Review of Stolen (2025) on Prime Video
Stolen, directed by Karan Tejpal and streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is a gripping Hindi-language survival thriller that pulls you into its chaotic world from the first frame. Inspired by real events, including the 2018 lynching of two men in Assam falsely accused of child trafficking, the film unfolds over a single, tense night. It follows two city-bred brothers, Raman (Shubham Vardhan) and Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee), who get entangled in a desperate search for a stolen baby, Champa, after a chance encounter with her distraught mother, Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer), at a rural railway station. What starts as a simple act of empathy spirals into a harrowing journey through mob violence, misinformation, and systemic failures.
The Good: The film’s strength lies in its raw, unrelenting tension and its unflinching portrayal of India’s social fault lines—class divides, casteism, and the terrifying power of mob mentality fueled by viral misinformation. At a lean 93 minutes, Stolen wastes no time, plunging viewers into a fast-paced narrative that feels like a high-stakes chase from start to finish. The cinematography by Ishaan Ghosh and Sachin S. Pillai is gritty and immersive, capturing the dusty, claustrophobic chaos of rural North India with handheld shots and clever use of lighting (like car headlights in tense sequences). The chase scenes, particularly a mob attack sequence, are breathtakingly intense, evoking the visceral panic of films like NH10.
Abhishek Banerjee delivers a career-defining performance as Gautam, shedding his comedic persona for a layered portrayal of a cynical, class-conscious man who evolves through the night’s ordeal. Shubham Vardhan holds his own as the idealistic Raman, whose empathy drives the story but occasionally feels contrived. Mia Maelzer’s Jhumpa is heartbreakingly raw, her expressive eyes conveying a mother’s desperation without slipping into melodrama. The minimal use of background score, relying instead on Susmit Nath’s stellar sound design, amplifies the film’s suffocating atmosphere.
The film’s social commentary is its beating heart. It doesn’t preach but shows—through subtle details like police apathy, the brothers’ privilege, and the mob’s blind rage—how systemic inefficiencies and societal mistrust can turn a small misunderstanding into a nightmare. It’s a bold critique of modern India, unafraid to hold a mirror to its audience.
The Not-So-Good: Despite its strengths, Stolen isn’t flawless. The writing, while tight for most of the runtime, stumbles in the final 20 minutes with convenient plot resolutions that feel more cinematic than realistic. This shift from gritty realism to a slightly contrived climax undercuts the film’s earlier authenticity. Some viewers might find the narrative’s reliance on Raman’s sudden moral compulsion to help a stranger unconvincing, especially given the high stakes of their situation.
The film’s marketing also does it a disservice. Promotional images, like one showing Banerjee’s bloodied face, spoil key moments, reducing suspense for attentive viewers. Technically, while the cinematography is strong, the shaky camera work in some scenes can be distracting or disorienting. The action sequences, though intense, occasionally lack the polish of bigger-budget thrillers, and the film’s pacing dips slightly in the second half due to repetitive chase scenes.
Verdict: Stolen is a compelling, if imperfect, thriller that punches above its weight. It’s not a conventional edge-of-the-seat action flick but a survival drama that thrives on its raw performances, taut direction, and incisive social commentary. Fans of films like NH10 or Joram will appreciate its gritty realism and emotional depth, while those expecting a polished, mainstream thriller might find its indie sensibilities and abrupt climax disappointing. Abhishek Banerjee and the ensemble cast make it worth the watch, as does its unflinching look at India’s darker realities. It’s a film that doesn’t yell its message but leaves you shaken, asking tough questions about privilege, empathy, and justice.
Rating: 3.5/5
Stream it on Prime Video for a tense, thought-provoking 90-minute ride.
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