The appearance doesn't maketh a spy!

 So..coming back here after a hiatus due to multiple reasons.

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I went to the theatre this afternoon to watch "Alpha" - the latest installment of the YRF Spy Universe. The cast has done a decent job, though I feel the storyline could have been better. 

Bobby Deol eerily looked like Stephen Lang for most of the time.

I don't intend to write a review of the film - I am simply not qualified for that, and moreover, many knowledgeable critics have already done their share of analysis of the film.

So what am I doing?

Post the release, I have been hearing and reading lots of comments on social media about the comparison of spy-themed movies, especially from the Yashraj stable, with Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar (parts 1 & 2). 

What is the need for such comparisons? Why can't undercover agents be portrayed as glamorous? 

Much before Dhurandhar or YRF Spy Universe, we had a certain Englishman, who went by the name of James Bond - always suave and dapper - and the audience used to simply love him for his antics. My father adored him; I also have liked him since my childhood.

The spies in the Kingsman franchise were always styled with bespoke attire.

Even before, there was Mata Hari, the Dutch-born exotic dancer, who used her charms and glamour for espionage during the First World War.

If we consider Hercule Poirot's or Rip Kirby's sartorial style (fictional characters), they were portrayed as stylish individuals. Though neither of them was a spy in the true sense, being detectives, they did have to resort to some sort of spying now and then.

Dhurandhar certainly did commendable business and caught the nation's fancy. It has been hailed for being "realistic". Probably it has been so; however, do we - the common people - actually know what an actual spy/undercover agent looks like? Why do people want all the spy movies to be Dhurandhar templated now onwards? Where is the fun or logic in that?

If a spy can complete his/her missions successfully, then does the appearance actually matter?

If people are so particular about realistic cinema, then they should watch movies like Ardh Satya (1983)/Kalyug(1981) and the like..

Masala films like Dhurandhar are meant to be enjoyed and discussed over lunch, but expecting such movies to become the benchmark for future films is a little too much.

For now, grab a bucket of popcorn and a glass of Coke and enjoy the show..