“Berlin” is a gripping 2023 Indian Hindi-language spy thriller that immerses viewers in a world of deception, espionage, and high-stakes drama. Written and directed by Atul Sabharwal, the film showcases a refreshing narrative set against an intense backdrop of covert operations and political intrigue.
Headlined by a stellar cast including Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Rahul Bose, Anupriya Goenka, and Kabir Bedi, Berlin delves into the complexities of identity and betrayal in a suspenseful storyline. Premiering at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles 2023, the film captivated global audiences before its official release on ZEE5 on 13 September 2024, where it earned widespread acclaim for its tight storytelling, standout performances, and atmospheric direction.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Atul Sabharwal
- Writer: Atul Sabharwal
- Producer: Manav Shrivastav, Umesh Kr Bansal
- Star Cast: Rahul Bose, Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, Anupriya Goenka, Kabir Bedi
- Cinematography: Shreedutta Namjoshi
- Editor: Irene Dhar Malik
- Production company: Zee Studios, yippie Ki Yay Motion Pictures
- Genres: Drama, Thriller
- Distributor: ZEE5
- Release dates: 13 September 2024
- November 2023 (Los Angeles).
- Running time: 119 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Berlin movie 2024 Trailer
Film Star Cast
- Aparshakti Khurana as Pushkin Verma
- Ishwak Singh as Ashok
- Rahul Bose as Sondhi (the intelligence officer)
- Anupriya Goenka
- Nitesh Pandey as Mehta
- Kabir Bedi as bureau chief
- Joy Sengupta, the father of the girl
- Meenakshi Mani
- Mehboob Ali
- Mayur Bansiwal
- Ujjwal Chopra
- Manoj Diwakar
- Dhanesh Dogra
- Naveen Gupta
- Sudhir Khandelwal
- Jigar Mehta
Story of the film
The film centers on a deaf-mute young man (Ashok Singh) who is suspected of being a foreign spy and is set in 1993 in New Delhi, India. Aparshakti Khurana, a specialist in sign language, is called in to provide official interpretation as he is being questioned. The distinction between guilt and innocence becomes hazy as the mystery develops, and the sign language specialist is entangled in a perilous web of political intrigue and dishonesty.
Berlin, which is set in New Delhi in 1993, tells the story of a deaf-mute young man who is detained on suspicion of being a spy and killer. After being called in to assist, a sign language specialist quickly becomes entangled in a perilous and intricate network of espionage. The investigation takes a turn as competing agencies and other covert forces come into play. Is the genuine spy lurking in plain sight?
How does one become a good spy? It has good hearing, eyesight, and a fit body, according to Jagdish Sondhi (Rahul Bose), the head of the Soviet Desk at the intelligence agency Bureau. But when Russian President Boris Yeltsin visited India in 1993, a thin and deaf-mute Ashok Kumar (Ishwak Singh) was charged with being a German agent involved in a conspiracy to kill and assassinate someone. A teacher at a school for the deaf and dumb named Pushkin Verma (Aparshakti Khurana) is assigned to question Ashok. The former’s views on nationalism, however, shift when he learns more about the case and the murky realities of politics, bureaucracy, and espionage.
The novel’s genuine plot, which breaks with the India-neighborhood rivalry cliché, is its most novel feature. Instead, it chooses to examine internal politics, intelligence agency rivalry (between the Wing and the Bureau), and the effects of power dynamics on innocent bystanders in a more nuanced manner.
You will be on the edge of your seat the entire time as the A-team of writer-director Atul Sabharwal, editor Irene Dhar Malik, cinematographer Shreedutta Namjoshi, and composer Krishna Kumar. The ingenious story revolves around the information trading industry and how these “businessmen” at a coffee shop named Berlin exploit the speech and hearing handicapped as “walls.” Additionally, the title references the fall of the Berlin Wall just before the film’s setting.
Ishwak Singh excels at expressing emotions with his body language and eyes. Aparshakti Khurana, who adds empathy and a pursuit of truth to the story, is just as remarkable as a straightforward educator caught in the crossfire. Both performers have excellent character journeys, and their subtle bond is both endearing and tragic. Despite not knowing the sign language, Rahul Bose is an exceptional spy who is slick, cunning, and clever. Pushkin and Ishwak cannot mislead him.
Production
Yippie Ki Yay Motion Pictures and Zee Studios produced the film. In February 2022, the movie’s filming got underway. Shoots were finished by April of the same year. Atul Sabharwal wrote and directed the movie. He had directed critically acclaimed movies including Class of ’83 and Aurangzeb.
Songs/Music
Berlin’s background music was written by Krishna Kumar, better known by his stage name K. Berlin’s music is renowned for heightening the tense narrative and atmospheric atmosphere of the movie.
Release
At the 2023 Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles, Berlin made its debut. An Indian debut at the 2023 Mumbai Film Festival came next.
The film was then shown at the Red Lorry Film Festival, Habitat Film Festival, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2024.
Review
Make time for this one, you will be in for a pleasant surprise like I was, stated Rediff.com reviewer Mayur Sanap, who scored the movie four out of five stars.
Despite several shortcomings, Berlin is a masterwork in gripping narrative and character development, according to Times of India reviewer Dhaval Roy, who rated it four stars out of five. Fans of spy thrillers and those looking for a movie that provides more than just surface-level excitement should see it.
Berlin is a fantastic film that will keep you fascinated, according to Zinia Bandyopadhyay of India Today, who gave it a rating of 3.5 out of 5. Sure, it would have been entertaining to see on a large screen, but it’s as fun on smaller ones.
NDTV’s Saibal Chatterjee rated the movie three stars out of five, saying it deserved praise for defying the prevailing expectations of the Bollywood espionage thriller genre.
Aparshakti Khurana and Ishwak Singh’s chemistry is in line with the necessary restlessness of the tale and circumstance, according to Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost, who awarded it three stars out of five. However, the movie is unable to avoid several clichés.
Mid-Day’s Mayank Shekhar rated the movie three stars out of five, saying it looks chilly, much like the Cold War itself, in a John le Carré setting. It also helps if you have the same feelings about the two leaders.
Berlin is based on the outstanding performances of Ishwak Singh and Aparshakti Khurana, according to a Bollywood Hungama critic who rated it two stars out of five. The film’s plodding plot and subpar second half, however, let it down.
The Indian Express’s Shubhra Gupta awarded it two stars out of five and wrote in her review that I never felt afraid for any of the characters. The universe of “Berlin,” where anonymous persons dwell in the shadows and engage in murky activities, attempts to occupy John le Carre’s domain. Have you ever attempted to read a famous work of his without holding your breath? There is a growing boredom here, but no dread. This spy-fest made me feel uneasy.
References
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025p, April 16). Berlin (2023 film). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_(2023_film)
- Berlin (2023) ⭐ 6.9 | Drama, Thriller. (2024, September 13). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22480126/
- Berlin Review: A refreshing, minimalistic, sensitive, yet powerful spy thriller. (2024, September 12). https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/berlin/ottmoviereview/113301120.cms
