Souvik Saha
Kunal Kemmu turns the familiar spy-thriller formula on its head with Vibe, a breezy and irreverent comedy that finds plenty of humour in the absurdities of the espionage genre.
Vibe is a breezy, crowd-pleasing spy parody that largely succeeds by trusting its own comic instincts. Director-actor Kunal Kemmu flips the conventions of the spy universe into a full-on comedy, delivering an entertaining two hours and 21 minutes of chaos, chemistry and well-timed punchlines.
While the film is not without its flaws, particularly in the second half, it understands exactly what kind of film it wants to be: a full-blown spy parody designed primarily to make audiences laugh.
Story & Plot
Vibe follows two unlikely men who find themselves caught up in a dangerous national security mission.
Kunal Kemmu plays Bugs, aka Bhagirath Bhargav, a hopelessly optimistic rogue agent whose unconventional methods become central to the mission. When the National Security Agency suspects a major terrorist plot, Bugs turns to his childhood friend Hardik, a recovering drug addict who has been planted as a spy.
What follows is a deliberately chaotic mission involving secret operations, suspicious characters, national security threats and two men who seem far less prepared for espionage than the situation demands.
The film also introduces Madam H, played by Preity Zinta, a tough and commanding senior officer who oversees the operation.
Kunal Kemmu’s Direction
As both director and lead actor, Kunal Kemmu clearly understands the comic rhythm he wants Vibe to maintain.
Rather than treating the spy setup seriously, Kemmu deliberately exaggerates familiar genre elements and uses them as the foundation for comedy. Gadgets, secret missions, government agencies, action sequences and larger-than-life characters are all given a humorous spin.
The first half is particularly effective because the screenplay keeps moving. Jokes arrive naturally through situations and character interactions instead of depending entirely on slapstick.
Kemmu’s biggest achievement is maintaining the film’s self-aware tone without allowing it to become completely chaotic.
Performances
Kunal Kemmu
Kemmu embraces the comic tone wholeheartedly. As Bugs, his optimistic, immature and unpredictable personality becomes the engine of much of the humour. He brings an infectious man-child energy to the role.
Sparsh Srivastava
Sparsh emerges as one of the film’s biggest surprises. His tech-obsessed rookie creates a strong contrast with Kemmu’s unpredictability, while his nervous reactions and comic timing stand out.
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta makes a welcome return as Madam H, bringing authority and attitude to the chaotic world of the film. She handles both the dry humour and action-oriented portions comfortably.
Nirahua & Yashpal Sharma
The two play comparatively competent agents, creating a deadpan contrast to the madness surrounding Bugs and Hardik. Yashpal Sharma gets some effective moments, while Nirahua could have had more material.
Vanshika Dhir
Vanshika Dhir makes an impressive debut with noticeable screen presence and confidence, suggesting potential for future projects.
Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore appears in a brief cameo that works as a pleasant surprise and fits naturally within the narrative.
Screenplay & Comedy
The screenplay is at its best when it stops trying to be a conventional spy thriller.
The humour comes from the contrast between the seriousness of the mission and the incompetence, unpredictability and unusual personalities of the people involved.
The first half particularly benefits from this approach. The jokes are reasonably well-timed, the characters have distinct personalities and the narrative rarely feels stagnant.
Importantly, Vibe does not constantly rely on crude slapstick. Much of its comedy comes from situations, reactions and the absurdity of the spy setup itself.
Action & Music
The action sequences have been designed around the film’s comic identity rather than being treated as standalone serious set pieces. This works well because the action often becomes another source of humour.
The music adds energy to the film and complements its fast-paced sequences. While the soundtrack may not dominate the experience, it effectively supports the film’s overall mood.
First Half vs Second Half
✓ First Half
Energetic, fast-moving and packed with character-driven humour. The chemistry between Kemmu and Sparsh keeps the comedy engaging.
△ Second Half
The narrative slows down as the central mission becomes more serious. The comic momentum weakens and the lack of a strong antagonist affects the tension.
Second Half Is the Problem
The biggest weakness of Vibe is its second half.
After an energetic and consistently amusing first half, the narrative begins to slow down once the story starts taking its central mission more seriously.
The shift from comedy to a more conventional plot-driven approach reduces some of the spontaneity that made the first half enjoyable.
The absence of a particularly strong antagonist in the latter portion also weakens the tension. As the stakes increase, the film paradoxically becomes less exciting because the comic momentum starts to disappear.
A tighter second half, with a stronger central conflict and more consistent humour, could have significantly improved the overall impact.
What Works & What Doesn’t
✓ What Works
- Strong comic chemistry between Kunal Kemmu and Sparsh Srivastava
- Confident comic performance and direction from Kemmu
- Preity Zinta’s commanding screen presence
- Energetic and entertaining first half
- Smart use of spy-film clichés
- Action that complements the parody
- Good supporting performances
- Pleasant Sharmila Tagore cameo
- Easy-going theatrical experience
✕ What Doesn’t
- Second half loses momentum
- Story becomes unnecessarily serious at points
- Latter portion lacks a strong antagonist
- Some supporting characters could be utilised better
- Film could benefit from a shorter runtime
Light, Funny & Made for a Stress-Free Watch
Vibe is not attempting to reinvent the spy genre — and that is perfectly fine.
Kunal Kemmu instead takes the familiar ingredients of a spy thriller and turns them into a comedy playground. The result is a film that delivers plenty of laughs, particularly in its first half, while the chemistry between Kemmu and Sparsh Srivastava provides much of its entertainment value.
The second half does drag, and the film loses some of the comic energy that initially makes it so enjoyable. Nevertheless, the overall experience remains light, entertaining and largely satisfying.
If you’re looking for a stress-free comedy with spy-movie madness, quirky characters and plenty of laughs, Vibe does the job.
