Naam – The Missing Identity is a long-awaited Bollywood Hindi action thriller directed and co-written by Anees Bazmee and produced by Anil Roongta. Featuring an ensemble cast including Ajay Devgn, Sameera Reddy, Bhumika Chawla, Rahul Dev, Shriya Sharma, Yashpal Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Mukesh Tiwari, and Sharat Saxena, the film brings together intense drama and gripping suspense.
Interestingly, the movie was originally shot in November 2004 and was planned for release in February 2005. However, due to multiple delays, it remained unreleased for almost 22 years, finally hitting theaters on 22 November 2024. Upon release, the film garnered mixed reviews, largely due to its vintage cinematic style blending with contemporary expectations, making it one of the most unique comeback releases in Bollywood history.
Cast and Crew
- Directer: Anees Bazmee
- Writer: Dialogues: Humayun Mirza, Anees Bazmee
- Screenplay: Humayun Mirza, Anees Bazmee
- Story: Humayun Mirza
- Producer: Anil Roongta, Snigdha Dinesh Patel
- Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sameera Reddy, Bhumika Chawla, Rahul Dev, Shriya Sharma, Yashpal Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Mukesh Tiwari, Sharat Saxena
- Narrator: Rajkummar Rao
- Cinematography: Johny Lal, Aseem Bajaj
- Editor: Prashant Singh Rathore
- Production company: Roongta Entertainment, Sonu Films International
- Genres: Action, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
- Distributor: Pen Marudhar Entertainment
- Release date: 22 November 2024
- Running time:136 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Naam movie 2024 Trailer
Film Star Cast
- Ajay Devgn in a dual role as
- CBI officer Amar Chaudhary/Amar Kumar/Shekhar
- Michael D’Souza, a professional killer
- Sameera Reddy as Lovely
- Bhumika Chawla as Dr. Pooja
- Rahul Dev as Vikram
- Shriya Sharma as Muskaan, Pooja’s daughter
- Yashpal Sharma as CBI officer Yadav
- Mukesh Tiwari as Mukesh
- Sharat Saxena as CBI chief Safaraz Khan
- Rajpal Yadav as Kunj Bihari
- Vijay Raaz as Shyamlal
- Vidya Malvade as Vidya
- Mahie Gill as Mahi
- Shehzad Khan as Mansoor Khan
- Rajkummar Rao as the narrator of the film
Story of the film
Despite losing his memories, a professional killer survives bullet wounds. He realizes that he has no memory of his past when he heals. He starts researching his past since he is determined to find out who he is, but he finds a deadly and perilous past waiting for him.
The 20-year-old movie “Naam,” which is finally available in theaters, appears to be taking advantage of Ajay Devgn and filmmaker Anees Bazmee’s recent popularity. Sadly, the movie is a failure. With its clichéd, thin plot, mediocre performances, uninspired editing, and forgettable music, “Naam,” which was directed by Bazmee and helmed by Devgn, is a dull experience that is an utter assault on the senses. Its release demonstrates how the value of a compelling storyline is still overshadowed in the business by star power. “Naam” offers nothing fresh, and the memory-loss-driven plot, in which the protagonist attempts to learn more about his past, is painfully overused. The movie is a total failure, with scenes and conversations so badly done that they sometimes inadvertently turn into comedy.
The protagonist of the story is a professional murderer who is saved from four bullet wounds by a kind doctor named Pooja (Bhoomika Chawla). He discovers upon his recovery that he has lost all recollection of his history. Pooja gives him the name Shekhar (played by Ajay Devgn), and the two fall in love and get married while he is receiving treatment. But when thugs attack Shekhar at home, their tranquil existence is upended. He kills three of them out of instinct, shocking Pooja and making Shekhar want to learn more about his forgotten past. Resolved, he goes to Mumbai and encounters a call lady named Loveleen (Sameera Reddy). Shekhar saves Loveleen in a hail of bullets during another attack, and the two work together to find out who he is. When CBI agents join the hunt and uncover a startling revelation about Shekhar’s enigmatic history, the situation gets out of hand.
Ajay Devgn’s performance is muted and unimpressive, falling short of what the part could have required. Sameera Reddy and Bhoomika Chawla hardly appear in the movie at all. Initially presented as the primary antagonist in a purportedly “threatening” scene, Rahul Dev eventually loses all significance as the narrative goes on. There is nothing significant for CBI officials Sharat Saxena and Yashpal Sharma to do other than yell and shoot. Additionally, the movie wastes the skills of seasoned performers like Mukesh Tiwari, Yashpal Sharma, and Vijay Raaz. In an otherwise dismal action movie, Rajpal Yadav’s antics stand out because, surprisingly, his humor offers a few respites.
With its archaic scenery and views, “Naam” has the air of an old movie. It almost counts as a ‘period film’ because of the antiquated use of a CD, the skyline, and the appearance of the Mumbai airport, all of which have since been completely changed. Beyond its looks, the movie has a poor narrative that doesn’t hold the audience’s attention, and the poor editing ruins what little pleasure there is left. Unfortunately, “Naam” falls short of Ajay Devgn’s most outstanding performances, which were in movies like “Bhoot,” “Gangaajal,” “Company,” and “Deewangee” circa 2002. It’s advised to skip this movie.
Production
This action-drama entertainer was supposed to be released in 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2014, but a number of problems caused it to be postponed several times. Production started in 2004. Originally titled Benaam, the movie was then retitled Naam. It was filmed in Mumbai and Switzerland. It was postponed because one of the producers passed away, the makers said in a press release. After failing to locate distributors, the movie was put on hold. The media misrepresented the movie’s age, claiming it was only ten years old.
Music/ Songs
Himesh Reshammiya and Sajid-Wajid composed the film’s soundtrack. Sameer Anjaan and Jalees Sherwani wrote the lyrics.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer |
| 1 | “Dum Dum Maaro” | Jalees Sherwani | Sajid–Wajid | Sunidhi Chauhan, Wajid Khan |
| 2 | “Laila” | Sameer Anjaan | Himesh Reshammiya | Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala |
| 3 | “Yuhi Nahi” | Sameer Anjaan | Himesh Reshammiya | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik |
| 4 | “Yuhi Nahi” | Sameer Anjaan | Himesh Reshammiya | Udit Narayan |
| 5 | “Ishq Da” | Sameer Anjaan | Himesh Reshammiya | Sunidhi Chauhan |
| 6 | “Yuhi Nahi” | Sameer Anjaan | Himesh Reshammiya | Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik |
Release
Theatrical
The movie was released in 2024 after gaining the support of distributors and investors. Netflix is now officially streaming this film.
Review
Firstpost’s Ganesh Aaglave gave the movie a 3/5 star rating and commented that Naam is a pleasure for those who still like Bollywood performers from the 1990s and 2000s. In particular, Ajay Devgn is dressed in his trademark fierce persona, which his fans find delightful.
With its cliched, thin plot, mediocre acting, uninspired editing, and forgettable music, “Naam” is an open assault on the senses, according to Times of India reviewer Abhisek Srivastava, who gave the movie a rating of 2 stars out of 5. It seems like a dated movie, with shots and background that betray its age. Its release also emphasizes how star power still trumps the value of a compelling story in the business.
According to Times Now’s Bhawna Arya, who gave the movie a rating of 2.5 out of 5, Naam fails to connect with viewers because of its positioning. Action, suspense, and drama aren’t all skillfully woven together in the storyline. Ajay Devgn gives a standout performance in Naam, which is a multi-layered story of identity and redemption.
The movie’s logic is nonexistent, and the suspense—which is meant to be its main component—is completely ridiculous, according to Amit Bhatia of ABP Live, who gives it a rating of one out of five stars. Despite the poor material, Ajay Devgn gives a respectable performance and maintains his dignity. All in all, the film becomes a cinematic catastrophe but a meme goldmine.
Stuck in a limbo for a decade, it fails to impress with its bad execution and forgettable performances, Risabh Suri of the Hindustan Times observed. Naam serves as a reminder of the mediocrity that was and still is occasionally provided to us for amusement. The idea that certain things are simply not meant to be is reinforced by it.
Because of its poor execution and unmemorable performances, it has been stuck in limbo for ten years, according to Risabh Suri of the Hindustan Times. The mediocrity that was and still is periodically offered to us in the name of entertainment is brought to light by Naam. It serves as a reminder that some things are simply not meant to be.
