Remarkable Masterpiece: My quick take on Vicky Kaushal’s “Sardar Udham”
Don't miss out on this Oscar worthy production.
Take a bow, Soojith Sarkar and the 'Sardar Udham' team, for bringing these 'lost' pages of our past to light. ‘Koi zinda hai ?’ , is one of the heart wrenching dialog of the movie which will definitely ‘awaken’ a patriot in you as you watch the movie.
Apart from the outstanding acting and the compelling tale, the framing of each shot, meticulously created and reproduction of a bygone period, and top-notch production value that can match any Hollywood production of this type, creates a lasting imprint in your mind.
If we didn't know that Sardar Udham Singh's life tale is factual, it would look unbelievable. Imagine a young adolescent witnessing the atrocities of the Jalianwala baag slaughter, terrified and parched by the sights, growing up with only one goal in mind: to avenge the massacre, for which he literally ‘walks down’ to London via Afghanistan and Russia.
I had no idea Udham Singh was close to Shahid Bhagat Singh (thanks to my history books), and there are some nice moments between these two great sons of India in the film; nevertheless, I wish the filmmakers had included a few more sequences of them together.
The grotesquely shot moments of the Jallianwala slaughter, which are the film's highlight, will make the Aushtwitz gas chamber sequences in Schindler's List pale in comparison. If this sequence does not move you, you should have your heart tested, in my opinion.
Vickey Kaushal has actually lived this part, and, like Irrfan Khan, he emotes effectively with his eyes. In my opinion, if the film is nominated for an Academy Award, he should be considered for the best actor award (why not?). If Ben Kingsley's Gandhi can win an Oscar, then so does Sardar Udham Singh.)
The film's superb cast (all British actors) and director's attentiveness in having them talk in their native tongue (unlike Tom Altar and Bob Cristo's hinglish, which we are used to seeing in bollywood productions) were two more impressive aspects of the film.
There is absolutely nothing to criticise, not even the slightly longer-than-average running time (2.45 hours). The inspiring saga of this great पूत्तर of Mother India deserves such footage if not more.
शहीदे आज़म ऊधम सिंग अमर रहे
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