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Road (2002) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo

Last updated: 8 May 2026

Road (2002) Review

Road (2002) — a Hindi thriller movie directed by Rajat Mukherjee. The cast includes Vivek Oberoi, Antara Mali, Manoj Bajpayee. Arvind Chauhan and Lakhsmi are in love with each other. Lakhsmi's dad, a senior police inspector, hates Arvind, and so Arvind and Lakshmi decide to elope Our Rating: 2.25/5. Verdict: FLOP. Released: 27 Sept 2002. Runtime: 2h 24m.

Road
FLOP

Road(2002)

Only Accidents Don't Kill

Hindi · Thriller

2h 24m · 27 Sept 2002

Music: Nitin Raikwar, Sandesh Shandilya | DOP: Sudeep Chatterjee | Writer: Rajnish Thakur

Thriller

Ratings

IMDbIMDb5.7
LetterboxdLetterboxd3.1
Metacritic UserMetacritic User0
TMDBTMDB50
Rotten Tomatoes AudienceRotten Tomatoes Audience44

Our Rating

2.25

📖 Story

Road is a Hindi thriller that revolves around a young couple who embark on a road trip that quickly turns into a nightmare. The story explores themes of trust, survival, and the dark side of human nature as the couple encounters dangerous strangers and unforeseen threats on their journey. The narrative builds tension through a series of suspenseful events, leading to a gripping climax.

🔍 Analysis

Road attempts to blend elements of thriller and road movie genres, presenting a tense and claustrophobic atmosphere throughout its runtime. The content is intense, focusing on the psychological and physical challenges faced by the protagonists. The screenplay maintains a steady pace, especially in the first half, which effectively sets up the characters and the impending danger. However, the second half tends to drag at times, with some scenes feeling repetitive and slowing down the momentum.

The film's music, composed by Nitin Raikwar and Sandesh Shandilya, includes a few songs that complement the mood but do not stand out as memorable hits. The background score is effective in heightening suspense and enhancing the thriller elements, contributing significantly to the film's overall tone. Cinematography by Sudeep Chatterjee captures the barren road settings and confined spaces well, adding to the film's gritty feel.

While the narrative and screenplay have their moments of strength, the film struggles with pacing inconsistencies and lacks a strong emotional connect in parts. The first half is more engaging, but the second half loses some of its grip, which affects the overall impact. Despite these flaws, Road remains a noteworthy attempt at a different kind of thriller in early 2000s Bollywood cinema.

🎭 Performances

Vivek Oberoi: Delivering a restrained and intense performance, Vivek Oberoi portrays the vulnerable yet determined protagonist convincingly.

Antara Mali: Antara Mali brings a mix of vulnerability and strength to her role, effectively conveying the emotional turmoil of her character.

Manoj Bajpayee: Manoj Bajpayee provides a chilling and memorable performance as the antagonist, adding depth and menace to the film.

💪 Strengths & Weaknesses

✅

Strengths

  • ✓Strong performances, especially by Manoj Bajpayee
  • ✓Effective background score enhancing suspense
  • ✓Gritty and atmospheric cinematography
  • ✓Engaging first half with steady buildup
❌

Weaknesses

  • ✕Pacing issues in the second half
  • ✕Lack of memorable songs
  • ✕Some repetitive scenes reducing tension
  • ✕Limited emotional connect in parts

🎬 Direction & Writing

Rajat Mukherjee's direction shows promise in handling a thriller with a confined setting, maintaining tension and mood effectively in the first half. However, the screenplay could have been tighter to avoid pacing issues in the latter part of the film.

📰 Critic Reviews

No critic reviews found yet.

📰 Ratings Sources

SourceRating
IMDbIMDb
5.7
LetterboxdLetterboxd
3.1
Metacritic UserMetacritic User
0
TMDBTMDB
50
Rotten Tomatoes AudienceRotten Tomatoes Audience
44

Our Rating

2.25/5
★★★★★★★★

💰 Box Office Collection

No collection data available yet.

🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards

No centers data available.

No awards data available.

😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics

TypeValue
Positive30%
Neutral40%
Negative30%

Critics

Critics generally appreciated the film's attempt at a taut thriller and the performances, particularly Manoj Bajpayee's menacing role. However, many pointed out the uneven pacing and lack of strong emotional engagement as drawbacks. The technical aspects like cinematography and background score received positive mentions, while the music and screenplay were seen as average.

Final Box-Office Result

FLOP

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When did Road release in theatres?▾

Road released on 27 September 2002 (2002).

Is Road a hit or flop?▾

Road is declared a FLOP at the box office.

What is the budget of Road?▾

Budget of Road is approximately ₹136700 Crore.

Where to watch Road online? OTT release date?▾

Road is available on Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads. OTT date will be updated soon.

Who directed Road?▾

Road directed by Rajat Mukherjee. Produced by Ram Gopal Varma.

Who are the main cast members of Road?▾

Road stars Vivek Oberoi, Antara Mali, Manoj Bajpayee.

What is the Tollybo rating for Road?▾

Tollybo rates Road 2.25/5. Verdict: FLOP.

Who composed the music for Road?▾

Music for Road composed by Nitin Raikwar, Sandesh Shandilya.

What is the genre and runtime of Road?▾

Road — Genre: Thriller, Runtime: 144 minutes, Language: Hindi.

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