Read the honest review of Azaad (2025) starring Ajay Devgn, Diana Penty, Aaman Devgan, and Rasha Thadani. Explore whether this high-budget patriotic period drama lives up to expectations.
⭐ BMR Rating: 5.8/10
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🧨 Introduction
Azaad, the much-hyped 2025 Hindi-language period action drama directed by Abhishek Kapoor, promised a gripping narrative about revolution, sacrifice, and freedom. With veterans like Ajay Devgn and fresh faces like Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani, it set expectations sky-high. Backed by an ₹80 crore budget and grand visuals, Azaad was anticipated to be a Republic Day blockbuster. But does it rise to the occasion or falter under its own weight?
Let’s dive into the details.
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🎭 Plot Summary
Set against the backdrop of British colonial rule in pre-independent India, Azaad chronicles the journey of Veer (Aman Devgan), a passionate young rebel who joins a secret freedom movement. Mentored by the seasoned revolutionary Arjun Singh (Ajay Devgn), Veer transforms from a naive idealist to a determined fighter.
Diana Penty plays Meher, a fearless journalist, while Rasha Thadani makes her debut as Noor, Veer’s love interest and a key player in the underground network. The story explores personal sacrifice, betrayal, and the moral complexities of choosing between love and nation.
Despite its ambitious scope, the screenplay often feels formulaic, and the emotional depth remains largely surface-level.
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🎭 Performances
🔥 Ajay Devgn as Arjun Singh
Ajay delivers a restrained yet intense performance as the stoic mentor. His screen presence remains unmatched, especially in the emotionally charged sequences. However, the script limits his range, offering fewer moments for him to shine as he did in films like Tanhaji.
🌟 Aaman Devgan as Veer
In his debut, Aaman shows potential. He captures the youthful rage and vulnerability of Veer convincingly. While his dialogue delivery lacks polish in parts, his action sequences are impressive, hinting at a promising future.
💫 Rasha Thadani as Noor
Rasha brings freshness to the screen, but her character is underwritten. She shows glimpses of emotional range but isn’t given enough material to leave a lasting impact.
👩 Diana Penty as Meher
Diana delivers a solid performance, especially in scenes where she confronts the British authorities. Unfortunately, her character too suffers from inconsistent writing.
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🎬 Direction & Screenplay
Abhishek Kapoor (Rock On!!, Kai Po Che!) has always had a knack for layered storytelling. With Azaad, he attempts to blend patriotism with personal drama, but the result is uneven. While the first half builds intrigue and emotion, the second half loses momentum with predictable plot turns and jarring tonal shifts.
The screenplay by Ritesh Shah, Suresh Nair, and Chandan Arora had the potential for depth but instead opts for clichés. Important moments feel rushed, and some subplots remain unresolved or forgotten.
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🎵 Music & Score
🎶 Songs by Amit Trivedi
Amit Trivedi composes a patriotic and soulful soundtrack. Songs like “Vande Veeram” and “Zinda Azaad Hai” stand out with powerful lyrics and stirring vocals. However, the songs are not well-integrated into the narrative and sometimes disrupt the pacing.
🎼 Background Score by Hitesh Sonik
Hitesh Sonik’s background score adds tension and emotion to critical scenes, elevating the impact of several action moments. It’s one of the film’s stronger technical aspects.
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🎥 Cinematography & Visuals
Satyajit Pande (Setu) delivers stunning visuals. From the dusty villages of pre-independence India to dramatic war zones, the framing and lighting are top-notch. The color grading enhances the period feel, though the CGI used in a few war scenes is noticeably uneven.
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✂️ Editing
Chandan Arora’s editing is a mixed bag. While the film flows smoothly in the first half, the second half feels stretched. A tighter runtime or better pacing could have made a major difference.
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💸 Budget vs. Box Office
Despite its ₹80 crore budget, Azaad has only managed to collect around ₹9.5 crore at the box office. The lukewarm word-of-mouth and lack of strong emotional pull seem to have deterred audiences. High expectations combined with a crowded release window added to the challenge.
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✅ Verdict: Watch It or Skip It?
Azaad is a film that had the ingredients for greatness — a stellar cast, a noble theme, and strong technical backing. But weak writing and a lack of emotional resonance stop it from reaching its full potential. It’s worth watching for Ajay Devgn’s performance and the visual aesthetics, but it won’t leave a lasting impact.