Fateh is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film written and directed by Sonu Sood in his directorial debut. Produced by Shakti Sagar Productions, and Zee Studios and co-produced by Ajay Dhama,[3][4][5] the film stars Sood in the titular role, alongside Naseeruddin Shah, Jacqueline Fernandez, Vijay Raaz and Dibyendu Bhattacharya.[6][7] It follows Fateh, an ex-agent who comes out of his tranquil life in order to bring down the entire cyber mafia syndicate when a local girl falls victim to it and goes missing.
The film was officially announced in December 2021, while its title was revealed in October 2022. Principal photography commenced in March 2023 and wrapped up in October 2023.
Fateh was theatrically released on 10 January 2025 and received mixed reviews from critics.[8]
Plot
Fateh Singh, an ex-special ops officer, lives a very peaceful life as a dairy farming supervisor in Punjab until a village girl Nimrit Kaur falls prey to a cybercrime syndicate headed by Raza and Satya Prakash. Joining forces with Khushi Sharma, an ethical hacker, Fateh uses their combined skills to rescue Nimrit and destroy the cybercrime syndicate.
The film was announced by Zee Studios in December 2021.[10] Later, Sonu Sood revealed during an event in October 2022[11] that he is making a film titled Fateh in which he will mark his writing and directorial debut.[12]
Filming
The shooting of the film began in March 2023 in Punjab[13] and was wrapped-up in October 2023.[14]
The soundtrack album is composed by Yo Yo Honey Singh, Shabbir Ahmed, Haroon–Gavin and Vivek Hariharan while the background score is composed by John Stewart Eduri, and features the composition "To the Moon" by Hans Zimmer.[15][16]
The first single titled "Fateh Kar Fateh" was released on 12 December 2024.[17] The second single titled "Hitman" was released on 17 December 2024.[18] The third single titled "Ruaa Ruaa" was released on 26 December 2024.
Ronak Kotecha of The Times of India gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "At its core, Fateh highlights the vulnerabilities of our fast-paced digital lives. While its blood-soaked narrative may not resonate with everyone, it effectively underscores the urgency of its theme."[24] Rishil Jogani of Pinkvilla gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Fateh emerges as a promising film, especially considering it's Sonu Sood's first venture into directing. It's recommended for those who enjoy action-packed dramas with a touch of social relevance. The movie isn't without its flaws, particularly in its narrative predictability and some visual inconsistencies, but these are overshadowed by its strengths. For fans of Bollywood action thrillers looking for both entertainment and a message, Fateh delivers a satisfying experience."[25] Ganesh Aaglave of Firstpost gave 3.5/5 and wrote "Fateh is a big-screen entertainer and deserves an audience for its crisp storytelling and stylish action sequences."[26]
Bollywood Hungama gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "Fateh is a slick action entertainer that exposes the horrors of loan apps, a burning issue in the country right now. Sonu Sood is impressive as an actor and also as director in this film that has the potential to surprise though the opening will be impacted due to limited buzz."[27]
Trisha Bhattacharya of India Today gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "For fans of Sonu Sood or those looking for a light masala entertainer with a socially relevant theme, Fateh might be worth a watch. However, it’s not a film that will linger in your mind long after the credits roll."[28] Tanmayi Savadi of Times Now gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "Fateh offers nothing new in terms of the plot. The saving graces are the actors who put their heart and soul into making it a bearable affair. If you are a fan of Sonu Sood, Fateh could make for a decent watch. Otherwise, it suffers from unexciting treatment even when style and action are in abundance."[29]
Devesh Sharma of Filmfare gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "the film boasts of several slick action scenes but lacks an even pace."[30] Jagadish Angadi of Deccan Herald gave 2.5/5 stars and praised Sood's performance in the action sequences, but criticized its excessive violence and lacking originality in plot and screenplay.[31]Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "Fateh is marked by dizzying momentum if not sustained clarity. Sonu Sood delivers a no-frills lead performance that is perfectly in sync with the spirit and substance of the film."[32]
Mayur Sanap of Rediff gave 2/5 stars and wrote, "Dark, disturbing, and full of gore; Fateh is gung-ho in its efforts to make this stylised action yarn as brutal as possible."[33]Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave 2/5 stars and wrote, "Your tipping point depends upon how much sickening, relentless violence you can handle: clearly, the action choreographers have had a lot of fun, and you go along up until a point. After that, it all becomes an empty, exhausting blur."[34] Shubham Kulkarni of OTTplay gave 2/5 stars and wrote, "Fateh has very little to offer for redemption in a runtime that is crisp but filled with a lot of things that aspire to be John Wick-styled drama but can only manage a weak replica of Animal, which is such a sad trajectory for any film."[35]
Anuj Kumar of The Hindu wrote "Bollywood begins 2025 with a bloody nose as Sonu Sood goes hammer and tongs to create a space for himself on the high table."[36] Rishabh Suri of Hindustan Times wrote "While Fateh does not go out of its way to subvert the action genre, the film’s international treatment — especially in the action sequences — is definitely bound to impress people."[37] Rahul Desai of The Hollywood Reporter India wrote "Sonu Sood's directorial debut is dotted with inspired action sequences and clumsy writing."[38]
