Blind Game, a Hindi thriller starring Arjun Rampal and Priyamani, arrived on ZEE5’s free tier on 11 November, and early reviews are lukewarm. Critics have largely praised its two leads and its mountain setting, but they have found its writing and twists less convincing.
The film carries extra weight for a reason beyond its cast. It is the final directorial venture of the late Sangeeth Sivan, who also wrote it. Completed in 2023, it was held up after Sivan’s death and is now reaching viewers as a posthumous release.
What the film is about
Blind Game is an official Hindi remake of the 2014 Malayalam hit 7th Day. Set in Manali, it follows Sikander Singh (Rampal), a suspended police officer who is involved in a car accident with two young men, Vicky (Rohit Chandel) and Shaan (Akash Makhija). A case involving five friends, a missing sum of Rs 5 crore and a dangerous crime syndicate then unfolds. Priyamani plays police officer Yamini, who reports to Sikander. The cast also includes Nakul Roshan Sahdev, Noyrika Bhateja and Shayank Shukla.
The film runs about 113 minutes. Speaking ahead of release, Rampal said the story takes viewers on a journey in which nothing is quite what it seems, a description that fits a plot built on shifting perspectives.
What critics liked
Reviewers agreed that the leads are the film’s best asset. Scroll wrote that the film is mostly poorly performed, with the exception of Rampal and Priyamani, and found that a few twists were good enough to justify the running time. NewsBytes said Rampal’s screen presence drives the story and that the film establishes him as a solid action hero, while Priyamani brings earnestness to her role. Flickonclick likewise called the two leads the best part of the film.
The setting also earned praise. NewsBytes said Sivan creates consistent atmospheric tension in Manali, and Flickonclick highlighted the area’s visuals. The opening stretch, in which Sikander meets Vicky and Shaan, drew particular credit for energy, with one review saying it establishes that everyone is hiding something and no one can be trusted.
What critics did not like
The criticism centred on structure and writing. Bollywood Hungama rated the film 1.5 out of 5, calling it a disappointing thriller with an illogical script that starts with promise and declines as it goes on. It said Sivan’s direction was not up to the mark, though it credited Rampal with giving a sincere performance despite the material.
NewsBytes, which described the film as an uneven drama, argued that it keeps adding twists without pausing to develop its characters, and that its narrative is needlessly convoluted, with long explanations that slow a promising story. Flickonclick gave 2.5 out of 5 and found the writing flat, the twists easy to guess and the final reveal unequal to the build-up. Scroll’s headline went further, saying the film “barely qualifies as a timepasser.”
An OTT-focused review took a similar line, saying the film has interesting stretches but that the narrative lacks coherence and that the screenplay should have done more.
The verdict so far
The overall picture is of a thriller with a decent premise and two committed performances, let down by plotting. Ratings in the reviews gathered by Cinezone range from 1.5 to 2.5 out of 5, which places the film in the bottom half of this week’s streaming releases. Viewers who enjoy Rampal’s brooding style and want a short, twist-heavy watch may find enough to hold their interest. Those who value tightly constructed mysteries are less likely to be satisfied.
Because it is free to stream, the cost of finding out is low. That may be the film’s best argument for an audience: a one-evening watch with no subscription needed.
A note on the filmmaker
Beyond the reviews, the film’s release is a moment of closure for Sivan’s collaborators. A project finished years ago and then delayed has now reached its audience. Critics have been measured on the film’s flaws, but several have acknowledged the context in which it arrives. For a director’s last work, what matters most to many viewers may be that it is finally available to watch.
