Alia Bhatt's 'Alpha' Now Playing in Theatres Amid Mixed Reviews

Alia Bhatt’s “Alpha” has emerged as a significant departure from the filmmaking values long associated with Yash Raj Films, according to a critical assessment of the spy actioner. Now playing in theatres, the film is viewed as an attempt to respond to the changing political and cinematic landscape following the success of films such as “Dhurandhar”. The criticism argues that “Alpha” appears uncertain of its own identity and too eager to reflect the dominant mood of the moment.

For generations, Yash Raj Films has been regarded as one of the defining studios of Hindi cinema, building its reputation on stories centred around love, hope and human relationships. Beyond commercial success, the production house often represented a particular moral imagination within mainstream Bollywood. Its films frequently suggested that differences could be resolved through understanding and that empathy, rather than hostility, could drive popular storytelling.

That approach helped distinguish Yash Raj Films even when its productions became larger and more ambitious. At their most spectacular, the studio’s films continued to place faith in people and relationships, presenting love as something capable of overcoming prejudice and social divisions. These values were not merely recurring themes but became closely connected to the identity the studio developed over several decades.

Also Read: Karan Johar Defends Alia Bhatt’s Alpha Amid Trolling, Says ‘Please Relax’ To Critics

“Alpha”, however, is criticised for moving away from that tradition. The film is described as an insecure spy actioner that appears willing to abandon its conscience in an effort to appeal to the political mood of the present. Rather than confidently building on the studio’s established storytelling identity, the film is seen as reacting to a cinematic environment increasingly shaped by aggressive nationalism and politically charged narratives.

The comparison with the post-“Dhurandhar” landscape forms a central part of the criticism. As audience tastes and box-office trends evolve, major studios face pressure to adapt their films to what appears commercially and politically successful. In the case of “Alpha”, the argument is that this adaptation comes at the cost of the humanism and optimism that once made Yash Raj Films distinctive within mainstream Indian cinema.

The larger concern surrounding “Alpha” is therefore not limited to the quality of one film but to what it may represent for the future direction of Yash Raj Films. A studio once known for believing that popular cinema could imagine a kinder and more peaceful future now appears, according to the critique, increasingly influenced by the anxieties of the present. Whether this marks a temporary experiment or a deeper change in its creative identity remains to be seen.

Also Read: 'Alpha' Opens With Rs 15.80 Crore, Weakest YRF Spyverse Debut