Epic Bollywood film inspires, entertains; violence, tension.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Tense, scary situations. Fighting. A character is shot with a full round of bullets, people are burned alive in "mystical" fire, and a child dies after getting a knife in the back. The main character is an orphan; his loss isn't shown on-screen.
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Gratitude for life, regardless of hardships, is a core tenet. The power of love and the importance of integrity. Courage in the face of extreme adversity and danger is valued, as are perseverance and teamwork.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Shiva focuses on the "light" in life by finding and creating his own joy in the midst of hardship. By looking at life in this way, he can grow and maintain his integrity. His decision to take care of the children in the orphanage shows that he cares. With help of fellow Astra wielders, his guru, and his girlfriend, Isha, Shiva perseveres to learn more about his powers and how to keep the world safe. While Isha could be less defined by her relationship with Shiva, she also serves as a role model because of her tenacity, selflessness, and use of her abilities to help save the world.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Primarily Indian cast, also a young Tibetan actor (Stanzin Denek). Centers on Indian culture and customs, including Diwali. Even though both Isha and the doctor are part of the story, with Isha being the most integral, neither woman is complex or well-defined. Mostly defined through her relationship with Shiva, Isha does show resourcefulness and selflessness. The doctor is defined only by her ability to fly a helicopter and wield the Astra.
Parents need to know that Brahmastra Part One: Shiva is a musical-action-fantasy Bollywood film. It focuses on an orphan (Ranbir Kapoor) who discovers that he has special abilities thanks to a universal power that could destroy the world in the wrong hands. Scenes of action and violence include gun use, people burning in a mystical fire, murder (including a child), and scary, tense moments. There's also a bit of language ("hell," "bloody," "oh my God") and kissing. Characters demonstrate integrity, courage, perseverance, and teamwork. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
Brahmastra is a visually dazzling and entertaining film
Brahmastra is visually enchanting with amazing CGI and lovable characters.
What's the Story?
BRAHMASTRA PART ONE: SHIVA focuses on the title character, Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor), an orphan who has vivid visions and an odd relationship with fire. As it turns out, his abilities are rooted in the Brahmastra, a source of power that provides its protectors with special gifts. But in the wrong hands, the Brahmastra could destroy the world. So it's up to Shiva; his love, Isha (Alia Bhatt); and his guru (Amitabh Bachchan) to save the world and stop villain Junoon (Mouni Roy) from putting the world in danger.
This musical fantasyis a jam-packed extravaganza that offers viewers the best of Bollywood. Audiences who aren't already familiar with Bollywood movies will find Brahmastra Part One: Shiva a good intro thanks to its setup, which has similarities to TV series and films like Avatar: The Last Airbender and the MCU. But the film doesn't merely copy others that came before it -- it quickly shows why Bollywood is unmatched when it comes to spectacle.
Kapoor is fun and charming as Shiva, who has mystical ties to the group of people who control and take care of the Astras of the universe. As his fated love, Isha, Bhatt is very likable; she also manages to turn Isha into less of a female cliché and more of an integral part of the storyline. Roy is believably scary as Junoon, though it's unclear why she's given her life to serve evil. Regardless, she has a menacing presence and proves herself to be a potent force on-screen. Fans of Bollywood will also appreciate seeing legends like Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Nagarjuna Akkineni, and Dimple Kapadia in the film, effectively passing the torch to a new generation of Bollywood celebrities. Overall, Brahmastra Part One: Shiva is an entertaining epic that justifies its near three-hour run time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Shiva's mindset. How does he live his life? Why is it inspiring?
What do Bollywood films tend to have in common? How does Brahmastra Part One: Shiva compare?
Why is the power of love described as the most powerful form in the universe?
How do Shiva and Isha show perseverance? How do the characters demonstrate teamwork?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Monique Jones
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
