Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva (2022) is a Hindi-language superhero film, directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. The film is part of the Astraverse and was released by Star Studios / Dharma Productions. Audience rating: 5.6/10.
What is Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva (2022) about?
A young man named Shiva discovers he has a unique connection with fire and is the chosen one of an ancient cosmic weapon — an Astra — as he battles the forces of darkness.
Released in 2022, Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva was directed by Ayan Mukerji and produced under the Star Studios / Dharma Productions banner. The film occupies a significant place within the Astraverse — contributing to the ongoing narrative and mythology of that cinematic universe.
The film features lead performances from Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, among others, anchoring a story that adapts characters first brought to life in Independent. Its source material gives the film a foundation rooted in decades of published storytelling, which Mukerji and the creative team interpret through a cinematic lens.
The film's 5.6 audience rating indicates a mixed response. Even so, it holds interest as part of the broader Astraverse catalogue and for how it fits into the lineage of Independent-based cinema.
What happens in Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva (2022)? — Full Plot
In present-day Mumbai, Shiva (Ranbir Kapoor) is a young DJ who organisizs a Holi festival celebration where he meets Isha (Alia Bhatt), a charming young woman who immediately captivates him. Their initial romantic encounter is the franchise's primary character-relationship setup; Shiva's substantial commitment to Isha is treated with substantial emotional weight. The setup also reveals Shiva's mysterious supernatural connection — he has visions of fire-based supernatural events that no one else can see.
Shiva's visions are connected to the Astraverse — a hidden world of supernatural weapons (Astras) created in ancient India by sage warriors. The Astras are physical embodiments of divine powers; the Brahmāstra is the most powerful Astra ever created, capable of universal destruction. The Brahmāstra was broken into three pieces and hidden across India to prevent its misuse; the Brahmāstra Council (a secret organization of Astra-guardians) has been protecting the pieces for centuries.
Junoon (Mouni Roy), the franchise's primary antagonist, has been hunting the three Brahmāstra pieces. Junoon possesses substantial supernatural abilities; she has been corrupting the Astras to her own purposes and plans to reunite all three Brahmāstra pieces to gain ultimate power. Her hunt of the pieces — including her attacks on the Brahmāstra Council's protectors — provides the franchise's primary plot threat.
Shiva is approached by Anish Shetty (Shahrukh Khan in extended cameo) — a scientist who has the Vanarastra (a primate-based Astra). Shetty briefs Shiva on the Astraverse and reveals that Shiva is the inheritor of the Agneyastra (fire-based Astra). Shetty is killed by Junoon shortly after the briefing; his death is the franchise's primary character pivot, forcing Shiva into active engagement with the supernatural conflict.
Shiva, Isha, and Guru (Amitabh Bachchan) — the Brahmāstra Council's senior elder — embark on a mission to find the remaining Brahmāstra pieces before Junoon. Their investigation takes them across multiple Indian locations including Varanasi, the Himalayas, and various ancient temple sites. The franchise's commitment to depicting authentic Indian locations provides substantial atmospheric depth; the location cinematography is widely cited as one of the franchise's most-effective creative achievements.
Who stars in Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva (2022)?
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What are some facts about Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva (2022)?
Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva released in 2022, placing it within the 2020s era of comic book cinema — a decade that saw superhero films become the dominant force at the global box office.
Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the film was produced by Star Studios / Dharma Productions and adapts source material from Independent.
The principal cast features Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, with key supporting roles played by Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy.
The film belongs to Astraverse — Yash Raj Films' Astraverse — Indian fantasy superhero cinema.
Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva carries an audience rating of 5.6 — a mixed reception that highlights the divisive nature of superhero film adaptations.
The Independent source material for Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva has been in continuous publication for decades, giving filmmakers a rich well of storylines, character arcs, and iconography to draw upon.
Modern superhero films like this one use a mix of practical effects and digital VFX, with entire sequences often shot against volume walls or LED stages pioneered by shows like The Mandalorian.
Brahmastra: Part One — Shiva is catalogued on Movies on Comics among our collection of 163 comic book films spanning 48 years of cinema — from Richard Donner's 1978 Superman to the present day.
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