Martin revolves around Lt. Brigadier Arjun Saxena, whose journey takes him from Pakistan to India to discover his real identity and fight against black market dealers, who are involved with terrorists to orchestrate massive attacks in the country.
A loud, overstuffed action-thriller with a memory-loss/identity hook, but the execution appears messy, repetitive, and visually inconsistent. The film seems to aim for mass-market spectacle and patriotic stakes, yet the dominant reaction is that it becomes exhausting rather than exciting.
Best for
Viewers who enjoy maximalist South Indian action cinema and don’t mind chaos over coherence
Fans of over-the-top hero elevation, slow-motion swagger, and bombastic background scores
Curious bad-movie watchers looking for a high-energy train wreck
Skip if
You want tight plotting, clean action geography, or emotional payoff
Loud scores, excessive slow motion, and artificial-looking VFX bother you
You’re hoping for a grounded thriller or a polished star vehicle
Overview
Martin is built like a big-ticket commercial action thriller: a man with no memory, a cross-border identity mystery, and a conspiracy involving smugglers and terrorists. On paper, that’s a sturdy setup for a pulpy crowd-pleaser. In practice, the film seems to pile on spectacle without enough control, leaving the story muddy and the momentum uneven.
Worth noting
The most consistent feedback is that the movie is all volume and little shape. The action is described as overblown rather than thrilling, the pacing drags, and the film leans heavily on slow-motion heroics and blaring music. Instead of escalating tension, the style appears to flatten it.
Bottom line
For viewers who like their action cinema maximalist and messy, there may be a few guilty-pleasure thrills in the sheer excess. But if you’re looking for a sharp thriller or a satisfying identity-reveal drama, this looks like a hard pass.
Top Letterboxd reviews
ash (0.5★) · 95 likes
ನಾನು ಯಾರು
मैं कौन हूँ
నేను ఎవరు
நான் யார்
ഞാൻ ആരാണ്
Who am I
Bro kept asking this in 6 languages during his introduction fight which became more or less my state after completing the movie. This will definitely drive you into an existential crisis as you understand the ultimate meaning of life which is nothing.
Bro video calls himself and starts getting-off hyping himself in real life with his other self talking to eachother about himself, transcendental cinema right… more
Aman (0.5★) · 85 likes
Don't teach your father how to f***
Lijin · 64 likes
Martin is an action thriller that follows a man with no memory trying to figure out who he is. The lead performance is underwhelming. The story is weak due to poor writing, and the screenplay is messy and confusing. The background music is too loud and overused, while the songs are decent. The visuals look artificial in many portions, and the VFX is inconsistent. The action sequences are over the top but fail to create any real impact. The pacing is dull, with excessive slow motion shots that further drag the film. The emotional moments have no effect. Overall, it’s a disappointing and forgettable watch.
GouthamaSid (0.5★) · 50 likes
Inevitably, post the success of KGF, Neel has influenced a slew a writers and directors in Kannada to aim big; which is a welcome change but has it inspired them to present the craft on par? Sadly, NO. Ominously, it has in-fact inspired the ones who are talentless and the ones who simply mimic instead of emulate and there is a difference between the two. KGF was Neel’s craft, which the mediocre lot don’t understand. High time every writer and… more Inevitably, post the success of KGF, Neel has influenced a slew a writers and directors in Kannada to aim big; which is a welcome change but has it inspired them to present the craft on par? Sadly, NO. Ominously, it has in-fact inspired the ones who are talentless and the ones who simply mimic instead of emulate and there is a difference between the two. KGF was Neel’s craft, which the mediocre lot don’t understand. High time every writer and… more
mayureshojha18 (0.5★) · 48 likes
chaotic, excruciating and mind numbing. Martin directed by A.P. Arjun felt less like a movie and more like an endurance test. If cinema had a Hall of Shame this would waltz right in and demand a spotlight. A.P. Arjun if you’re reading this it’s time to rethink your life choices because calling this film entertainment is like calling quicksand a comfy spa.
The plot? A complete disaster more like a mess of random events that still don't make sense even… more
2022 · Action, Thriller, Adventure · 2h 48m · PG-13 · Curator 4.7/10 (197.3K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
If the appeal is sheer scale, loudness, and maximalist star power, this is a more polished version of that approach.