Shershah: a grand war epic which fails to touch the heart


By Rajesh Ahuja

Shouts of Durga Mata ki Jai rent the air as soldiers of the  J and K rifles celebrate the capture of the point 4875 on the Kargil heights, marking an end to the Kargil war

Even as they celebrate their victory, their commander and the architect of the victory over Pakistan, Captain Vikram Batra lies heavily bruised by the bullets of the Pakistani soldiers during his efforts to capture the strategic peak from the enemy

A poignant scene meant to bring tears to your eyes. However as one watches this scene in the movie Shershah, streaming on Amazon prime video, you hardly experience  any emotion , be it the ecstasy of the victory over Pakistan or the pain of the death of a braveheart.

It was touted as a grand war epic that takes viewers through the journey of captain Vikram Batra to becoming an army officer to giving his supreme sacrifice for the nation during the Kargil war.

However,  while Shershah makes a mark for itself with its grand war scenes , production values and its performances,  it  fails to stir any emotions , a prerequisite for any successful war movie

While Siddharth Malhotra puts in a spirited act as Vikram Batra, absence of any emotional fervor in the  screenplay is a major dampener.

Shershah is a grand war epic that fails to touch the heart 




Vicky (childhood name of Vikram Batra) is an agressive child who is not afraid of picking up a fight with boys much older than him. His sole ambitiob from childhood is to join the army. On growing up he falls in love with a Sikh girl 'Dimple(Kiara Advani)  during his college years. In order to impress Dimple and her father, who is dead against marrying his daughter in a non Sikh family he momentarily even decides to let go of his ambition to join the army only to later  realise that Army is his real calling

Joining as lieutenant of the Jammu and Kashmir rifles in the rugby terrain of the Kashmir Valley, Vikram carries his aggression in the army, often going beyond the brief given to him. His efforts to neutralize a wanted terrorist earn him a promotion to the post of captain

During the Kargil war he is assigned the task of commanding a team of soldiers to capture a strategic peak from the control of the enemy. The film is about how he and his team go about the task, which leaves him severely injured by enermy bullets .

Unlike J P Dutta's 2001 film LOC Kargil which mostly dealt with Vikram's exploits during the Kargil war, Shershah attempts to provide us an insight into his life and development of his character from childhood to his youth to his initial period in the army.The film also  delves in detail on his romance with Dimple and gives us a peep into Vikram as a person: Infact, the director tries to bring out the human side of Vikram through his interaction with his colleagues in the army and with the local people.

The film boasts of lavish production values with war sequences having been shot well. Unfortunately, however, they fail to arouse within you the patriotic feel on winning a war or a feeling of pain over loss of a soldier or an officer in the conflict

Siddharth Malhotra comes up with a superlative act as Vikram Batra whose heart bleeds for his nation and who is ready go beyond the brief given to him to fulfill the call for the nation..He is refreshing as an Army officer whose heart beats for his colleagues and subordinates. Infact, he gives an effortless performance as Vikram Batra and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it is Siddharth Malhotra best performance till date

Kiara Advani is endearing as Dimple the simple girl next door who falls in love with the charming Vikram Batra and is willing to wait the entire life for him

Film boasts of excellent cinematography with the visuals of Kargil been eye filling. 

Songs of the film are quite hummable .

In short Shershah is a grand war epic with lavish production values . Unfortunately,  however,  it falls to stir the required emotions , notwithstanding an outstanding performance by Sidharth Malhotra and an endearing act by Kiara.

My rating; 2.5/5

Watch trailer

https://youtu.be/Q0FTXnefVBA

Top stories 

Cinelovers set to relive magic of Tamma Tamma with telecast of Thanedaar on Sony MAX2 next week 




Vidya Balan and Shefali shah to share screen space in Jalsa

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/08/vidya-balan-and-shefali-shah-to-share.html


Ajay Devgn meets Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to showcase Bhuj The Pride of India 




SHO Haseena Mallik takes a stand for Vocal For Local on Independence Day in Maddam Sir 



Punjabi film Puaada releases in cinemas worldwide today; Will it be back to cinemas for the audiences?




New OTT platform Talkiez launched in Delhi 




When 300 ordinary women from Bhuj created history during 1971 war against Pakistan


https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/08/when-300-common-women-from-bhuj-created.html


Netflix back with S2 of Indian Matchmaking 



Amitabh Bachchan Emraan Hashmi starrer Chehre to release in theatres on August 27




I am Kalam and Riding on a Sunbeam to be screened at the Bandra Film Festival In the Independence Day line up 



I enjoy a quick drench in the rains during a break on sets of Hero Gayab Mode on; Siddharth Nigam 

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/08/i-enjoy-quick-drench-in-rains-during.html


Film on life of renowned chef Vikas khanna to premiere on National Geographic on Independence day

https://raju0568.blogspot.com/2021/08/film-on-life-of-renowned-chef-vikas.html


S 3 of American teen romantic comedy Kissing Booth premieres on Netflix 




Azaad, India's first Entertainment Platform to feature Content Exclusively for the rural mindset launched 





Farhan Akhtar to helm Jee Le Zaraa,  film about an all girls road trip featuring Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif 





Hina Khan and Shaheer Sheikh to come together for another music video Mohabbat Hai 



A visual spectacle awaits viewers as period drama The Empire premieres on Disney Hotstar on August 27




Web series based on Anuja Chauhan's novel Those Pricey Thakur Girls to stream on Disney Hotstar soon 




























































Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
Hum Tumhein Chahte Hain- perfect blend of comedy,  romance & emotions; a stellar debut by Janmejaya  By Rajesh Ahuja A Gym trainer Surya(Janmejaya Singh)becomes the subject of attention of his employer Maya(Rituparna Sengupta),  a business tycoon.  At the same time,  Surya falls in love with his next door neighbour Vaani(Anusmriti Sarkar). Caught between an older Maya and a younger Vaani, whom will Surya choose.  This dilemma seems to grip the protagonist of the new love triangle Hum Tumhein Chahte Hain,  which hit cinema screens this week . At first sight,  Hum Tumhein Chahte Hain, which released on October 13,   seems just another love triangle where a man is caught between the love of two women. However,  the film catches you by surprise with its perfect mix of comedy, romance and melodrama,  instantly reminding us of the films of the 80s. It is this perfect blend of comedy, melodrama,  romance and emotions that sets Hum Tumhein Chahte Hain from the other contemporary love s
Read more
Image
When Vinod Khanna absconded from sets of Aarop out of nervousness over presence of Dilip Kumar By Rajesh Ahuja The history of Mumbai film industry is full of actors who have drawn inspiration from the magic and charisma of legendary actor Dilip Kumar. Among the list of fans and admirers of the Bollywood thespian is the popular hero of the 80s and 90s Vinod Khanna. An incident which evidences the love and admiration that Vinod Khanna had for the legendary Dilip Kumar was recently narrated by Dilip Kumar's wife Saira Banu. In a post on Instagram,  Saira Banu revealed that Vinod Khanna was so much in awe of Dilip Sahib that he absconded from the sets of his film Aarop during a brief visit by the veteran actor on the sets. Vinod Khanna was so much in awe of Dilip Kumar that he absconded from sets of Aarop out of nervousness over presence of Dilip Kumar  'Vinod loved Sahib incredibly. Once he and I were shooting at Natraj Studios for Guru Dutt's film Aarop , directed by Atm
Read more
Image
Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan: a relationship marked by mutually admiration   History of Indian cinema will be 'before Dilip Kumar ' and 'after Dilip Kumar': Amitabh Bachchan once said  By Rajesh Ahuja Despite all the talk of professional rivalry between Bollywood thespian Dilip Kumar and megastar Amitabh Bachchan,  especially during the making of Ramesh Sippy's ' Shakti ', the two actors shared a relationship filled with mutual admiration. In a recent post on Instagram,  Bollywood actress and Dilip Kumar's wife Saira Banu revealed that the relationship between the two superstars was maked by admiration for each other's work. Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan had a relationship marked by mutual admiration  The mutual admiration between Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar began after veteran actor Om Prakash,  a close friend of Dilip Kumar, sang praises of Amitabh Bachchan's performance before the Bollywood thespian. ''Sahib got to hear
Read more