‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ web series released on November 7, 2024 on Amazon Prime Video is a spy action thriller directed by Raj & DK, starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Varun Dhawan. Raj & DK, who are known for hit series like ‘Family Man’ and ‘Farzy’, have created this Indian spin-off in the ‘Citadel’ universe produced by the Russo Brothers. The series is a prequel to the ‘Citadel’ series starring Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden in 2023, and is the story of Nadia Sinh (Priyanka’s character)’s parents. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Samantha and Varun’s performance in the series? Let’s see in this review!
What’s in the story?
‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ is a spy drama set in the 1992 and 2000 timelines. Honey (Samantha Ruth Prabhu), a struggling actress who runs away from the royal family of Andhra Pradesh and dreams of becoming a film artist in Mumbai. There she meets Bunny (Varun Dhawan), a secret spy who appears to be a stuntman. Bunny, working for a spy agency headed by Guru/Baba (Kay Kay Menon), drags Honey into a mission. Bunny trains Honey and turns her into a spy, and the two fall in love.
They track down a high-tech gadget called ‘Armada’ in Belgrade, which is being prepared for sale by Dr. Raghu Rao (Thalaivasal Vijay). Knowing that Raghu is innocent, Bunny receives an order from Baba to kill him. Honey gets Baba arrested and escapes with Armada. In the ensuing tragedy, Bunny believes that Honey is dead, but she hides in Nainital with her daughter Nadia (Kashvi Majmundar). In 2000, Baba's agents track Honey and Nadia down for Armada. Knowing that Honey is alive, Bunny re-enters the fray to save her and Nadia. The story is about how they survive this dangerous game.
Analysis
‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ didn’t quite live up to the high-octane thriller expected from Raj & DK, but Samantha’s performance, action sequences, and Nadia’s character made the series worth watching. Samantha handled all sorts of emotions—action, romance, motherly emotions—excellently as Honey, who is the backbone of the series. While Varun is impressive in action, the Honey-Bunny dynamic would have been even stronger if his character had had more depth. While Kashvi did a great job as Nadia, the lack of proper scope for the supporting cast—especially Kay Kay Menon—was disappointing.
Compared to ‘Family Man’, this series lags behind in story and writing. The series would have been even more impactful if there had been tight editing and sharp twists. The framework of the ‘Citadel’ universe feels a bit restrictive to Raj & DK’s own style. However, the 90s nostalgia, Bollywood references, and action scenes are guaranteed to entertain fans. Expanding the ‘Citadel’ universe in Phase 5 of the series, Nadia Sinh has set a strong backstory, which will create interest for future seasons.
Performances of the actors
Samantha gave one of the best performances of her career in this series. In the role of Honey, she took the intensity she showed in 'Family Man 2' to another level in the action sequences. Her physicality and stunts in the fight scene at Rajmahal and the single-shot action sequence were amazing. In the emotional scenes, especially the mother-daughter scenes with Nadia, she captivated the audience with her heart-warming performance. Her dialogue delivery with a mix of Hindi, Telugu and English was natural and engaging. It is no exaggeration to say that Samantha carried this series on her shoulders.
Varun Dhawan gave a good effort as Bunny, especially in the action scenes, his energy and stunts were impressive. However, his performance in the emotional scenes felt a bit surface level. Although the romantic chemistry with Honey was good, his character design felt a bit stereotypical. Although his screen presence was somewhat lacking next to Samantha, his fight scenes in the final episode were a highlight. Kashvi surprised everyone with her amazing performance as the young Nadiya. Her smarts, courage and interactions with Honey provided the emotional core of the series. The character of Nadiya, Priyanka Chopra’s ‘Citadel’ elevated the series by giving a strong backstory to Nadiya Sinh. Kashvi’s performance will bring good opportunities for her in the future as a child artist.
KK Menon impressed with his natural acting in the role of Baba, but the scope of this role was very limited. Although his screen time was limited, his intense dialogue delivery and menacing presence in some scenes were impressive. If he had been given a role with more depth, he would have taken the series to another level. Shakib Saleem (KD) was okay in his role, but his character felt underdeveloped. Shivankit Singh Parihar and Soham Majmundar played their roles well. Actors like Simran (Juni), Sikander Kher's roles were not very memorable due to lack of scope.
Plus Points
Samantha Domination: Samantha's action and emotional range are the biggest assets to the series. Her fight scenes with Nadia elevate the Bond series.
Action Scenes: The action sequences are awesome in Raj & DK's signature style. The single-shot fight, Rajmahal action scene is a visual treat.
Nadia's Role: Kashvi Majmundar's amazing performance as Nadia adds emotional heart to the series.
90s Nostalgia: The 1990s Mumbai, Nainital setting, Bollywood references, songs like ‘Satya’, ‘Baazigar’, VHS tapes, phone booths give the series an authentic feel.
Visuals: Jan Heurlin Aidt’s cinematography captures the 90s setting and action scenes brilliantly.
Minus Points
Predictable Story: The story is somewhat predictable. The sharp twists and suspense expected from Raj & DK are somewhat reduced here.
Slow Pacing: The back-and-forth narration between the 1992 and 2000 timelines feels stretched at some places. Some scenes drag unnecessarily.
Underdeveloped Characters: Supporting characters like Baba, KD, and Juni lack proper depth, which reduces the impact of the series.
Audio Dubbing: Samantha's dialogues in the Telugu dubbed version sounded somewhat artificial. There was negative talk about the dubbing in the Hindi version as well.
Citadel Universe Limits: Raj & DK were not able to fully utilize their creative freedom as part of the 'Citadel' universe. The original ‘Citadel’ also had a mixed response on this spin-off.
Technical aspects
Jan Heurlin Aidt’s cinematography captures the visuals of 90s Mumbai, Nainital, and Belgrade brilliantly. The camera work in the action scenes is top-notch. Sachin-Jigar Background score adds intensity to the action scenes, but some scenes lack elevation. Sumeet Kotian While the editing is slick, the pace could have been better if some scenes had been trimmed.
Conclusion
‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ is a captivating spy thriller with Samantha’s amazing performance, high-energy action, and 90s nostalgia. Nadia’s character, Honey-Bunny’s dynamic add emotional and visual appeal to the series. However, the predictable story, slow pacing, and underdeveloped supporting characters stop the series from becoming an iconic hit like ‘Family Man’. This series is an entertaining watch for Samantha fans, action lovers, and fans of the ‘Citadel’ universe. Watch this series streaming in Telugu, Hindi, and other languages on Amazon Prime Video!
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video
Release Date: November 7, 2024
Rating: TV-MA
My Rating: 3/5
Languages: Telugu, Hindi, English, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam