Just weeks after their Diwali releases — Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 for Anees Bazmee and Singham Again for Ajay Devgn — the two will collaborate once more with Naam, a long-delayed psychological thriller finally gearing up for release. Directed by Anees Bazmee and produced by Anil Roongta under Roongta Entertainment, the film will be distributed nationwide by Pen Marudhar, with a release date set for 22 November 2024.
Naam was filmed back in 2014, but its release was stalled due to the sudden death of one of the producers, which plunged the film into a prolonged distribution limbo. After almost a decade, the movie has found new backing, allowing it to finally make its way to cinemas. The makers recently unveiled the official trailer, renewing excitement for a film many believed had been shelved indefinitely.
This film marks the fourth collaboration between Devgn and Bazmee, following Hulchul (1995), the romantic-comedy Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha (1998), and the psychological thriller Deewangee (2002). Given their track record, expectations are high for this long-lost project, especially with a genre that leans into Bazmee’s less-explored territory of intense, psychological storytelling.
The trailer for Naam opens with a dark, suspenseful tone, immediately setting the stage for a psychological thriller. Ajay Devgn plays a brooding hitman who, after a severe accident, suffers from memory loss, leaving him disoriented and struggling to piece together his own identity. The trailer hints at a gripping narrative where Devgn’s character must navigate a world filled with deceit and betrayal, even as glimpses of his violent past begin to resurface.
The narrative follows his journey as he grapples with fragmented memories and uncovers multiple identities — Amar, Abdul, Micheal — in his search to rediscover who he really is. The film’s premise has drawn comparisons to The Bourne Identity, with viewers pointing out the thematic similarities of an amnesiac protagonist unraveling a complex past.
The trailer also features glimpses of Bhumika Chawla, Sameera Reddy, Rajpal Yadav, and Vijay Raaz. Chawla seems to play a pivotal role, possibly as a love interest or someone connected to Devgn’s forgotten past. Rajpal Yadav and Vijay Raaz bring their unique screen presence, adding layers of suspense and dark humour
Shot extensively across Mumbai’s chaotic streets and the serene landscapes of Switzerland, the film’s locations add to the visual narrative, contrasting the protagonist’s internal turmoil. However, viewers have noted the film’s dated aesthetic, with some commenting that it looks like it was filmed in the early 2000s, reminiscent of Taarzan: The Wonder Car. This has piqued curiosity about how the film will be received in today’s market, especially given its decade-old production style.
The trailer release has sparked a wave of nostalgia and curiosity. On YouTube, comments raved about Devgn’s performance. One user wrote, “Another blockbuster for Ajay Devgn after Singham Again” while another noted, “It looks like from a different era. Should have released straight to OTT” The mixed reactions reflect both anticipation and scepticism about how a film with such a long production delay will fare against contemporary releases.
