Overview
A gripping exploration of Punjab's struggle against the drug epidemic, showcasing resilience and hope.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- hard-hitting
- darkly comic
- uncomfortable
- social issue film night
- bollywood thriller marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a forceful, stylish, and uncomfortable anti-drug drama, while noting that its second half is less consistent than its first.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Tommy Singh, Mary Jane, Preet Sahani, and Sartaj Singh follow distinct but converging paths through Punjab's drug epidemic.
Rock star Tommy Singh's stage persona and drug-fueled excess turn fame into a vivid expression of addiction and collapse.
The characters' struggles reveal that narcotics are sustained by organized power and corruption, not only individual dependency.
The anti-drug drama uses irreverent humor and profanity alongside frightening violence and addiction imagery.
Films like Udta Punjab, and why
Traffic
hard-hitting crime drama confronting systemic corruption, addiction, and institutional failure
Requiem for a Dream
ensemble social drama portraying drug abuse through intersecting personal stories and bleak realism
Gangs of Wasseypur
politically charged Indian crime drama with violence, moral compromise, and a propulsive thriller tone
Sicario
ensemble crime drama exposing how narcotics and power damage vulnerable communities
Movie Details
- Director
- Abhishek Chaubey
- Release Date
- 2016-06-17
- Runtime
- 148 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (174)
Cast
- Shahid Kapoor
- Alia Bhatt
- Kareena Kapoor Khan
- Diljit Dosanjh
- Satish Kaushik
- Manav Vij
- Vansh Bhardwaj
- Suhail Nayyar
- Prabhjhyot Singh
- Mahabir Bhullar
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Udta Punjab about?
- Four strangers in Punjab confront a drug epidemic that entangles celebrity, migration, medicine, policing, and political power.
- What is Udta Punjab like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Udta Punjab as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Udta Punjab violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Udta Punjab as brutal.
- What did critics think of Udta Punjab?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a forceful, stylish, and uncomfortable anti-drug drama, while noting that its second half is less consistent than its first.
- Which films are like Udta Punjab?
- Films with a similar feel include Traffic, Requiem for a Dream, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Sicario.
- How long is Udta Punjab?
- Udta Punjab runs 148 minutes.
- Where can I watch Udta Punjab?
- In United States, Udta Punjab streams on Netflix, fuboTV, Netflix Standard with Ads.
