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Drama thriller

Badla (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Badla (2019) movie poster

Badla is a 2019 drama thriller directed by Sujoy Ghosh, starring Tony Luke as Arjun Joseph, Manav Kaul and Amitabh Bachchan. It runs 1 hour 58 minutes and earned $18.5 million worldwide. Critics gave it 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.

IMDb rating
7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
63%
worldwide gross
$18.5M
Echo Score
76
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Badla (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 58m (118 min)
Director
Sujoy Ghosh
Genres
Drama , Mystery , Thriller , Crime
Original language
Hindi
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Badla About?

The premise of Badla without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A businesswoman finds her life in turmoil after waking up in a locked hotel room next to the body of her ex-lover. Determined to discover the truth and clear her name, she seeks the help of a skilled lawyer. Together, they navigate a complex web of secrets and lies, uncovering a disturbing series of events that put everything she values at risk.

Badla Themes & Keywords

· 45 tags
  • walking on a bridge
  • unreliable narrator
  • lift
  • murder case
  • lawyer
  • rear window
  • hotel
  • murder
  • accident
  • police
  • death in a car accident
  • death
+33 more
  • witness
  • help
  • proof
  • blackmail
  • lighter
  • planning
  • drown
  • capture
  • photographer
  • impersonator
  • flashback
  • blood
  • revenge
  • husband wife relationship
  • fear
  • cell phone
  • train
  • airplane
  • one word title
  • photograph
  • 2010s
  • interrogation
  • extramarital affair
  • remake
  • indian remake
  • indian remake of european film
  • indian remake of spanish film
  • remake of european film
  • remake of spanish film
  • foreign language adaptation
  • dead body
  • title spoken by character
  • surprise ending
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Cast & crew

Badla Cast & Characters

Tony Luke leads the cast as Arjun Joseph, with Manav Kaul as Jimmy Punjabi and Amitabh Bachchan as Badal Gupta. Directed by Sujoy Ghosh; 17 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Badla

· 13 more
From the director

More from Sujoy Ghosh

More films directed by Sujoy Ghosh: Jaane Jaan, Anukul, Kahaani 2 and Ahalya.

Full filmography
Ratings

Badla Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Badla 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 76/100, strongest in sensory experience (82) and weakest in story & flow (60).

76 /100

Badla Echo Score Breakdown

Badla offers a competent mystery with engaging direction but uneven narrative elements. Critics praised the director's return to form and the engaging mystery structure, while others found the suspense somewhat muted and the plot less clever than intended. Viewers appreciated the cinematography and strong lead performances but noted the climax and twists felt familiar at times. The balance of solid thrills and fleeting missteps yields a generally entertaining experience, though it falls short of delivering a fully engrossing thriller.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    In terms of art and craft, the film’s direction is confident and the visual presentation is distinctive. The cinematography, especially the opening credits, uses an understated color palette to build intrigue, while the production design subtly reinforces the thriller’s mood. Editing sometimes feels measured but maintains clarity through the various twists. Overall, the craft work is polished and contributes positively to the film’s atmosphere.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, the performances by the leads are consistently compelling. Taapsee Pannu delivers a nuanced portrayal of a determined journalist and Amitabh Bachchan brings depth to his interrogator role. Supporting performers add credibility, though some characters could have benefited from deeper development. The on-screen chemistry effectively grounds key interactions. Overall, the emotional resonance remains strong even when the narrative shifts unexpectedly.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, Badla offers an engaging central mystery but uneven pacing. The plot delivers several effective twists that maintain interest, though the climax lacks the impact suggested by earlier setups. Some narrative turns feel familiar, limiting originality, yet the framework remains coherent and easy to follow. Overall, the mystery holds attention despite occasional lapses in suspense and inventive storytelling.

  • Sensory Experience 82

    When considering the sensory experience, the film’s visual style is marked by clear framing and an understated score that supports the tension. Ambient sound design enhances outdoor sequences, creating an occasionally eerie atmosphere. The musical cues are subtle and rarely overpower the dialogue, maintaining a coherent sonic palette. Overall, the sensory elements effectively reinforce the film’s mood without drawing undue attention.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    In terms of rewatch value, the film’s central puzzle offers some incentive for multiple viewings, as several twists become more satisfying in retrospect. The reliable performances and measured pacing hold up on a second watch, although the familiar structure may reduce novelty over time. Overall, the thriller retains moderate replay worth, driven primarily by its central mystery rather than by surprises or new revelations.

Plot

Badla Plot Summary

What happens in Badla from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Naina Sethi, portrayed by Taapsee Pannu, is an accomplished young businesswoman leading a seemingly perfect life. However, her world spirals into chaos when she finds herself arrested for the murder of her secret lover, Arjun, played by Tony Luke. In her desperate bid to prove her innocence, she enlists the help of her attorney Jimmy, interpreted by Manav Kaul, who emphasizes the urgency of her situation and secures the services of renowned defense lawyer, Amitabh Bachchan, as Badal Gupta.

Full summary

The whole story of Badla, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Badla Box Office

Badla grossed $18.5 million worldwide. $1.9 million came from the US and Canada and $16.6 million (90%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$18.5M

US & Canada
$1.9M
International
$16.6M
US & Canada 10% Rest of the world 90%
Videos

Badla Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Badla.

Badla | Official Trailer | Amitabh Bachchan | Taapsee Pannu | Sujoy Ghosh | 8th March 2019
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Badla?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
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  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who plays the role of the illustrious defense attorney Badal Gupta?

Details

Badla Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “Sujoy Ghosh s badla” and “แค้น”.

Also known as
  • Sujoy Ghosh s badla
  • แค้น
  • 复仇
  • 바들라
  • انتقام
  • 復仇
  • נקמה
  • Răzbunarea
  • Badla - Der unsichtbare Gast
  • Месть
  • 以詐還詐
  • Отмъщение

Seen Badla?

FAQ

Badla FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Badla, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Badla?

Badla runs 1 hour 58 minutes (118 minutes).

When was Badla released?

Badla was released on March 8, 2019.

Who directed Badla?

Badla was directed by Sujoy Ghosh.

More films by Sujoy Ghosh

Who is in the cast of Badla?

Badla stars Tony Luke as Arjun Joseph, Manav Kaul as Jimmy Punjabi and Amitabh Bachchan as Badal Gupta, among 17 credited actors.

How much did Badla make at the box office?

Badla grossed $18.5 million worldwide ($1.9 million domestic, $16.6 million international).

How is Badla rated?

Badla has 7.7/10 on IMDb, 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, 74% on TMDB and 3.5/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Badla have a post-credit scene?

No. Badla has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Badla in?

The original language of Badla is Hindi.

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