As a fan of spy thrillers, I always approach these movies with excitement. However, the genre has become predictable and needs some innovative storytelling to rejuvenate it. I had previously enjoyed director Ribhu Dasgupta's web series Bard of Blood on Netflix, so I had high hopes for Code Name: Tiranga. The film begins well with a romantic subplot between Parineeti Chopra and Harrdy Sandhu. For those familiar with the genre, it is clear that Harrdy's character, Mirza, will either be a weakness or a redemption for Chopra's character, Ismat/Durga, as she strives for a normal life. Both actors have strong screen presence and Sandhu does a good job as a half-Indian half-Turkish doctor working for the UN in pre-Taliban Afghanistan.
In Code Name Tiranga, Parineeti Chopra plays Durga, a spy who is chosen for her intelligence rather than her physical strength. While the film includes some thrilling moments, it ultimately falls short due to its reliance on predictable tropes and an uneven narrative. Chopra's performance is noteworthy, as she conveys a sense of fatigue and pain throughout the film while still maintaining her femininity in a male-dominated setting. The film was shot during the Covid pandemic and, despite the challenges of shooting an action-heavy film outdoors, the action choreography is good, if not particularly awe-inspiring. The plot twists are revealed in an uneven manner, leading to a lack of cohesiveness throughout the film. Overall, while Code Name Tiranga is a commendable effort, it fails to truly stand out in the crowded spy thriller genre.
In Code Name Tiranga, the main villain, played by Sharad Kelkar, is introduced as being involved in the attacks on the Indian Parliament in the early 2000s, but his character is not developed beyond this point. The other characters in the film are also poorly written and the performances tend to be over-the-top. While the intentions behind Code Name Tiranga may have been noble, the poor execution ultimately makes it a disappointing film.