There are web series and then there is their sharper, crisper big screen version. Mirzapur: The Movie belongs to the latter. It takes a world that is already deeply familiar to audiences and manages to make it feel cinematic without reducing the film to a 3-hour extension of the series. Mirzapur remains one of the defining shows in the Indian streaming boom and it transformed Pankaj Tripathi’s Kaleen Bhaiya into a character that is now almost inseparable from the actor. The movie retains that legacy but does not lean entirely on it. Instead, it builds a fresh power game around the characters audiences already know.
Akhandanand Tripathi aka Kaleen Bhaiya (Pankaj Tripathi) remains the undisputed king of Mirzapur and his belief that power survives by creating fear continues to define the world. But interestingly, the film does not require him to dominate every frame. His philosophy that a king does not kill but orders becomes almost symbolic of his role here. He remains the king even when he is not in clear visibility, moving people around the board and getting his work done through them.
That strategic shift gives greater importance to Govind ‘Guddu’ Pandit (Ali Fazal), Vinay ‘Bablu’ Pandit (Jitendra Kumar) and, most significantly, Babban ‘Babua’ Yadav (Ravi Kishan). Ravi Kishan’s entry is one of the film’s biggest strengths. He does not feel like an actor brought in simply to add another name to the franchise. He creates a genuine sense of challenge. His styling is noticeably different from the rest of the characters, giving him a distinct visual identity, while his performance brings swagger, danger and unpredictability to the power struggle.
Pankaj Tripathi still owns Kaleen Bhaiya, but the character has less screen time and less direct action than one might expect. That is not necessarily a weakness. In fact, it works because the film understands that a king does not always need to be the man pulling the trigger. His power lies in making others do it.
The writing also deserves credit for not depending entirely on the popularity of the series. The story takes multiple tracks, allows different characters to operate independently and eventually brings those threads together. There are enough twists and turns to keep the narrative moving, and the convergence towards the end gives the film the satisfaction expected from a gangster thriller.
The locations and production design add considerably to the impact. The small town atmosphere feels lived in, while the movement across different locations including the deserts of Rajasthan gives the story a larger canvas without losing the earthy texture that has always been central to Mirzapur. The background score understands the rhythm of the world and lifts several scenes effectively. Even the positioning of the song close to the climax works because it becomes part of the action rather than interrupting it.
The film is also a reminder that Mirzapur has never really been a one man show. While the power structure remains overwhelmingly male, the women continue to be important to the larger game. The film gives enough space to characters such as Beena Tripathi (Rasika Dugal), Vasudha Pandit (Sheeba Chaddha), Mumtaz Bibi (Sonal Chauhan) and others to ensure that the narrative does not become completely one dimensional.
At over three hours, the film does feel longer than necessary in places. Some portions could have been trimmed without affecting the larger story. But the screenplay largely succeeds in keeping the various tracks connected and the stakes alive.
The real achievement of Mirzapur: The Movie is that it does not behave like a feature film made only to exploit a successful web series. It feels like the makers are using the popularity of the franchise to take the universe somewhere bigger. The familiar characters are the entry point, but the shifting equations are what keep the film alive.
Kaleen Bhaiya may still be sitting on the throne, but this time the film makes you look around the room to see if someone is capable of taking it away from him.
Movie: Mirzapur The Movie
Directed by: Gurmmeet Singh
Written by: Puneet Krishna
Featuring: Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Jitendra Kumar, Ravi Kishan, Abhishek Banerjee, Rasika Dugal, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Sushant Singh, Mohit Malik, Sheeba Chaddha, Rajesh Tailang, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Shaji Choudhary, Sonal Chauhan
Cinematography: Sanjay Kapoor
Theatrical Release Date: 4 September 2026
Run Time: 3hrs 17mins
Mirzapur The Movie
3.5
