SAM BAHADUR (Sam the Brave): This biopic of General Sam Manekshaw who rose to the rank of Field Marshal during the Bangladesh Liberation Movement in 1973 is an engaging watch. The advantage of a biopic is that the director has a ready template to work on and Meghna Gulzar, with her in-depth research and crisp editing makes it a worthwhile watch. While watching the movie, you would not feel that you are watching Vicky Kaushal- yes his performance is that convincing. His gait and mannerisms sync up really well with the character of Manekshaw. The ensemble cast of Fatima Sana Sheik as Mrs G, Sanya Malhotra as Mrs Manekshaw, Neeraj Kabi as Jawaharlal Nehru performs really well. The cinematography is fantastic and is commensurate with the period details from 1933 to 1973. Manekshaw fought for the British in 1933 for World War ll and in the Sino-Indian war in 1962 and 1967 with much success. Clippings from the past are shown with a little help from VFX and add to the proceedings flawlessly.This movie is kind of a documentary with minimal music well composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The movie would uplift the nationalism within you and help you understand Indian history better which is as The Guardian puts it “one damned incident after the other”. The movie ends with Manekshaw’s demise in 2008 and his last words were “Its OK”. Watch this movie even if you are not a fan of the Indian Army for an excellent cinematic experience.
AninditaRoyMusings 