Bollywood produces action films every year.
Few of them try something truly different. “Crakk” set out to change that. Released in 2024, this Hindi film was billed as India’s first extreme sports action movie. Aditya Datt directed it.Vidyut Jammwal and Abbas Sayyed produced it under Action Hero Films.The story centres on Siddharth “Siddhu” Dixit, a slum dweller in Mumbai. His brother Nihal has gone missing. Determined to find the truth, Siddhu enters “Maidaan,” an underground survival sports competition. A man named Dev runs this contest, and Arjun Rampal plays him.
Main Cast
- Vidyut Jammwal as Siddhu
- Arjun Rampal as Dev
- Nora Fatehi as Alia
- Amy Jackson as Patricia Novak
- Ankit Mohan as Nihal
Film at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | Crakk: Jeetegaa…Toh Jiyegaa |
| Genre | Sports / Extreme Sports Action |
| Director | Aditya Datt |
| Producers | Vidyut Jammwal, Abbas Sayyed |
| Production Company | Action Hero Films |
| Distributor | Panorama Studios |
| Music | Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi, MC Square, Vikram Montrose |
| Shooting Location | Poland |
| Release Date | 23 February 2024 |
| Runtime | 154 minutes |
| Budget | ₹45 crore |
| Box Office | ₹17.08 crore |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 14% positive (7 reviews) |
| Verdict | Box office bomb |
The production was announced on 20 October 2022. Jacqueline Fernandez was originally part of the cast. Creative differences led to Nora Fatehi replacing her. Filming took place in Poland and wrapped on 18 December 2023. The film reunited Jammwal with Datt after Commando 3.
Four composers shaped the soundtrack: Mithoon, Tanishk Bagchi, MC Square and Vikram Montrose. The album holds six songs. “Dil Jhoom” remakes a 2011 track by Pakistani singer Ali Zafar. Vishal Mishra and Shreya Ghoshal sing this version.
Crakk reached theatres on 23 February 2024. Critics responded with mixed-to-negative reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, only 14% of seven reviews were positive.
What worked
- The action and stunts drew wide praise.
- Bollywood Hungama admired the concept and technical work.
What didn’t
- The script relied on predictable tropes.
- The plot felt convoluted, and the runtime felt too long.
News18 called the film a cheap version of Squid Game. Hindustan Times, however, felt it would suit extreme sports fans.
The budget was ₹45 crore. Earnings reached only ₹17.08 crore, so the film became a box office bomb. After the poor response, the makers changed the climax for the digital release. They also removed 15 minutes of footage.
In the end, Crakk was a bold experiment. The idea was fresh, and the action impressed many critics. However, the story and length let it down. Action fans may enjoy one viewing. Viewers seeking a strong plot should lower their expectations.
