These days almost every action film wants to be bigger, louder and more violent than the last one. Every movie is trying to build a universe, add nonstop explosions and show heroes walking away from fire in slow motion without any emotions. That is why Alpha left me a little confused. Under all the stylish action and spy drama, there is actually a genuine story hiding inside.
For me, Alpha works better as an emotional story than a spy thriller. At its core, it is about identity, loneliness and two women trying to survive in a violent world. The film talks about people who were turned into weapons before they even got a chance to live like normal human beings. Behind all the action, there is still a story about family, betrayal, memories and wanting to belong somewhere.
The story follows Sita, played by Alia Bhatt. She is a trained assassin who has spent most of her life being controlled by missions and powerful people. As the story moves forward, she slowly learns the truth about her past, her family and the people who shaped her life. Alongside her is Durga, played by Sharvari, who brings warmth, energy and charm to the film. Together they carry the movie through all its twists, betrayals and action scenes.
And honestly, right in the middle of all this serious spy universe drama, one thought just kept coming back and making me laugh: “Alpha is nothing but basically…Soldier Soldier meethi baatein bolkar serum chura le gaya.” This line stayed with me and kept popping up in my head throughout the film.
The performances are what keep Alpha interesting even when the writing becomes messy. Alia Bhatt gives a sincere performance and tries hard to bring emotional depth to Sita. She plays the character like someone who has forgotten how to express feelings properly. Sharvari surprised me the most. She has confidence, screen presence and a natural charm that makes many scenes better. Anil Kapoor brings strength and authority whenever he appears, while Bobby Deol continues his intense villain style with his silent and dangerous presence.
What I liked most is that Alpha at least tries to do something different in the YRF Spy Universe. The action scenes, especially the hand combat moments, feel more realistic compared to many recent spy films that go completely over the top. There are moments where the film genuinely feels exciting. And yes, the cameo by Hrithik Roshan definitely got cheers and whistles in the theatre.
But the film also has problems. The writing becomes too convenient at times, some dialogues sound extra dramatic and many emotional moments feel rushed. The movie keeps trying to balance emotions with stylish commercial action, and sometimes it gets lost in between. The songs are forgettable and the climax feels longer than needed.
In my line of work, as Assistant Programming Director at 89.1 Radio 4, I am constantly around content that is designed to grab attention instantly and be as loud as possible. After living in that kind of daily noise, the big explosions in Alpha did not really stay with me.
What stayed with me instead were the quieter moments. For me, Saiam Hasan, it was not the action or the spectacle that mattered most, but those small, fragile scenes where Sita looks lost, confused and emotionally broken.
In the end, Alpha is not a perfect film. It does not fully become the powerful female led spy thriller it wanted to be. But it is also not as bad as some people are saying. Somewhere inside all the stylish action, there is still a human story trying very hard to come alive. And honestly, that effort itself makes the film worth watching at least once.
A Review by - Saiam Hasan
Assistant Programming Director
89.1 - Radio 4
7th July, 2026
