For some inexplicable reason, Hindi cinema has cautiously steered away from exploring the Muslim milieu. The few films that have done so in the recent past have only reinforced stereotypes. As a result, Islamophobia has only gained momentum. Ya Rab then, despite all its technical flaws, takes a fresh look at this subject. The first half sees more action — set in a linear format — than one can handle, whereas the second half delivers a knockout punch. The execution of some early sequences lacks finesse and some of the dialogues don’t make much sense. Also, the film — aimed at educating the masses and busting myths revolving around a particular religion — could have been tighter and less gimmicky. Overall, this film may have low production values but it tackles a sensitive subject head-on and sends a clear message. 

The much revered maulana Jilani (Akhilendra Mishra) is actually a wicked man who brainwashes young boys, so they commit atrocities in the name of religion. For his own vested interest, he incites violence by convincing the fickle-minded youngsters into believing that they must kill in order to safeguard Islam. Ya Rab is an honest attempt to debar stereotypes and the image of Islam based on false notions, reiterating that no religion expects you to harm others, let alone take innocent lives. However, we have seen films raising this issue in a more mature way before. It may have started out as a noble intention, but the film's execution is outdated and comes across as cliched. You have deafening music every time the villain makes an appearance and he (Akhilendra Mishra) screams at the top of his lungs to look evil. Newcomer Arjumman Mughal acts well. Ajaz Khan has a good screen presence, but exudes a rough demeanour, that's more akin to a crook. The dialogues are way too dramatic, instead of hard-hitting. The linear storyline and overtly simplistic narrative may appeal to those who prefer the formulaic cinema of the 80s. Thus, the film might find appeal in mass audiences, which explains its style.