Film

Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva

Name: Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva
Genre: Action, Romance, Fantasy
Released: 2022
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy, Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Mythological fantasy

A sprawling Hindi fantasy-action film about a young man discovering his connection to an ancient cosmic weapon while falling in love. Ayan Mukerji's ambitious attempt at building a cinematic universe with spectacular set pieces, romantic chemistry, and spiritual mythology. For those who love big-budget spectacle and don't mind a film that reaches beyond its grasp.

TMDb rating

3.1

If you liked this

Doctor Strange2016

A similar origin story where an ordinary person discovers extraordinary powers tied to mystical artifacts. Features the same blend of action, romance, and a hero learning to control newfound abilities in a visually dazzling world.

But The MCU formula can feel predictable, and Doctor Strange's emotional stakes sometimes get buried under the visual effects spectacle.

Dune2021

Epic scope, mythic storytelling, and a young protagonist discovering his role in something far greater than himself. Both films prioritize grandeur and world-building over intimate character work, with similarly stunning production design.

But Nearly three hours long and deliberately paced. If you want constant action rather than atmosphere, this will feel slow.

The Mummy1999

Adventure-romance with exotic locations, supernatural powers, and genuine chemistry between leads. Tom Cruise and Rachel Weisz mirror the charm that Kapoor and Bhatt bring to their romantic scenes amid chaos.

But Feels dated in places, and the balance between action and romance doesn't always land cleanly.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Annihilation2018

Both films use spectacular production design and visual effects not just for action but to communicate that the protagonist is entering a realm with different rules. Both refuse to fully demystify their central mysteries, asking viewers to embrace wonder alongside confusion.

A science-fiction film about entering a mysterious zone where reality itself behaves differently, with stunning visuals and genuine cosmic dread. Like Brahmāstra, it's a big-budget film that trusts the audience to sit with strangeness rather than explain everything away.

But Deliberately enigmatic and cerebral. If you want clear answers and a tidy resolution, this will frustrate you deeply.

Eternals2021

Another ambitious, mythology-heavy superhero film attempting to introduce a complex cosmology. Similar visual ambition and ensemble cast trying to establish multiple character arcs in one sitting.

But Critically divisive and narratively convoluted. Many felt it tried to do too much and established too little clearly.

Padmaavat2018

A Hindi epic that swings for the fences with production design, scale, and romantic melodrama. If you want that same commitment to grandeur and operatic stakes in Indian cinema, this delivers it.

But Three-and-a-half hours of intensity. Doesn't hold back on gore or violence, which may feel excessive to some.

Aquaman2018

Underwater spectacle with similar DNA—a reluctant chosen one, romance subplot, and visual effects as a primary draw. James Wan commits fully to the absurdity in a way that feels earnest rather than ironic.

But Critics savaged it for thin characterization. The plot is serviceable at best, existing mainly as scaffolding for set pieces.

Thor: The Dark World2013

A fantasy-tinged superhero film with romance, cosmic mythology, and a hero discovering powers he didn't know he had. Similar tonal ambitions of blending intimate character moments with universe-ending stakes.

But Generally considered the weakest MCU entry. The villain is forgettable and the emotional beats feel undercooked.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai1998

The gold standard for Bollywood romance and spectacle. If you're drawn to the romantic chemistry in Brahmāstra, this is the touchstone that influenced multiple generations of Hindi cinema.

But Nearly thirty years old and very much a product of its era. The pacing is leisurely and some tonal shifts feel jarring to modern viewers.

The Mummy Returns2001

Escalates the first film's formula with bigger action, more mythology, and characters whose bond has deepened. For those who want more of the same adventure-romance energy but with higher stakes.

But Sequels rarely improve on originals. This feels bloated and the romance takes a backseat to spectacle in ways that don't always work.

The Midnight Sky2020

Both explore what it means to discover you're cosmically significant. Where Brahmāstra makes this discovery loud and bright, this film makes it intimate and mournful. Opposite registers, same core question.

A meditative science-fiction film about connection across impossible distances, with a protagonist learning he's part of something cosmic and transformative. Quiet where Brahmāstra is loud, but animated by the same sense of awe.

But Glacially paced and emotionally subtle. This is the opposite of spectacle-driven; if you want action and propulsion, you'll find it boring.

Everything Everywhere All at Once2022

Both are 2022 films about discovering you've been chosen for something vast while navigating relationships that matter more. Both use visual effects to communicate emotional states rather than just sell action. Both swing for the fences and don't apologize for reaching beyond their grasp.

A multiverse-spanning action-romance about discovering hidden power and a parent-child bond fractured and rebuilt. Chaotic, visually inventive, funny, and genuinely moving. Made the same year as Brahmāstra with similar ambitions but wildly different execution.

But The tone whips constantly between absurdist comedy, action, and heartbreak. If you want consistency and clarity, this will feel scattered and exhausting.