Aditi Ghosh

Sam Bahadur It’s challenging to make a biopic on a personality who has been a benchmark in strengthening Indian Army and an unabashed patriot. Battles are won not just by artillery but untamed determination and ability to develop strategies. Vicky Kaushal just nailed it with his mind blowing performance portraying a field marshal who fought for dignity of his soldiers, who taught politicians what is the worth of a soldier, who faced bullets in countless battles. There are people who get a post and there are posts which get people to glorify them. In the film the romantic element of his life was given more screen time and Sania Malhotra looks absolutely gorgeous. Kudos to the make up artists to accentuate the gracefully aging characters in the film. Sana Sheikh’s portrayal of one of the undaunted leaders Indira Gandhi, deserves appreciation. A daring woman in power at times of war backed by an experienced war veteran like Manekshaw was a perfect amalgamation to win the 1971 war. The action sequences were mind blowing showcasing the unpredictable and unforgiving conditions in which the army has to stay put. Each life is years of training and loosing them can’t be taken for granted. We are a strong nation and proceeding towards one of the superpowers because of gallant and intelligent armed forces and their uncompromising efforts to win battles come what may. It’s intriguing to analyse how tough it must be to win without the modern day technology and tracking systems. A must watch film for those who admire our heroes in the frontline, tough decision makers with exemplary leadership. There are subtle elements in the film that defines what earns respect for a leader which is applicable to every domain of work. Salute to Indian army and to the exceptional field marshal who always said I AM OK at every breaking point in his career.

12 th FAIL Academics, luck, hard work align very rarely to create destiny for some people. People who are just mere numbers in vote banks, who will go to any length to survive and exist despite ill treatment and exploitation. People who dare to dream and chase it, wear only self respect, take every failure as a fuel to move forward. One such inspiring officer happens to be Manoj Kumar Sharma, brilliantly portrayed by Vikrant Massey. He could emote the determination, insults faced, self motivation, self esteem of an ordinary individual who aspired to become extraordinary. Honesty is a trait of the courageous and simply not traded even at times of extreme adversities. The film takes you through emotional turmoils and practical life truth in relationships and the responsibilities that comes with it. Sometimes we need people to shout and wake us up to the harsh realities that otherwise seem attainable easily. Very good movie for students and those who believe in creating their own destiny. How ambition can ignite if we meet the right role model. Priyanshu Chatterjee had less screen time but he was absolutely remarkable. Medha Shankar looks very elegant and seems a promising actress. One of the inspiring stories conveyed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Kudos to the entire team to project the raw and core realities on screen.

MISSION RANIGANJ How many of us knew about Jaswant Singh Gill? Making biopics on unsung heroes is a great initiative in Indian cinema. It’s every actor’s pursuit to enact a person who emerged extraordinary under extreme circumstances. It’s one of those inspiring Akshay Kumar biopics which any audience would appreciate. The film narrates how accidents are politicised, the life risks involved in entering mines and how minimal expenditure is done for safety measures. Such reality check films expose the ignored set of humans whose existence is a mere number, their compulsion to work in unhealthy environment, their spirit to stand for each other despite unrelenting scarcity. Parineeti had minimal role and at times it feels like her acting skills were under-utilised. Ravi Kishan has done a fantastic job, bringing out the fear camouflaged in anger and disgust in the character. When hope meets the divine prowess, the possibilities of survival of the trapped miners overpowers negative minds. The film leaves you with a thought, every human is given an opportunity to do selfless work in big or small scale, but it’s our attitude towards adversities which test the skill to survive and emerge as a hero in our own eyes. This confidence is the most treasured and most respected attribute the living being can ever experience. Cinematography and technical details are impressive and the effort to replicate the equipments used at that time is phenomenal. One of the best movies of 2023.