What starts with a quiet night at a railway station soon unravels into a suspense-laden thriller, writes ABHI SINGHAL
Sometimes, one feels compelled to say that they don’t make films like this too often. Stolen, now streaming on Amazon Prime Video is a perfect example of such rare storytelling. From just ten minutes into the film, the narrative begins to take shape, gripping the viewer’s attention. Abhishek Banerjee and Shubham Vardhan play brothers, Gautam and Raman, whose lives become entangled in a harrowing incident.
The story opens with a woman named Jhumpa sleeping on a railway platform with her daughter, Champa, who is suddenly abducted. Both brothers happen to be present at the station late at night when the incident occurs. From there, the plot follows the trio — Jhumpa, Gautam, and Raman, as they attempt to track down the missing child, facing numerous challenges along the way.
Karan Tejpal’s debut feature maintains a firm grip on the storyline from the outset, never allowing the audience to lose interest. The film’s dialogues are thoughtfully crafted, capturing the raw frustration and helplessness experienced by both sides involved.
The narrative moves fluidly between urban and rural settings. A car chase involving the three protagonists, while searching for Champa, quickly transforms into a nerve-wracking struggle for survival as they enter a rural region.
When it comes to performances, Abhishek Banerjee once again breaks barriers in his portrayal of Gautam Bansal. His body language and expressions perfectly convey the emotional toll of being unwillingly drawn into the case. His scenes in the village where he is beaten and desperately trying to find his brother stand out for their emotional intensity.
Mia Maelzer, playing Jhumpa, a woman from Bengal with a language barrier but immense determination to find her daughter delivers a performance filled with strength and compassion. She truly excels in her role. Shubham Vardhan, as Raman Bansal, brings depth to his character, whose personal backstory gives weight to his decision to support Jhumpa through her ordeal.
Much of the film unfolds on the road, but the narrative never loses momentum. The brothers’ journey with Jhumpa is rife with internal conflict, suspicion, and shifting alliances, all while maintaining the pace and tension of a compelling thriller.
Stolen is a finely-crafted film that balances emotion, suspense, and realism.
Watch Card (Show Information)
Screen Title: Stolen (Movie)
Platform Available: Amazon Prime Video
Running Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Rating: 4