Ayushmann Khurrana’s spy comedy Udta Teer opens in cinemas today, October 23. It was first slated for October 9, but the makers moved it back by two weeks so it would not clash with other big releases. Sara Ali Khan plays the female lead, and the two are together again after Pati Patni Aur Woh Do. The film takes the usual cross-border espionage story and plays it as a comedy about mistaken identity and patriotism. Its first-look poster set that tone early, showing Khurrana resting on a hammock strung between two pillars marking the India-Pakistan border.

A Pakistani Spy Who Believes He Is Indian

Khurrana plays Bilal Ahmed, a Pakistani agent who loses his memory after an accident and becomes convinced he is an Indian spy. In the trailer, Sara’s character tells him who he really is, and the film seems to borrow from the “Pakistani spy in India” skits that have done the rounds on social media. At the trailer launch, Khurrana said he had no hesitation about the role and followed what the script demanded, while Sara said the unusual premise is what drew her to it.

Read more about Udta Teer movie review: Ayushmann Khurrana film is a tedious mix of spoof and sentiment : The Indian EXPRESS

A spy accidentally disrupts a world of secrets and distrust in this high-stakes espionage comedy. Big laughs and chaos collide in a fast-paced, family-friendly romp where nobody least of all the hero knows what's going on.

The film marks the directorial debut of Akash A Kaushik, who earlier worked as a writer on projects including Housefull 4 and Thank God. Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Raghubir Yadav and Supriya Pilgaonkar are among the supporting cast. The film is also the last screen appearance of the late Mukul Dev, whom Khurrana called a tribute and a swansong at the trailer launch. It is backed by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment, their fourth collaboration after The Lunchbox, Kill and Gyaarah Gyaarah. After its theatrical run, Netflix will stream it.

What the First Reviews Say

The early critical response is mixed. One review says the film has trouble balancing spoof with sentiment, and that the tone shifting between comedy and emotion slows the story down. The premise is unusual and promising, but a film that has to carry satire, action and feeling at once can lose its rhythm along the way. Some viewers may enjoy the chaos and the humour, while others may find the mix uneven. Since the film is out today, audience reaction over the opening weekend will show which way it leans.

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