Ikka review: A solidly plotted, legal murder drama with outstanding performances and well-placed twists

Ikka movie review

Director Siddharth P. Malhotra after making his mark with official adaptations of Hollywood’s ‘Stepmom’ (‘We Are Family’) for Dharma and ‘Front of The Class’ (‘Hichki’) for Yash Raj Films and then spoiling his reputation with a forgettable dud like ‘Maharaja’, the director finds his groove back in ‘Ikka’.

Siddharth Malhotra’s approach here is standard catering to the policy of what the doctors ordered in the genre powered by an original story by Athea Kaushal and gripping screenplay with emotional layers by Mayank Tewari and Athea Kaushal. The two hours twenty minutes ‘Ikka’ has surprising twists and turns which keeps the audience hooked right from the first frame till the credits roll in. At times there is more than meets the eye scenario and a unique atmosphere of an edgy thriller that leaves an emotional chord is created organically.

Of course, the confrontation scenes between Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna are intense that raises tension and serve as a major highlight and its more than a standard protagonist v/s antagonist highpoint in a commercial crime thriller, there is more to that, although I will not reveal the details.

But I can say that ‘Ikka’ scores not just as a good crime procedural drama it gets better when we see prime characters possessing different dimensions.

The performances of the actors elevate the drama, tension and thrills.

Sunny Deol is amazingly controlled and restrained in a mature performance as a lawyer, father and a husband. The unforgettable ‘dhai kilo ka haath’ as a lawyer in ‘Damini’ and the one as ‘Ikka’ over here showcases the range of Sunny Deol as an actor and he is not just an action superstar with a deafening earth-shattering voice that sends shivers to the bad guys. Here Sunny Deol captures heart with his extraordinary intensity and honesty and he has hardly yelled in this movie.

Akshaye Khanna is a force to reckon with and after the stupendous record-breaking success of ‘Dhurandhar’, Akshaye Khanna is now a household name. In ‘Ikka’ makes use of his trademark style and intensity that blends perfectly with his character. Akshaye Khanna is outstanding in ‘Ikka’. An interesting character shift is observed here – almost twenty-four years ago Akshay Khanna played an unbeatable lawyer coming forward in defence of the accused played by Ajay Devgn who has nothing to prove his innocence in Anees Bazmee’s ‘Deewangee’ (partly inspired by Hollywood’s ‘Primal Fear’ starring Richard Gere in lead. Here Akshaye Khanna plays the accused.

Dia Mirza as Avantika Mehra, Arjun aka Ikka’s wife is fantastic in bringing the emotional chord to the core. Torn between her daughter’s illness and husband’s helplessness, Dia Mirza gives a fabulous performance.

Tillotama Shome as Madhura Banerjee – the prosecution lawyer is so so natural fighting against the unbeatable giant Ikka in the film, the actress is remarkable in showing maturity and spontaneity.

Sanjeeda Sheikh as Shauryaman's wife is perfect as the powerless wife, the actress gives a subtle portrayal layered with intensity.

Daria Bedi as the daughter of ‘Ikka’ and Avantika is a marvellous talent and she wins the hearts of the audience.

Akansha Ranjan Kapoor as Soma Mittal the woman who gets murdered is good.

Ikka movie review - final words 

Good legal crime drama movies are those who interestingly reveal the culprit keeping the audience engrossed – who did it and why. The better ones are those which tell us how the characters feel in the movie at different situations and adds emotional chord. ‘Ikka’ falls in the better category in spite of taking cinematic liberties and some unwanted indulgence.

Going with a well-deserved three and half stars out of five (3.5/5)

‘Ikka’ is premiering on Netflix on June 10, 2026.