Loading dispatches...
← Return to Newsroomgeneral
Spider-Man: Brand New Day reminded me of Alag, a flawed Hindi film ahead of its time
Breaking
Anthropic blocks possible attempt to use AI to make biological weapons
Watching Spider-Man: Brand New Day in a packed theatre, amid the excitement surrounding the latest chapter in the Marvel franchise, my mind unexpectedly wandered to a Hindi film that released nearly two decades ago and disappeared without leaving much of a cultural footprint. That film was Alag (2006).Made on a reported budget of around Rs 8 crore, Alag was a massive box-office failure—and for reasons that are not hard to fathom. The film was uneven, its writing often simplistic, its execution far less sophisticated than its ambitious premise demanded, and its visual effects did not always support the scale of the story it wanted to tell. It was not a well-made film, and its failure cannot simply be blamed on audiences being unwilling to accept experimentation. Yet, watching Spider-Man: Brand New Day, I found myself thinking about the core idea behind Alag: a young person born with extraordinary mental abilities, isolated from the world because of those powers, and eventually treated as an object of scientific experimentation. Tejas possesses both telepathic and telekinetic abilities, while Jean and Sara from Spider Man: A Brand New Day share extraordinary telepathic powers. The similarities are not exact, and the two films are very different in tone, scale and storytelling. But the thematic overlap is difficult to ignore. Tejas: A life spent hidden from the world In Alag, Tejas, played by Akshay Kapoor, is born with extraordinary telepathic and telekinetic abilities. Fearing how the world may react to his son, Tejas’s father keeps him hidden in a basement for 18 years. His isolation is presented as protection, but it also leaves him completely unfamiliar with the world beyond the walls of his home. After his father’s death, Tejas is forced to step outside and experience life on his own. His innocence and curiosity make him vulnerable, and his powers soon bring him to Dr Richard Dyer, a scientist who wants to study him. Dyer claims that understanding Tejas’s abilities could lead to breakthroughs in treating conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. But behind the language of scientific progress lies a far more troubling ambition. The doctor has already experimented on human beings, causing several deaths, and Tejas is meant to become his next subject.Story continues below this ad Jean: Searching for the sister she lost In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Jean’s journey begins from a very different emotional place. She is searching for her sister, Sara, who, like her, possesses extraordinary telepathic powers. Both Jean and Sara were abandoned by their mother because they were different (alag). Sara was later taken by Dr Metzger for experimentation and lost her life as a result. When Jean comes looking for her, she too becomes a target. Jean’s telepathic abilities allow her to read and enter other people’s minds. She is trapped and studied under the familiar justification of the “greater good,” with her powers treated as something that must be understood, controlled and potentially used for the benefit of others. But the experiments meant to contain her instead awaken a new level of strength. When telepathy becomes a means of saving lives The similarities between Tejas and Jean are not limited to the fact that both can read and enter other people’s minds. Before their powers become a source of fear and exploitation, both characters use their telepathic abilities to help save lives.Story continues below this ad In Alag, Tejas uses his powers to enter the mind of the wife of his rehabilitation centre’s owner, who has been in a coma for years. By understanding what is holding her consciousness back and communicating with her through telepathy, Tejas helps bring her out of coma. Jean, too, uses her telepathic abilities to keep Spider-Man alive while he is undergoing treatment. By entering and staying connected to his mind, she helps him hol
With the worldwide release of director Destin Daniel Cretton’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day right around the corner, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are ecstatic and ready to welcome their beloved superhero. Meanwhile, ahead of its July 31 theatrical release, the makers organised a world premiere of the highly anticipated film in Los Angeles on Monday night, July 27, and social media is now flooded with reactions from those who attended.While some have heaped praise on the superhero film, a few expressed mixed feelings. However, no reviews thus far have outright bashed the movie, suggesting it won’t disappoint fans entirely.Jana Nayagan Box Office Collection Day 5 Updates | Vijay’s final film trails behind GOAT, Leo and Varisu; earns just Rs 10.15 cr on Monday Early reactions praise Spider-Man Brand New Day Mentioning that Destin Daniel Cretton injects a ferocious energy into Spider-Man’s latest adventure, an X (formerly Twitter) user named Erik Davis wrote that the film “delivers all the thrills you’d expect from a Tom Holland Spider-Man movie while feeling deeper, more thoughtful and more mature than the previous trilogy.” “That maturity extends beyond the story to the action, with Cretton crafting some of my favourite Spider-Man fight sequences of the Holland era. Part detective story, part psychological thriller, part buddy comedy (the Spider-Man/Punisher banter is so much fun), it stretches in exciting new directions before becoming a genuine love letter to the fans. When you see it, you’ll get it. And yes, the Sadie Sink mystery absolutely pays off. She’s perfect,” he added. Listen. #SpidermanBrandNewDay is my new favorite Spider-Man movie. It is absolutely incredible. Looks gorgeous. Writing is sharp. Performances are excellent. I was smiling the entire time. Even teared up. I am SHOCKED at how good this is. pic.twitter.com/z86QdgsUEz — Matt Nando Kelly (@NandovMovies) July 28, 2026 #SpiderManBrandNewDay is not only Tom Holland’s best Spider-Man movie, it’s one of the best Spider-Man films period. Super emotional and heartfelt, packed with unforgettable moments and an amazing direction, it perfectly captures what makes Peter Parker such an enduring hero. I… pic.twitter.com/HHLJHfDrd1 — The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) July 28, 2026 #SpiderManBrandNewDay is a triumph from Destin Daniel-Cretton. Bursting with heart, sincerity, hope. A story about the need to be vulnerable and human, to not let the world turn you into a monster, to recognize your pain in an effort to help others feel less alone in theirs. It’s… https://t.co/ud5pao6ojw pic.twitter.com/DCJBMrqr9A — Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) July 28, 2026 Calling Brand New Day his “new favourite Spider-Man movie,” one Matt Nando Kelly noted, “It is absolutely incredible. Looks gorgeous. Writing is sharp. Performances are excellent. I was smiling the entire time. Even teared up. I am SHOCKED at how good this is.”Story continues below this ad Opining that Brand New Day may be “the most Marvel-Marvel movie I’ve ever marvelled,” Emmy-winning TV host Brandon Pope wrote, “Destin Daniel Cretton honours beloved Spider-Man media — especially Raimi — to create something soulful + thrilling. Hulk, Punisher deliver. Big reveal lives up. The best of the Tom Holland Spidey series.” He added, “Brand New Day is just the jolt the MCU needed heading into Doomsday. Give Destin Daniel Cretton the keys to whatever Marvel film he wants. He brings a distinct style to Spidey that really adds to the world and leans into the comic book wonder.” Must Read | ‘Remained silent as I was afraid’: Isha Rikhi speaks out on marriage troubles with Badshah While one person called the movie a “triumph from Destin Daniel Cretton,” another one shared that it offers a “fantastic experience.” A third netizen noted that the film features “Tom Holland’s best performance in a film this summer, and it also features a fantastic Jon Bernthal.”Story continues below this ad ‘A mixed bag’: Why some
Discussion (0)