Thumbs up,
by Subhash K Jha,

Bolly Spice
:

…The profoundly moving movie is decked with luminosity, not the least of it being trackable to Abhishek Bachchan’s incredibly immersive performance. The two girls, Pearl Dey and Ahilya Bamroo, who play Bachchan’s daughter Reya at two different stages of the character’s life, are precious discoveries….

full review

Thumbs up,

Bollywood Life
:

…Overall, Shoojit Sircar again manages to tap into emotions with a story of hope and resilience with another character who is determined to challenge his fate. Will Arjun survive to dance at his daughter’s wedding? It’s a question that lingers on our minds till the very end. The sincere story and its remarkable execution, the frequent stillness on screen amidst the chaos in our protagonist’s life, the breezy music that soothes our mind, and the solid performances all make it a wonderful watch….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Neha Sen,

Deccan Herald
:

…‘I Want to Talk’ is the soft, slow-paced, and yet painfully raw slice of life that will definitely steal a piece of your heart….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Simran Singh,

DNA
:

…Regardless of the few hiccups, I Want To Talk is Abhishek Bachchan’s finest performance after Guru, and it’s an emotional, heart-touching flick that beautifully captures the father-daughter’s complicated relationship with relatable drama. Though the movie has a niche audience, such slice-of-life dramas deserve to be enjoyed on the big screen….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Devesh Sharma,

Filmfare
:

…The film is more of a passion project than a commercial vehicle. It tells a humorous tale about human resilience, that moves in its own way, not following the rigid norms of cinema. Watch it for the acting talent on display and for the message it conveys in its own meandering ways….

full review

Thumbs up,
by “Prathamesh Jadhav “,

Free Press Journal
:

…The makers here are not exactly paraphrasing, but most certainly are reconstructing motifs to signify the message — is this how I ease the burden of my being? Perhaps by forgiving some and by seeking forgiveness from some! How does one strike that perfect balance? The emotional landscape here is far more challenging to navigate for a film that may appear on the surface as a slice of life, but exposes the deeper contexts and complexities….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Zinia Bandyopadhyay,

india today
:

…If you want to take a break from all the sound and fury of action and larger-than-life films, this one is for you. It will make you cry, laugh, and just enjoy the journey….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Uday Bhatia,

Live Mint
:

…At the end, the real-life Arjun turns up and addresses the camera briefly. I don’t like this now-common practice—it strikes me as a naked bid for audience appreciation of performance as makeup and accent work and fealty to the original. It’s also a way of pushing viewers to sympathise because the events of the film happened to real people. Yet, if the work in question is strong enough, that sympathy will come unbidden. In its methodical, unsparing way, I Want to Talk is strong enough….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Mayank Shekhar,

MiD DAY
:

…I watched IWTT at a preview screening, almost a week before its release. Which tells you how confident the filmmakers are of what they’ve made. And, no, they’re anything but delulu. It’s just a movie, initially low on energy, that gently grows on you, post-interval, when the penny drops. Felt like watching it again while writing this….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Saibal Chatterjee,

NDTV
:

…Sircar has a proven way of extracting relatable drama from little life-and-death moments in which darkness intermingles with determination and our desire for light and, in the process, loses its power to intimidate and mortify….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Sukanya Verma,

Rediff
:

…It’s not just his best but the beginning of how far he’s willing to go in immersing himself with not just a persona but the idea of staying alive. Even an appearance by the real Arjun Sen towards the end cannot lessen that achievement….

full review

Thumbs up,
by Renuka Vyavahare,

Times of India
:

…In book terms, ‘I want to talk’ may not be a page-turner but it’s not a sob story either. It reminds you that you are way more stronger than you think you are….

full review

So-So,
by Murtaza iqbal,

Filmi Beat
:

…Overall, I Want To Talk had the potential to be a better film if the first half was good. But, a funny second half and Abhishek Bachchan’s exceptional performance save it. Well, it is surely not one of the best works of Shoojit Sircar. But, if you are an Abhishek Bachchan fan, it is a must watch for you….

full review

So-So,
by Mannath Sahu,

fullhyd.com
:

…In the end, I Want To Talk isn’t a tale of victory but of survival. For all its flaws – its inertia, its lack of dry humour and its muted climax – I Want To Talk lingers, much like the lessons it seeks to impart. It may not overwhelm with dramatic flair or wit, but it quietly insists on being felt….

full review

So-So,
by Sakshi Verma,

India TV
:

…’I Want To Talk’ has a lot to tell but only to those who want to listen and have patience. The film will also remind you of October a lot. Moreover, the scene where Reya confronts her father will also jog Piku’s memories. While the filmmaker should be helmed for going wrong in writing and screenplay, the cast has done a fab job and should be rightly credited. Despite derailing and slowing down ‘I Want To Talk’ presents a modern-day picture of a broken home, father-daughter relationship and survival. Hence, Abhishek Bachchan and Shoojit Sircar’s film deserves 3 stars….

full review

So-So,
by Rajiv Vijayakar,

koimoi
:

…The climactic revelation about the real Arjun Sen changes the complexion of the entire film, but I wish the too-long earlier portions had not tested your patience….

full review

So-So,
by Sameer Ahire,

Movie Talkies
:

…I expect a lot from the man who is coming after a near-classic and near-perfect feature film like Sardar Udham, so don’t blame me if I call I Want To Talk an average film. Doesn’t matter; he will come back stronger and give his fan, i.e., me, another chance of jumping with joy….

full review

So-So,
by SHRISHTI NEGI,

News18.com
:

…I Want To Talk shows more and talks less and while it works for its own theme, it may appear extremely slow for some. The arc of the narrative is also a straight one with no room for rising or falling action. However, it deserves a watch for Abhishek and his compelling act, making Arjun one of his career’s best performances….

full review

So-So,
by Isha Sharma,

NewsBytes
:

…A character describes Arjun as “battered, beaten, bruised, but functional,” which perfectly encapsulates his journey.
The film, thus, is the portrait of a man who refuses to bow down in front of seemingly insurmountable odds.
The predictable plot and pacing issues, however, bog it down, turning it into a half-baked drama.
Skip it theatrically, but watch on OTT for its artistic merit….

full review

So-So,
by Gautam Batra,

Pinkvilla
:

…I Want To Talk is a kind of cinema that will appeal to a tiny chunk of the audience. The story had a lot more potential that remains untapped, and it hurts, like Abhishek Bachchan tells his doctor friend in the end….

full review

So-So,
by Nandini Ramnath,

Scroll.in
:

…The movie snaps into place when Arjun participates in a marathon. Here, Arjun’s life-long bravery, the physical effort this involves, and Abhishek Bachchan’s casting all pay off….

full review

So-So,
by Anuj Kumar,

The Hindu
:

…Abhishek is the right choice for a role that demands constant scraping of the stubborn perhaps self-seeking exterior to give an insight into a persistent, unrelenting soul. The actor sheds the last ounce of vanity to embrace a complex character wholeheartedly. He not only looks the part but makes a sincere attempt to convey what is not on the page. As a daughter torn between two parents, young Ahilya provides him with a spirited company. The film breathes life when the daughter struggles to raise her father. Johny Lever as the helpful maintenance worker, Kristin Goddard as the genial nurse, and Kriplani as the affable surgeon have been strategically placed to provide some lively counterpoints to Arjun’s point of view of the world around him….

full review

So-So,
by Pratikshya Mishra,

The Quint
:

…I am more than happy that the film doesn’t rely on hammy, sad background music to get its point across but without a strong script in hand, the film does lose some of its emotional depth. At many points in the film I found myself thinking, ‘This scene should have made me tear up,’ but it doesn’t. I Want to Talk, while resting on Bachchan’s able shoulders, simply doesn’t have the words to make Sen’s story shine the way it should….

full review