Review of 'Sam Bahadur': An opulent homage to India's most adored soldier

Vicky Kaushal is excellent as the military strategist who could speak truth to power in Meghna Gulzar's war drama.

This story of genuine bravery captures the exploits of India's most beloved war general, Sam Manekshaw, whose contribution has not received enough recognition in popular culture, in a time when the political establishment loves to use spin doctors to claim credit for military victories.

This time, director Meghna Gulzar, who is renowned for telling intricate stories like Raazi (2019) and Talvar (2015), has produced a comparatively simple and adoring biopic of a military strategist who never seemed to be unsure of himself and had the courage to speak truth to power.

The relationship between the military and politicians is criticized in the movie. that soldiers trained for battle were formerly given construction jobs. that Jawaharlal Nehru's sentimental approach weakened political resolve when it came to war and peace with astute neighbors.

The film effectively captures the chemistry between a determined Sam (Vicky Kaushal) and a feisty but insecure Indira Gandhi, despite Fatima Sana Sheikh's uneven performance. It's entertaining to watch the scene where Sam and Indira call out the former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and expose the country's tendency to meddle in other people's affairs. This week marks the passing of the controversial American statesman, and the film serves as a poignant reminder of Kissinger's infrequent misstep in the realm of covert diplomacy.

Sam Bahadur in Hindi

Director : Gulzar Meghna

Ensemble cast : Vicky Kaushal, Zeeshan Ayyub, Sanya Malhotra, Neeraj Kabi, and Fatima Sana Sheikh

Running length : 145 minutes

Narrative : The feats and experiences of Sam Manekshaw, the man responsible for India's triumph in the war against Bangladesh

The film also poignantly recalls how the colonial power used religion to separate the finest gentlemen cadets. The fact that Yahya Khan (Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, who is amazing both with and without prosthetics) once rode pillion with Sam gives me chills. However, years later, they got into a fight in East Pakistan. The fight scenes are realistic and well-composed; they don't appear contrived. The dynamic fusion of various regimental battle cries by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy conveys the lively culture of the Indian armed forces.

Meghna doesn't go into detail about how Sam made sure Pakistani POWs were treated with dignity and respect, which earned him respect in the community and opposition in his own country, but she does give us an idea of how the Punjabi-speaking Parsi had to shake off the stigma associated with being anti-national, showing us that history wasn't as inclusive as some would have us believe.

Inspired by Sam's sharp mind, which shone through even in the most trying circumstances, the writing is full of witty repartee. The greatest part is when Sam makes a statement about discipline by having a junior and senior officer give each other a salute.

Vicky has adopted Sam's endearing can-do attitude in addition to taking on his persona. The tenor and tone are so pure that there is hardly a trace of caricature. Vardi pe vatan si gaya, a Gulzar quote, aptly captures the essence of the man (he stitched the nation on his uniform). It appears that the gifted actor has embraced the role deeply. His gaze alternates between reflecting the charismatic man's spell of playful one-liners and the toughness and resolve of a soldier. Vicky carries out the heavy lifting to keep the mission on track when the screenplay becomes unmanageable.

We all know that Sam was merely second in command at home, and Vicky's attractiveness is matched by Sanya Malhotra's charming and encouraging wife Siloo.

The screenplay does eventually turn into a series of vignettes showcasing his extensive resume set to an exuberant soundtrack, but Sam Bahadur still has enough punch to hold our attention.