Between this outing and 2020’s The Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed has pretty much cemented himself as the king of overcoming unexpected health crises onscreen. And while Mogul Mowgli will certainly draw comparisons to the aforementioned Oscar nominated film, it certainly deserves its own set of accolades. You see, this movie is a vivid inspection of art, ambition and the multi-generational immigrant experience. Our director, Bassam Tariq, expertly infuses nightmarish visions throughout to marry these themes together. It can admittedly get a little “heady” at times, but powerful, nonetheless. A lot of the potent emotion comes courtesy of Ahmed, of course, who brings forth a raw portrayal full of life, desperation, and perseverance. It’s quite impressive how he is able to dig his heels into the material without giving into a self-pitying depiction. There’s hurt and confusion, yes, but there’s not-so-subtle notes of strength and stubbornness. But, while the culturally rich story is deep with meaning, its challenging metaphors can get in the way of a complete understanding. And when the credits roll with much unresolved, you may be left in a state of un-fulfillment. What you won’t be able to deny, though, is the raw artistry that was laid out every step of the way.