RGV's Department gets negative reviews from film critics

Ram Gopal Varma's latest Hindi movie Department starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Rana Daggubati, has received negative reviews from film critics. The film has more drawbacks than its strengths. The film critics are very upset with boring screenplay, the poor video quality and weird camera angles and the loud background score. It has been rated an average of 2 out of 5. Continue to read film critics verdict.

NDTV – IANS Rating: 3
Department tells a virile story with no patience for sappy humbug. It's not meant for those who think lovers laughing their way into death, as they did in Ishaqzaade, are the last words in ruinous relationships. In Department, the characters share a far more intimate bonding with their guns than with their friends.

Oneindia – Nabanita's Rating: 2.5
Department is a sure let down. For those who suffer eye problems, Department is a complete 'no no' for them. In short, this RGV flick is a complete waste of time and money. You are sure to curse yourself once to move out of theatre, after watching out RGV's camera obsession and bizarre action.

Koimoi - Mrigank Dhaniwala's Rating: 2.5
Department is a below-average fare that will appeal only to a few audiences who will like the action, in spite of the ordinary script and the irritating narrative style.

Bollywood Hungama - Taran Adarsh's Rating: 2
Department is neither novel, nor experimental, but a return to the tried and tested formula. Disappointing!

Hindustan Times - Anupama Chopra's Rating: 2
The film begins with an interesting shot of kids playing with a ball - the camera is the ball - but the novelty quickly wears off. The hazy shots, zero lighting and jerky movements made me dizzy.

Mid-Day - Janhavi Samant's Rating: 1.5
This is not a film. It is a joke. Ramu, take a breath. Take a vacation. Go to Haridwar, meditate. A good cinematographer and a good film will come to you.

DNA - Chaya Unnikrishnan and Priya Sugathan's Rating: 1.5
Dizzying shots, bizarre camera angles and a confusing storyline mark Ram Gopal Varma’s cop and underworld drama, Department. With Varma returning to his forte (read underworld), one expected a gritty drama but what unfolds is a saga of gory violence and crass scenes.

India Today - Vinayak Chakravorty's Rating: 1.5
RGV merely uses the encounter cop theme to unleash a mindless splatterfest. Bullets fly, brains spill and blood flows as loud sound effects bang against your eardrums. For an action film, the violence is badly photographed and looks dated.

Rediff - Raja Sen's Rating: 1
Ram Gopal Varma's Department takes his increasingly schizoid cinematographic tendencies into a whole other league, and gives us, besides watery eyes and potential nausea, the filmmaker at his most insipid.