Dropped on Prime Video on June 4, 2025, 'Stolen' is the kind of thriller that grabs you and doesn’t let go. This Hindi-language flick, directed by newbie Karan Tejpal, runs a tight 93 minutes and throws you into a wild ride through rural India, where a stolen baby, a raging mob, and two city brothers collide in a mess of chaos and heart. With big names like Anurag Kashyap, Kiran Rao, and Vikramaditya Motwane in its corner, Stolen is raw, gripping, and totally worth your weekend. Let’s break down why it’s such a vibe, from the killer story to the actors who bring it to life and what it all means.
A Story That Sucks You Right In
It all starts at a grimy train station in the middle of nowhere. Jhumpa (Mia Maelzer), a tribal mom, wakes up to find her five-month-old baby, Champa, gone—stolen right out of her arms. Things go from bad to nuts when Raman (Shubham Vardhan), a chill photographer just passing through, picks up the baby’s woollen cap. The crowd jumps to conclusions, pegging him as the thief. His older brother Gautam (Abhishek Banerjee), who’s only there to drag Raman to their mom’s wedding, gets roped into the drama. Before you know it, they’re all—Jhumpa and the brothers—racing to find the kid, dodging an angry mob and wrestling with who to trust.
The story’s got real-world roots, pulling from the 2018 Assam lynching where fake rumors about child theft turned deadly. Stolen nails that sinking feeling of a world where a WhatsApp message can spark a riot. But it doesn’t preach—it just drops you into the madness and lets you ride along with the characters’ messy, human choices.
Analysis: What’s Awesome and What’s Not
Stolen is a banger because it’s so damn tight. Tejpal’s pacing keeps your heart racing, and the short runtime means no boring bits. It’s got big stuff to say—about rich city folks vs. struggling rural ones, how mobs lose their minds, and how fake news screws everything up—but it doesn’t lecture. You feel it through Jhumpa’s pain, Gautam’s wake-up call, or Raman’s quiet do-the-right-thing vibe. It’s super relevant, especially in India where a bad rumor can spark real trouble, but it works anywhere people get caught up in fear and division.
The film’s all-in on realism, and it pays off. The rural vibe feels legit, not some city guy’s cartoon version, and the characters mess up like real people do. Keeping it all in real-time, with no fancy backstory dumps, makes you feel stuck in the moment with them, which amps up the tension.
It’s not perfect, though. The last chunk could’ve been trimmed a bit—some chase bits drag a tad. And yeah, if you’ve seen NH10 or Joram, you might feel like you’ve been here before. The mob’s rage is scary, but we don’t get much on why they’re so quick to flip out beyond the rumor, which could’ve added depth. Still, the way it’s shot and acted makes it feel fresh, and it’s more about the people than the plot twists.
What makes Stolen special is how it sneaks in the big questions without being pushy. You see the city-rural gap in Gautam’s snobby attitude early on, or Jhumpa’s total lack of options. It shows how cops don’t care and systems fail the poor, but it’s all through quick, real moments, not some big speech. It’s a film that makes you think about who we ignore and what we’re cool with, but it’s still a crazy fun thriller.
Actors Who Totally Crush It
The cast is straight-up fire. Abhishek Banerjee, who you might’ve seen in Stree or Paatal Lok, is unreal as Gautam. He’s this cranky city dude at first, rolling his eyes at the whole mess, but watching him face his own biases and step up is so good. Banerjee’s got this knack for the little stuff—a guilty glance, a shaky breath—that makes Gautam’s growth feel real, not like some cheesy hero arc. He’s sarcastic, raw, and quietly brave by the end, and it’s easily his best role yet.
Shubham Vardhan’s Raman is the heart of the film. He’s not out here trying to be a savior, just a guy who can’t look away from someone’s pain. Vardhan plays him with this low-key intensity that’s super believable. The way he and Banerjee bounce off each other feels so much like real brothers—snapping, joking, having each other’s backs—it keeps the crazy plot grounded.
Then there’s Mia Maelzer as Jhumpa. Man, she’s a gut-punch. Her desperate, fierce mom energy is everything—every look, every shaky step screams love and fear for her kid. Maelzer doesn’t need big speeches; her face and body language say it all, making Jhumpa’s fight hit you right in the feels. The side characters, like Harish Khanna and Shahidur Rahaman, make the world feel real too—every cop, villager, and random bystander pops off the screen.
A First-Time Director Who Kills It
Karan Tejpal comes out swinging with his first film. Stolen doesn’t mess around—it’s 90 minutes of pure intensity, no fluff. The cinematography’s gritty and in-your-face, making you feel the sweat and panic of a night gone wrong. The chase scenes are wild, shot with this shaky, raw energy that’s like the car chase in Children of Men, but scrappier. Tejpal skips the usual flashback nonsense, letting the brothers’ quick chats and jabs tell you who they are. It’s such a smart move, keeping things real and fast.
The sound design by Susmit Nath and Arpad Bondy’s chill score are on point, cranking up the vibe without stealing the show. From the creepy quiet of the empty station to the mob’s roar, it’s like you’re right there.
Worth Your Time?
Stolen is a total rush—tense, emotional, and impossible to look away from. Banerjee and Maelzer are next-level, and Tejpal’s directing is so sharp for a first go. It’s got a couple rough spots, like a slightly draggy end and some familiar beats, but the killer cast and in.