A stolen review of the plot: Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer) is relaxing in a railway station in the center of India with her five-month-old daughter Champa. The youngster is taken by an unidentified lady who vanishes without a trace. A man in his twenties by the name of Raman (Shubham) is close by and is brought into the chaos as a witness. Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee), his brother, joins him in order to assist. It is soon apparent that the situation is more complex than it first appears. The two brothers are included in the inquiry by the police, and social media quickly identifies them as the culprits. The ensuing drama on the road is fraught with tension as the brothers struggle to locate the missing youngster while also attempting to escape an enraged mob.

Review of a Stolen:

One of the most enjoyable things to see is how genre storytelling has changed in movies. The road thriller genre has not benefited greatly from Indian film. The finest thus far is still the outstanding, underappreciated NH10, which features Anushka Sharma, and Overtake, which elevated the genre a few notches in the nation. Even when there are flaws, it's a victory when cinema simultaneously teaches, amuses, and evokes emotion in you. One example is the movie "Stolen," which I initially saw two years ago at the MAMI Film Festival and is now available on Amazon Prime Video. A road drama that evolves into something far beyond a thriller—a warning society needs—but never comes off as didactic. It's difficult to maintain that balance, but Karan Tejpal, who is making his debut, knows exactly how to do it.

Stolen, which is far more than it appears, was written by Karan Tejpal, Gaurav Dhingra, and Agadbumb, and Tejpal, who served as an AD on 3 Idiots, directed the film. It's about the marginalized, about people like us who are frequently ignorant, about empathy, and, at its heart, about the double-edged sword that is the internet. However, a sermon cannot express any of this. In contrast, it is condensed into a thrilling 90-minute movie that will have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. A woman is trying to find her kid. Because he missed a flight, a man is stranded at the station. A different guy comes to get him. In the midst of them are cops intoxicated by unfettered authority.

In a tale that should serve as a wake-up call for many, Karan Tejpal has the courage to speak out. He has stated that the name Gautam, which he gave to Abhishek Banerjee's character, was chosen on purpose to allude to Gautam Buddha, who was shielded from the outside world for sixteen years before coming to terms with the realities of life. Tejpal paints a mirror for many of us in Gautam—the ignorant, the privileged, and the insulated. Their initial reaction to evil is to avoid it, even if it means witnessing a mother's child being taken away.

The acting in Stolen is outstanding. One of the brothers breaks free from his cocoon, develops empathy, expresses himself, and is prepared to defend others. The movie follows the development of these two guys. Money is everything to Gautam, who is portrayed by the Vedaa star. Raman prioritizes humanity above all else. However, neither is perfect, and Tejpal makes sure we are aware of their flaws.

Mia Maelzer's Jhumpa is a truly exceptional performance. A female is considered a criminal just because she is a member of the oppressed. While in police custody, her spouse was murdered. Men attempt to control her. She is a daily wage worker with no place to live. And the world takes advantage of her once again when she fantasizes about having a kid that she can call her own.

The first half of the movie, which is completely set on the railway platform, contains its most potent scenes. The narrative is told from a clear and intentional perspective. No one sees At first, they treat Jhumpa like a victim and think she has ulterior motives. She is never given the privilege of being seen as the one who suffered the most, despite being the mother of a kidnapped kid. She cannot afford the luxury of being a victim. Read that once more.

Using Jhumpa's trip as a catalyst, Tejpal engineers Gautam's change. He makes certain that this is a fundamental shift that also has a significant external impact.

When a viral video portrays them as the kidnappers, the trio is pursued by a mob, and the movie unexpectedly switches course into a road thriller. The forest rangers and no one else verifies the facts. The objective is to just murder them. Even more frightening is that nobody seems to care about the whereabouts of the kidnapped child. The outrage is theatrical, intended to punish rather than provide justice.

The fact that this isn't fiction adds to its chilling effect. It's unnervingly genuine. Tejpal is astute; he never names the mob, identifies any towns, or develops any of his characters. It's a conceptual depiction of the online mob, which is faceless, nameless, and extremely powerful. Despite the potential abruptness of the screenplay's shift, the film recovers its pace because to the power of its drama. Even during the film's slower moments, Tejpal and his crew maintained their grip.

In Stolen, the mob's cruelty is not the most frightening aspect. It's a very calm and nearly silly one. Furious that the wedding decorator used orchids instead of his mother's favorite flowers, Gautam talks on the phone while standing by his vehicle. In the meantime, a cursed home is the site of a desperate search for Champa. The chasm between privilege and reality is exemplified by that experience, which is frightening. In one of the most impressive performances of his career, Abhishek Banerjee expertly portrays the complexity of this character's journey. In front of Banerjee, Shubham maintains his stance and gives a performance that is just as dedicated. However, Mia Maelzer deserves particular recognition because her work here is not only persuasive but also deeply affecting.

The film is technically sound. Isshaan Ghosh's cinematography, which ranges from close frames to broad long shots, successfully conveys claustrophobia, fear, and scale, ensuring that you experience the characters' unsettling journey firsthand.

Taken Review: The Final Decision

A movie that is both interesting and necessary to watch is a rare find. One of those movies is stolen. Despite its shortcomings, the movie maintains its 90-minute runtime thanks to outstanding performances by Abhishek Banerjee and a very assured debut by Karan Tejpal.

On June 4, 2025, Amazon Prime Video will have its stolen debut.