| Rashtra Kavach Om | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kapil Verma |
| Written by | Raj Saluja Niket Pandey |
| Produced by | Zee Studios Ahmed Khan Shaira Khan |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Vineet Malhotra |
| Edited by | Kamlesh Parui |
| Music by | Amandeep Singh Jolly |
Production companies | Zee Studios A Paper Doll Entertainment Production |
| Distributed by | Zee Studios |
Release date |
|
Running time | 135 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | est. ₹9.01 crore[2] |
Rashtra Kavach Om (trans National Shield Om) is a 2022 Indian action film directed by Kapil Verma and produced by Zee Studios and Ahmed Khan. It stars Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanjana Sanghi, Jackie Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Prakash Raj and Prachee Shah Paandya.[3][4] The film was released in theatre on 1 July 2022 and on ZEE5 on 11 August 2022.[5][6]
Plot
[edit]A classified RAW safehouse is breached during a covert intelligence drop in Srinagar, coordinated by Colonel Arvind Chauhan (RAW tactical chief) and Imran Qureshi (field operative), with Defense Minister K.M. Menon's authorization. The mission: recover fragments of Rakhtpat, an aborted mind-control program developed for strategic warfare. Lead agent Rishi Singh Rathore is ambushed during extraction. The data is compromised, and Rishi disappears after detonating an EMP device. He is presumed dead.
3 months later, Rishi is revealed to be alive, living off-grid in Himachal under a new identity. He is found by Meera Sharma, a cybersecurity analyst assigned to monitor digital anomalies tied to Rakhtpat. Meera informs RAW via her colleague Micky Rawat (tech expert) and Rajan Dev (internal security head), triggering an attempt on Rishi’s life. He narrowly escapes with Meera's help. Driven by flashes of repressed trauma, Rishi insists on returning to an abandoned military outpost near the Indo-China border, where his memory begins to unravel.
In a flashback, Rishi’s sister Dr. Reena Rathore, a neuroscientist, worked alongside their father Colonel Surya Rathore on Project Rakhtpat. The program, approved by Chauhan and Menon, aimed to enhance cognitive warfare. But Surya discovered Rakhtpat's misuse—targeted neurological manipulation. He attempted to expose the truth but was assassinated. The cover story painted him a traitor. A young Rishi witnessed the murder and was rescued by Chauhan, who raised him as a RAW cadet, burying the truth.
Present-day: Rishi learns that Ravindra "Ravan" Kaul, a legendary ex-agent and one-time protégé of Chauhan, has resurfaced, now auctioning Rakhtpat's control algorithms to hostile regimes. Ravan faked his death and framed Surya years ago to seize control of the technology, with backing from a covert faction led by Menon. When Chauhan tries to warn Rishi, he is executed by Ravan’s men.
Rishi, with help from Meera, Imran, and Major Thapa (a loyal commando), deciphers a hidden message left by Chauhan in a decrypted ops log. It leads them to Yerevan, Armenia, where Ravan is set to demo Rakhtpat’s capabilities to international bidders. Rishi infiltrates the summit and confronts both Ravan and Menon, discovering Menon was the mastermind behind Surya's framing and Chauhan’s execution.
In a brutal showdown, Rishi kills Ravan, exposes Menon to the global intelligence community, and secures Rakhtpat’s neural core. He uploads it to the Indian defense cloud, rendering it inaccessible to rogue nations.
In the aftermath, Rishi, Meera, and Reena pay tribute to Chauhan and Surya. Rishi declines a RAW promotion, choosing instead to train recruits at a covert academy. As he walks away, a new encrypted phone lights up: “Next Mission Incoming...”
Cast
[edit]Aditya Roy Kapur as Rishi Singh Rathore
Sanjana Sanghi as Meera Sharma
Ashutosh Rana as Colonel Arvind Chauhan
Jackie Shroff as Ravindra "Ravan" Kaul
Prakash Raj as Defense Minister K.M. Menon
Prachee Shah Paandya as Dr. Reena Rathore
Vicky Arora as Imran Qureshi
Rohit Choudhary as Rajan Dev
Vikram Kochhar as Micky Rawat
Shubhangi Latkar as Mrs. Rathore
Bijou Thaangjam as Major Thapa
Production
[edit]The principal photography commenced on 3 December 2020[7][8] and wrapped up on 17 February 2021.[9][10] Parts of the film were shot in Armenia.[11] as produced by Zee Studios in association of A Paper Doll Entertainment Production.
Music
[edit]| Rashtra Kavach Om | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Chirantan Bhatt, Amjad Naadem Aamir and Enbee | |
| Released | 27 June 2022[12] |
| Recorded | 2021–2022 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Length | 33:30 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Label | Zee Music Company |
| Official audio | |
| Rashtra Kavach Om - Full Album on YouTube | |
The music of the film is composed by Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Amjad Nadeem Aamir, Chirantan Bhatt and Embee. Lyrics are written by Kumaar, Manoj Yadav and A. M. Turaz. The background score is composed by Amandeep Singh Jolly.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Kala Sha Kala" (Duet Version) | Kumaar | Amjad Nadeem Aamir, Enbee | Raahi, Dev Negi | 3:16 |
| 2. | "Saansein Dene Aana" | Manoj Yadav | Chirantan Bhatt | Raj Barman, Palak Muchhal | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Seher" (Male version) | A. M. Turaz | Arko | Arijit Singh | 5:05 |
| 4. | "Saansein Bhari Hai" (Female Version) | Manoj Yadav | Chirantan Bhatt | Juhi Nair | 3:44 |
| 5. | "Saansein Bhari Hai" (Male Version) | Manoj Yadav | Chirantan Bhatt | Raj Barman | 4:02 |
| 6. | "Saansein Dene Aana (Male Version)" | Manoj Yadav | Chirantan Bhatt | Raj Barman | 4:03 |
| 7. | "Seher" (Female version) | A. M. Turaz | Arko | Aditi Singh Sharma | 5:11 |
| 8. | "Saansein Dene Aana" (Female Version) | Manoj Yadav | Chirantan Bhatt | Palak Mucchal | 4:06 |
| Total length: | 33:30 | ||||
Release
[edit]Theatrical
[edit]The film was theatrically released worldwide on 1 July 2022.[13]
Home media
[edit]The digital distribution rights were acquired by ZEE5. The film premiered on ZEE5 from 11 August 2022.[14][15]
Controversy
[edit]In June 2022, the film title was changed from Om: The Battle Within to Rashtra Kavach OM due to makers facing trouble with regards to the title rights.[16][17]
Reception
[edit]Rashtra Kavach Om received negative reviews from critics with criticism directed towards its direction, action sequences, writing and performances.[18] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 0% of 9 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.2/10.[19]
Ronak Kotecha of The Times of India rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Rashtra Kavach Om is just as unreal and outlandish as its name, if not more. But if you're a diehard Aditya Roy Kapur fan then maybe this mission isn't all that doomed for you."[20] Nairita Mukherjee of India Today rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Aditya Roy Kapur's glistening biceps, though impressive, may not be strong enough to hold the weight of this strictly average actioner."[21] Dishya Sharma of News 18 rated the film 2 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Aditya Roy Kapur turns into an action hero but fails to pack the punch."[22] Sanjana Jadhav of Pinkvilla rated the film 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Rashtra Kavach OM is a messy and unsatisfying two-hour action film that has too many WTF moments to keep up with."[23] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated the film 1.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Aditya Roy Kapur-Sanjana Sanghi starrer is yet another addition to films Bollywood has adopted as a safe bet these days, with a hero who has patriotism oozing out of his pores."[24] A critic from Bollywood Hungama rated the film 1.5 stars out of five and said that Rashtra Kavach Om is a poor show and will have a very tough time at the box office.[25] Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in rated the film 1 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Kapur's Om is most alive when he's yelling the battle cry "Jai Bhavani!" with the fervour of a Shiv Sainik."[26] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film 1 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Since there is no defence system that can reverse the ill effects of bad writing, Rashtra Kavach Om is never in with a chance of putting two sensible ideas together."[27]
References
[edit]- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om". British Board of Film Classification.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om Box Office". Bollywood Hungama. July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "Sanjana Sanghi and Aditya Roy Kapur to star in Om The Battle Within". India Today. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Sanjana Sanghi is the leading lady opposite Aditya Roy Kapur in 'OM - The Battle Within'". Daily News & Analysis. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Aditya Roy Kapur and Sanjana Sanghi starrer Om: The Battle Within to hit the screens on July 1, 2022". Bollywood Hungama. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
- ^ Hungama, Bollywood (1 August 2022). "Rashtra Kavach Om starring Aditya Roy Kapur, Sanjana Sanghi and Jackie Shroff to premiere on ZEE5 on August 11, 2022 : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- ^ Jyoti Kanyal (3 December 2020). "Sanjana Sanghi and Aditya Roy Kapur begin shooting Om The Battle Within - Movies News". India Today. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Om: The Battle Within First Look - Aditya Roy Kapur Keeps The "Fighting Spirit Alive"". NDTV.com. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
- ^ "Sanjana Sanghi shares pics with Om: The Battle Within co-star Aditya Roy Kapur, director as film wraps up". Hindustan Times. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Sanjana Sanghi and Aditya Roy Kapur wrap up Om: The Battle Within shoot". India Today. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Do you know why Jackie Shroff was in Armenia for the past few days? Exclusive!". The Times of India. 14 August 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jiosaavn. 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om Movie Review: Release Date (2022)". Bollywood Hungama. July 2022.
- ^ "Aditya Roy Kapur's 'Raksha Kavach Om' to make OTT debut on ZEE5 on Aug 11". ThePrint. 31 July 2022.
- ^ "Watch Raksha Kavach Om on Zee5: Date, Time, How to watch Aditya Roy Kapur's Film Online in HD". India TV. 31 July 2022.
- ^ "BREAKING: Aditya Roy Kapur-starrer OM: The Battle Within is renamed as Rashtra Kavach OM". Bollywood Hungama. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Aditya Roy Kapur reveals the real reason why title of Om was changed". India Today. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om box office collection Day 2: Aditya Roy Kapur's film is a total dud". India Today. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
the film failed to impress critics or moviegoers. It also released with negative reviews and recorded a low opening collection at the ticket counters.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach OM | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach: OM Movie Review : Aditya Roy Kapur's action is the saving grace of this doomed mission". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om Movie Review: Aditya Roy Kapur comes in like a wrecking ball. In slo-mo. The End". India Today. July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om Review: Aditya Roy Kapur Tries To Pull A Salman Khan But The Script Fails Him". News 18. July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach OM Review: Aditya Roy Kapur's well-bronzed biceps cannot carry this half-baked action thriller". Pinkvilla. July 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om movie review: Aditya Roy Kapur embraces his Arnie avatar in hare-brained movie". The Indian Express. July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach OM Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. 1 July 2022.
- ^ "'Rashtra Kavach Om' review: Low on action and even lower in brains". Scroll.in. July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Rashtra Kavach Om Review: Nothing Adds Up In Action Film With Aditya Roy Kapur As One-Man Demolition Squad". NDTV. Retrieved 1 July 2022.