Vicky Kaushal’s biographical war drama Sam Bahadur is releasing tomorrow on December 1st all over. Sam Bahadur is directed by Meghna Gulzar and written by Meghna and Bhavani Iyer. The film is based on India’s first field marshal Sam Manekshaw who played a key role during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war and the liberation of Bangladesh.
Plot:
The film follows the life and career of Sam Manekshaw, from his early days as a cadet in the Indian Military Academy, to his participation in World War II, the 1947 Partition, the 1962 Sino-Indian War, and the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War. The film also depicts his personal and professional relationships with his wife Silloo, his mentor Lord Mountbatten, his political counterparts Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, and his military adversaries Yahya Khan and Tikka Khan. The film culminates with the creation of Bangladesh and the recognition of Sam Manekshaw as the first field marshal of India.
Performances:
Vicky Kaushal delivers a stellar performance as Sam Manekshaw, capturing his charisma, courage, wit, and wisdom. He portrays the various facets of the legendary soldier, from his youthful enthusiasm, to his mature leadership, to his old-age nostalgia. He also undergoes a remarkable physical transformation, resembling the real Sam Manekshaw in his appearance and mannerisms.
Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra are impressive as Indira Gandhi and Silloo Manekshaw, respectively. They bring out the strength and vulnerability of the two women who influenced Sam Manekshaw’s life.
Neeraj Kabi, Edward Sonnenblick, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub are convincing as Nehru, Mountbatten, and Yahya Khan, respectively. They portray the historical figures with authenticity and nuance. The rest of the cast also supports the film well, with notable performances from Naiyo Ishida, Jaskaran Singh Gandhi, Sammy Jonas Heaney, and Richard Bhakti Klein.
Analysis:
The narrative failed to find a connect as it looked scattered with the slow-paced progress of the story. Honestly, the uniformity of the storytelling turned out to be a major concern as there were no high points in the film (which you do expect when you are making a movie on a great soldier). A film that struggles to join the dots and deep dive into the psyche of the man on the poster.
The biggest issue with the film is uneven pace. The jump cuts from one moment to another are jarring and there is no impact on audience. Audience can’t stay with the scene and there is no empathy with the character! The filmmaker seems to be a in a rush to catch up to the grey streaks in Sam’s hairline, a reminder of how fast the story is moving in timeline. The dialogues are over heavy and some scenes feel like they could have been left on the edit table itself.
Writing by Meghna Gulzar, Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Srivastava is lacklustre. Cinematography by Jay I Patel is exemplary and gives the film desired scale. Nitin Baid’s editing is uneven specially in first half. Production design by Subrata Chakrobarthy and Amit Ray is bang on. Costumes by Divya and Nidhi Gambhir below par as few costumes look out of the place in few scenes. Music by Shankar – Ehsaan – Loy lacks one memorable song.
Verdict:
Sam Bahadur is a must-watch film for anyone who loves history, war, or biopics. It is a film that celebrates the life and legacy of Sam Manekshaw, as well as the spirit and pride of India. It is a film that will inspire and entertain the audience, as well as educate and enlighten them. It is a film that deserves applause and appreciation for its patriotic message and subject. But yes, film falters in terms of cinematic excellence and entertainment quotient. It’s probably the weakest film of Meghna Gulzar after Raazi and Chapaak.
Rating:
Critic Rating: 3.5/5
Box Office Rating: 3/5
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