If you came across my review for *Gyarah Gyarah* last month, you already know I spoke about *Gyarah Gyarah* being the second time something starring Raghav Juyal blew my mind. The first time was an action film called *Kill*, and it **completely blew me away**. *Kill* is an action-thriller starring Lak (a newcomer) and Raghav Juyal...
Transcript
A Game-Changer for Action Films in Indian Cinema
If you came across my review for *Gyarah Gyarah* last month, you already know I spoke about *Gyarah Gyarah* being the second time something starring Raghav Juyal blew my mind. The first time was an action film called *Kill*, and it **completely blew me away**. *Kill* is an action-thriller starring Lak (a newcomer) and Raghav Juyal. While a large part of the screen time is dedicated to the newcomers, you also have Ashish Vidyarthi and Harish Uthaman in key roles. As the name suggests, this is an **out-and-out action film**, but it’s not just another action flick in Indian cinema. In my opinion, it’s a **landmark film** that creates a **paradigm shift** for action sequences in India and the genre as a whole. While Indian cinema has had a lot of films with great action—relentless and even mind-numbing action—*Kill* manages to stand out. Yes, it is relentless, but it’s **not mind-numbing**. Every action sequence is creative, fresh, and absolutely mind-blowing. ### Short and Intense Runtime The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes, and I can guarantee that you won’t have a moment to breathe. If you're an action lover and haven't seen this film yet, you’re missing out on something truly fantastic. One of the highlights of *Kill* is its **shorter runtime** and the fact that **there are no songs**—it’s all about the story, the characters, and relentless action.
The Story and Setting The film is set almost entirely on a **train**, which means you’re dealing with closed spaces and narrow areas—elements that are utilized beautifully to create **jaw-dropping moments** of action. The story is fairly simple: there’s a guy and a girl who love each other, but the girl’s parents don’t approve. The guy follows her onto the train and promises to be with her no matter what. They plan to get married when they find a chance. But after a couple of stations, a band of **dacoits** board the train with a plan to loot a few bogies and then jump off. What the dacoits don’t know is that the guy and his friend, both on the train because of the girl, are **NSG Commandos**.
Action and Cinematography What I loved about this film is that the **action is ingrained in the storyline**. These two characters fighting aren’t just random people who happen to be on the train and decide to save everyone. They’re **Commandos**, and that explains why every punch, every kick, is choreographed to perfection. On the other hand, the dacoits are local goons—untrained fighters. They have some weapons, but they use them the way any novice would. That’s the beauty of these two worlds colliding. This dynamic is brought to life with **sublime cinematography** and **fabulously creative camera angles**. When the film first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, I heard rave reviews about its cinematography, with some even comparing it to the likes of *Upgrade*, another fantastic action film. While the camera work in *Kill* isn’t as slick or wild as *Upgrade*, it’s still a **major leap forward** for Hindi cinema.
Relentless Second Half The first half of the film takes about 15 minutes to build up the characters, but the second half is where it truly takes off. It becomes so relentless that you won’t even get the 10-minute breathing space you had in the first half. This is why I keep saying you won’t have time to breathe!
Stellar Performances and Brutal Action Lak, one of the leads, is **fabulous** in this film. His body language, the persona he carries, and the choreography he executes—he’s absolutely stellar. Huge shoutouts to the entire technical crew, especially the **cinematographer** and **stunt coordinators**. One of the biggest highlights of *Kill* is how the **action kills** have been choreographed. And let me warn you—it’s **not for the faint-hearted**. There’s a gut-opening scene with a knife that’s vivid and in-your-face, and then there’s the crème de la crème: a **fire extinguisher kill** where a man’s head gets squashed to a pulp. If you get woozy or can’t handle gore, this film isn’t for you. But if you’re a fan of hardcore action, you’re going to love it.
Final Thoughts: A Must-Watch for Action Fans I can't stress enough how much I loved this film. If you’re an action lover and haven't seen it yet, you're in luck—*Kill* has just started streaming on **Hotstar**, which gave me another nudge to do this review. It’s 1 hour and 40 minutes of pure, unadulterated action cinema. This is what cinema is all about. This is what action films are all about. I loved **every minute, every second** of this film. Huge shoutouts to **Lak**, **Raghav Juyal**, and the entire team behind *Kill*. This is a fabulous film that needs to be celebrated, watched, and learned from. Go watch *Kill* on Hotstar right now—you won’t believe what you’ve just seen.