Upstarts

Pawar and Bhagat's screenplay for Upstarts takes a refreshingly grounded approach to the startup narrative, eschewing the typical glamorization that often accompanies tales of entrepreneurship. Rather than presenting the journey as an aspirational fairy tale, the film chooses to explore the genuine tensions that define the Indian startup ecosystem—particularly the ideological clash between maintaining service-oriented values and chasing profitability. This thematic ambition is commendable and lends the film a layer of relevance that many business dramas fail to achieve.

However, the execution falters in translating these meaningful ideas to the screen. While the central conflict between purpose and profit holds potential for compelling drama, the film struggles to fully capitalize on this foundation. The narrative and performances don't quite elevate the material to create the emotional resonance or cinematic impact necessary to make such an earnest premise resonate with audiences. It's a film that recognizes what it wants to say but occasionally loses its way in the saying.

Upstarts deserves recognition for its refusal to sugarcoat entrepreneurship and its commitment to exploring genuine industry tensions. Yet it remains an ambitious project that doesn't quite stick the landing. Rating: 5.5/10