It is not uncommon for the release of an upcoming film to be accompanied with widespread speculation about how it will perform at the box-office as well within the audiences. When this speculation is aggravated as the result of questionable marketing and whatnot, the film’s overall performance is brought into question.
Case in point: the release of Ajay Devgn’s much delayed project ‘Naam’, today, on November 22 after a long period of lukewarm promotions that don’t quite go in tandem with the likes and wants of the audience. ‘Naam’ debuted to widely opposing reviews from both, critics as well as viewers.
The Anees Bazmee directorial featuring Ajay Devgn, Bhoomika Chawla, and Sameera Reddy in leading roles has, as expected, has failed to impress audiences for the major part. With the performances being labelled as forgettable in addition to the plot, the film has fueled the opinion that ir should have been an OTT release instead.
Apart from that, the only positive reviews that the film has managed to garner are on the basis of nostalgia bait, as the film was initially helmed during Ajay Devgn’s prime era in Bollywood, wherein he delivered widely loved films like ‘Legend of Bhagat Singh’, ‘Deewangee’, ‘Gangajal’, and more. Additionally, the film did also manage to draw audiences of varied age demographics, essentially signifying Devgn’s impact on Indian cinema.
Read some of what the audiences have to say about the movie:
#Naam (2024) #AjayDevgn is back as the quintessential action hero we fell in love with in the 90s; Loved the passion & aggression in his eyes.
— RJ🇬️9⃣ Divya (दिव्य) Solgama (@DIVYASOLGAMA) November 21, 2024
Anees Bazmee's psychological thriller hits the bull's eye. It’s an out & out massy film with right blend of action, drama, dialogues &…
Ajay Devgn did his most stellar work between 2002-2006. From Company, Legend of Bhagat Singh & Deewangee to Bhoot, Raincoat, Omkara & Gangajal.#NAAM is reminiscent of the golden era of Ajay Devgn.
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) November 21, 2024
I'll watch it for nostalgic value, sense of frolic & suspense quotient.… pic.twitter.com/vxDkS4ikKD
I have huge love and respect for Ajay Devgn and Anees Bazmee ji, saw #Naam and considering it to be a 2000 era film, I enjoyed it to the core, saw it in a single screen where the occupancy was good, along with all age mixed audience, it was a good experience, had film released on… pic.twitter.com/jn76baIxwA
— Rohit Jaiswal (@rohitjswl01) November 22, 2024