Yeh Desh maange more: My quick take on Siddharth Malhotra’s “Shershah”
It's a fantastic homage to our Braveheart Captain Vikram Batra's valor during the Kargil conflict. At the age of 24, he led an operation to wipe up vantage points in Kargil where infiltrators had deceitfully seized our bunkers. This daredevil soldier, famed for his "frontal" attacks, had cleared two peaks, but he was killed by enemy fire near the conclusion of his second mission. He was duly awarded the highest military decoration, the "Param Vir chakra." Yes, Desh Mange, more of these Vikram Batras.
We have all heard this narrative of bravery; we have also seen a piece of it in JP Dutta's LOC previously, in which Chota B played this character; and, secondly, following an insipid attempt to depict the life of Gunjan Saxena earlier, K Jo's Dharma production had failed. As a result, I had reservations about K Jo's company's ability to pull it off. Let me admit that I was proven incorrect.
Perhaps, after Kesari, this is another feather in K Jo's crown. Hence dear K Jo yeh Dil maange more ‘sensible’ movies from you now.
Siddharth Malhotra, who has essayed Captain Batra’s role in this movie has given his best performance to date. There is a dialog in the movie where Vikram Batra says that “Mein to koi bhi uniform mein accha lagta hun”, and it turns out to be so true, he just slips into the skin of this daredevil officer. The best part of his performance (in fact one should commend the director here) is that there is no “heropanti” nor the “jingoistic dialog-giri” and no superhuman “dabang-giri”. With this performance, the industry will look at this student of the year star with more respect now.
The ravishing Kiara Advani plays the love interest of Vikram Batra, she looks so beautiful, and, in many angles, she might remind you of young Hema Malini. Though the purist wouldn’t have advocated the romantic track in a war film, once again hats off to the director in limiting this romance on the screen to minutes only.
We have a tradition of having some great tracks in war movies, it could be ‘ab tumhare hawale’ of Haqeeqat, sandese of Border, or Teri Mitti of Kesari. Here too the music score is hummable, and I am confident that it would become a big hit as the days pass.
The outdoor location is so much similar to the Kargil battlefield, even the outdoors shots of Kashmir and Chandigarh are simply breathtaking and the cameraman has done full justice to these majestic Alta vistas. For a change the VFX used in war scenes looks authentic, the action choreography is simply beautiful.
The supporting cast is hand-picked and you will be surprised by their striking similarities between the real and reel characters (just watch the end credits carefully). Hats off to director Vishnuvardhan who is more known in the Tamil and Telegu industry, for making such an emphatic debut in Bollywood.
The timing of the release (coinciding with our Independence day) is awesome, as it will be a great tribute to all those soldiers who selflessly fight and defend our borders and who have laid down their lives so that we could stay safe.
Hence no Indian should miss this well-made autobiographical tale of our Hero Captain Vikram Batra.
Jai Ho
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