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Read Full Sam Bahadur Movie Review:
Vicky Kaushal puts on a brave act as the veteran army man Sam Manekshaw in the biographical war drama, Sam Bahadur, which hit theatres today. However, the narrative of the film seems to be bit scattered.
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub
Rating: 3/5
Duration: 2 Hours 30 Mins
Sam Bahadur Movie Review; Plotline:
Sam Bahadur is a tribute to Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw, India’s first Field Marshal and a legendary Army General. His career witnessed the shaping of India’s geopolitical borders.
From fighting in World War II to being the Chief of Army Staff during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war that led to the creation of Bangladesh, his 4-decade-long illustrious military career was marked by significant milestones.
The film explores Sam Manekshaw’s (played by Vicky Kaushal) dynamic personality and his unparalleled military career, offering a glimpse into the life of a no-nonsense Army Commander, also known as ‘Sam Bahadur’ by the soldiers.
From how he was named Sam Manekshaw to meeting his wife, Silloo (played by Sanya Malhotra), his relationship with the then-Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi (played by Fatima Sana Shaikh), the biographical war drama offers glimpses into the life of the charming, brave and determined army legend.
Sam Bahadur Movie Review; What Do We Think?
Sam Manekshaw’s life is truly fascinating. However, director Meghna Gulzar, Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Srivastava’s screenplay doesn’t do justice to it. The narration is scattered and the film appears to be a montage of 10-mintue documentaries of Manekshaw’s eventful life and career.
The movie sadly struggles to connect one scene to the other. The overall storytelling may feel like bit rushed and is unable to tug at the heartstrings of the audience.
On the acting front, Vicky Kaushal stands as tall as the real-life hero Sam Manekshaw. He has perfectly stepped into the shoes of the army man and nailed it to perfection.
From Manekshaw’s mannerisms to his charm and body language, Vicky has gotten into the skin of the character and doesn’t give us any chance to complain. He shines through the mediocre writing.
Sanya Malhotra as Sam’s wife, Silloo is decent. She is endearing but her role lacks impact. Director could have added more scenes of Manekshaw with his wife. On the other hand, Fatima Sana Shaikh deserves a special mention for her classy portrayal of the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. Her camaraderie with Vicky is delightful.
Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub delivers a good performance as Yahya Khan. He looks almost unrecognizable under heavy prosthetics in the second half of the movie.
While the first half of the movie is gritty, the second half lacks depth. The songs are also average except ‘Banda’. That song adds to the overall narrative of the movie.
HIT Or MISS?
Sam Bahadur is a well-intentioned movie that is elevated by Vicky’s earnest performance. It may not be Meghna Gulzar’s one of the best works but the movie celebrates real-life hero Sam Manekshaw’s bravery, courage and humanism.
The Vicky Kaushal starrer clashed with Ranbir Kapoor’s much-anticipated film, Animal. Directed by Sandeep Reddy vanga, the gangster drama revolves around the story of a son (played by RK) and his relationship with his father (played by Anil Kapoor).
