MUMBAI: Kill doesn't mess around when claiming to be the most violent film ever assembled in India on the big screen. This is certainly not for the faint of heart, but it's a brilliant testosterone ride for those who love their action to be brutal, blood-soaked, and bone-crunching as it's also hands down one of the best action movies to ever emerge from the country across languages.

The claustrophobic milieu is used to optimum effect both as a restricted space as also a channel for mutilation while the script and narration are as watertight as the setting, with writer-Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat knowing full well that he merely needs to keep things moving at the right pace, without frills and fusses, and especially without biting the temptation to overdo it, given the crackling material at his disposal, propelled by actors willing to push boundaries and a stunt team fully aware about how to contort their bodies.

Rafey Mehmood's raw camerawork and Shivkumar V. Panicker's taut editing and lightning during the action are the icing on the cake amongst all this, impeccably complemented by pinpoint sound effects. The acting, despite not needing to be avant-garde, witnesses old pro Ashish Vidyarthi serve another effortless character as a baddie while Raghav Juyal, in a serious bit of inspired casting, stops the train (pun intended) as the main villain, capable of simultaneously making you chuckle and your skin crawl. Lakshya is built to execute action, with a fiery presence and intense visage, but his dialogue delivery needs some work. On the other hand, Tanya Maniktala, is breezy as his love interest, and Harsh Chhaya is reliable as ever.

Kill is a small film that demands every minute of its visually stinging runtime to be hooted for on the big screen. That it balances emotions and an engaging screenplay with its brawn and blood merits all the praise in the world for Bhat. This one rightfully takes its place amongst Sholay, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Kaalia, Agneepath, Ghayal, Ghatak, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Ziddi, Baby, Ghulam, Don, Singham, War, Simmba, Sooryavanshi, Pathaan, Jawan (definitely missed some gems), as a crowning jewel in the action repertoire of Hindi movies.

4.5/5 stars