeding into the film. I was — through my own fault — trapped on the other side of an emergency exit for 10-odd minutes while com... Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/sikandar-movie-review-steer-clear-of-this-muruga-dose-if-you-khan-3471182#google_vignette... full review

Thumbs down, by Murtuza Iqbal, Free Press Journal : ...The makers promoted Sikandar as a massy film with a strong husband-wife romantic story. However, the romantic-emotional part fails to connect with us because we don’t know Sanjay and Saisri's backstory.... full review

Thumbs down, by Baradwaj Rangan, galatta.com : ...if you just want Salman Khan to sing and dance and do action and delight his fans, you can get by with the thinnest of plots, no? Besides, how can you expect the audience to stay invested when the hero himself looks so bored?... full review

Thumbs down, by Iqbal Pervez, Glamsham.com : ...Overall, there is nothing special in the film except South Indian style action. There is a tadka of entertainment in Salman Khan’s films, but there is a lot of lack of entertainment in this film. If you are a big fan of Salman Khan and want to see him on the big screen, then you can watch the film Sikandar. 2 stars for the film... full review

Thumbs down, by Rishabh Suri, Hindustan Times : ...Overall, Sikandar is not the Eidi Salman used to promise to his legion of fans. Atleast bhai pehle samajh mein nahi, lekin dil mein toh aate the. Iss baar voh bhi almost tod diya.... full review

Thumbs down, by Tushar Joshi, india today : ...Sikandar is exhausting and a bit dated. But if you want to see Bhaijaan do his thing and don’t expect much, it could be your pick this Eid.... full review

Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...In an early moment in the film, Sikandar says, ‘I’m done, bro’. That feels, um, prescient. So are we bro, so are we.... full review

Thumbs down, by "Shalmesh More ", koimoi : ...On the whole, Sikandar, other than Salman Khan’s brand, has nothing working in its favor. The content isn’t exciting enough to drive neutrals to theatres, making the film’s journey miserable during regular weekdays. Yes, the Sunday release and Eid holiday ensure an entry into the 100 crore club, but that’s the least expected of any magnum opus today.... full review

Thumbs down, by Uday Bhatia, Live Mint : ...It's both depressing and hilarious when Khan tearfully sings ajeeb dastaan hai yeh, kahaan shuru kahaan khatam. It began in 1988; it must end now. I can’t take another edition of Dastaan-e-Salman.... full review

Thumbs down, by Priyanka Sharma, MiD DAY : ...One can only wish Sikandar becomes the same reminder for Khan, and when he comes on screen the next time, he is armed with the assurance of entertainment. Kyunki, ek bar jo maine commitment kar di...... full review

Thumbs down, Movie Talkies : ...Sikandar shows you how bad a filmmaker he can be when everything goes wrong. It's shockingly bad; you don't really expect someone like ARM to make such a poor film, which can easily be called his WORST FILM EVER!... full review

Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...Insaaf nahi saaf karna hai, Salman Khan's character says before the fight to the finish gets underway. But Sikandar is anything but saaf and steady. Yes, there is something that the film does manage to wipe clean off its face: sense.... full review

Thumbs down, by Isha Sharma, NewsBytes : ...Sikandar isn't able to rise above its mediocrity, and a story like this would have worked a decade back, but it's too archaic in 2025. It makes such questionable choices that it's tough to believe it's from the same director who made Ghajini and Holiday. This samaaj-sudharo mission hardly has any merit, and you'll be protecting your sanity by skipping it.... full review

Thumbs down, by Gautam Batra, Pinkvilla : ...Overall, Sikandar fails to deliver what it sets out to and hardly qualifies as mass entertaining cinema. The film has a decent story but due to lack of depth, good music and strong performances, it fails to leave an impression.... full review

Thumbs down, by Sukanya Verma, Rediff : ...Except neither the hammering background score by Santhosh Narayanan, which solely exists to drown out our yawns nor Salman's showmanship where dance steps look like he's wincing in knee pain can do much to rescue this sinking Sikandar.... full review

Thumbs down, by Nandini Ramnath, Scroll.in : ...It’s the kind of film in which even the 31-year age gap between Khan and Mandanna – which is acknowledged via a line of dialogue – merits no reaction. Under Murgadoss’s severely attention-deficit direction, Sikandar staggers from one scene to the next, easily keeping pace with its lumbering hero but finding itself overtaken by its inherent ridiculousness.... full review

Thumbs down, by Anuj Kumar, The Hindu : ...Salman’s stiff presence and stilted dialogue delivery add to the woes. The action choreography has little novelty. In the absence of effective camerawork, it seems people queue up to be beaten by a star whose intent is intact but agility waning. Saddled with stock dialogues, Rashmika adds one more film to her filmography where her job is to boost the star’s ego. Sharman Joshi and Kajal Agarwal have little to do to justify their presence. Sathyaraj keeps gritting his teeth as if he knows what could have been done with this material.... full review

Thumbs down, by Kartik Bhardwaj, the new Indian Express : ...In Salman’s last collaboration with producer Sajid Nadiadwala, Kick (2014), he mouths a dialogue which takes a cheeky dig at his superstar persona. “Main dil mein aata hoon, samajh mein nahi (Feel me in your heart, don’t try to understand me).” I don’t think it is happening to me anymore. I need a heart transplant or, preferably, a lobotomy.... full review

Thumbs down, by Dhaval Roy, Times of India : ...The story and the narrative are the biggest letdown of this larger-than-life movie; even if they are trying to draw in die-hard Salman Khan fans, we wish they had taken the action notches higher. A few standout punches and stunts here and there could have probably salvaged this one.... full review

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This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.

Parental Guidance:

Violence: Regular action film fare, nothing overly gory.
Language: A few curse words
Nudity & Sexual content: None
Concept: Sikandar takes on several social issues and dismantles them as if he were brushing his teeth
General Look and Feel: Flashy and loud