Raid, the title itself is self-explanatory. The plot revolves around the no-nonsense, honest-to-the-core Income Tax Deputy Commisioner, Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn), and his quest to raid all the top notch businessmen, henchmen and politicians of the country defaulting on the Income Tax. Rameshwar Singh aka Tauji (Saurabh Shukla), a typical greasy politician is his nemesis. Together, they begin a cat and mouse chase kind of game which results in amazing twists and turns as the film progresses, keeping masses at the edge of their seats, waiting for more. Amay's target is to recover a whooping amount of Rs. 420 crores which Tauji has hidden away in his 'white house'. As the film progresses, Tauji mounts pressure on Amay to withdraw the raid but despite all this, he carries out the due procedure.

First and foremost let's get to the performances of the leads. Both Ajay Devgn and Saurabh Shukla shine through their characters. They are impactful and totally keep you hooked. Every time they appear on screen, sparks fly and you end up feeling the tension. Ajay Devgn looks strong and powerful playing the role of an honest IT officer who is not scared of anyone. He impresses everytime he delivers a punchline and emotes so much through his eyes. Saurabh Shukla as the corrupt politician is equally good and gives Ajay a tough fight on screen. Ileana D'cruz, as Devgn's wife, gives depth to his character. Pushpa Joshi, who plays Saurabh Shukla's mother, has a key role in the whole film. Every time she appears on screen, her wry sense of humour releases tension and provides a good break from all the intensity.

While the leads have done justice to their characters, supporting actors, Amit Sial, Amit Bimrot and Gayathri, who play Ajay's colleagues, give an honest performance. Saurabh Shukla's family members played by Ravi Khanwilkar, Sheeba Chadha, Devas Dixit, Pravin Sisodia, among others stay true to their on screen roles of flawed relatives of a corrupt politician.

A special mention to Ritesh Shah, who has written the screenplay, story and the dialogues of the movie. The dialogue-baazi is sure to be greeted with whistles and claps. While all dialogues are brilliant, one sequence is especially stellar. Somewhere in the film, Tauji is having dinner at the table. He rounds the people sitting with him one by one and then asks wryly, "Vibhishan Kaun Hai?". In a dramatic style, the identity of this said Vibhishan is revealed in the end, shocking your senses.

On the whole, RAID is a realistic and hard-hitting thriller that keeps you hooked right till the end. A film that is sure to win accolades as well as positive word of mouth. This twisty tale is definitely a must watch movie this weekend.