Naam Review: Ajay Devgn is More Aggressive In This Outdated Film Than Singham Again

RATING - ⭐⭐ 2/5*

Naam Review MovieTalkies:

Anees Bazmee made Naam between Deewangi and No Entry, but the film couldn't be released then. Now, almost after 2 decades, the film finally saw the light of cinema halls when the moviegoing culture is totally changed. In its originally scheduled date, it would have been a single-screen release, but now that era is gone as multiplexes have taken over. Naam is an action thriller filled with twists that we have seen in many Hollywood movies from the 70s and 90s, but frankly, it's not shocking for me since Bazmee has always been a copy master and is even today. Yet, Naam has some of its own existence. Is that enough? The answer is no. Naam is outdated even for its original release period. Bazmee's direction and flawed screenplay are responsible for this loss. Ajay Devgn is seen in a more massy and aggressive avatar in this delayed film than his latest release, Singham Again, and that's my only good takeaway from this crap.

Shekhar, Michael, and Amar Kumar are the names of Ajay Devgn's character, who has lost his memory. As he is found wounded and is under the care of Pooja (Bhumika Chawla), they end up liking and marrying each other. However, his past memories strike once in a while, which causes problems for his daughter since he was too aggressive in the past life. He then embarks on a journey to find his original identity and is being haunted by goons and policemen. Why do they want to kill him? What has he done in the past to cause so many problems? Find your answers in Naam.

Naam has a basic plot inspired by many movies, but the screenplay doesn't live up to even that moderate height. Rajpal Yadav and Vijay Raaz's characters share most of the cringeworthy scenes with their pathetic jokes. Sameera's "Mein Kaha Phas Gayi" looked cute in the first scene, but then it became a horrible cliché. The daughter's scenes are somewhat emotional, though. Bhumika's character doesn't really fit well with the kind of principles and thoughts she has in her life. On the other hand, Ajay's character is unstable as hell. That plastic surgery and undercover officer stuff would have been so new for 2005, but the weak presentation makes it look like a 1995 movie. Like this, there are many scenes that look outdated, and with the production value and execution style of 2005, it becomes almost unbearable for 2024's viewing experience.

Ajay Devgn is receiving some backlash for his mild avatar in Rohit Shetty's Diwali release, Singham Again. But believe me, Naam sees him in a more aggressive avatar. His character is larger than life, like a king-size killer who cannot miss out on any shot. Everyone is afraid of him, and that's how deadly characters should be presented in action films. Sameera Reddy was a short-time sensation then due to her hot and glamorous looks, and Naam utilizes the same. Sadly, the character isn't worthy of that. Bhumika Chawla did a decent job, and Rahul Dev flaunted his muscles very well. Yashpal Sharma's villain was written with several twists, but it's highly predictable. He was strictly okay in this messy character. Sharat Saxena, Rajpal Yadav, and Vijay Raaz were completely wasted by the director and writer.

Naam is filled with some good action sequences, and some of them are really brutal, not just for 2005, but even today. In the climax, Ajay pulls a tap out of the wall, and the bloodshed you see is jaw-dropping. The sound design and music are big letdowns, and the cinematography isn't really anything. Anees Bazmee's obsession with copying ideas makes the film a little bit interesting, and Ajay's killer avatar makes it watchable. Unfortunately, the film fails to impress despite these two highlights. Mirza's idea works, but Bazmee's direction doesn't. It's too freaking childish at moments; so childish that you want to quit the film in the middle. I had to finish it for the sake of this review; you don't.