Sarzameen Review: Prithviraj, Kajol & Ibrahim Ali Khan Tackle a Familiar ‘Mission Kashmir’ Narrative
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The plot of Sarzameen:
In this thrilling drama, Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran), a well-known army man known for his unshakable dedication to his job and selflessness, makes his way through a more and more perilous Kashmir. In the role of a young man torn between hazy memories and harsh realities, Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan) displays a raw, simmering intensity, while Mehr (Kajol) is a strong mother and wife who works to hold the family together.
Review of Sarzameen:
In any case, there is a paucity of creativity in films today, and all we do is ponder which film has a similar plot whenever a movie is announced with a teaser or a trailer. The same clichés apply to Sarzameen. When the trailer for the movie was released, I couldn't help but speculate that the storyline was copied from Mission Kashmir. However, did it have the same vibe when I was seeing movies? Let's see...
The tale of Sarzameen centers around an ordinary army father who wants his son to be as strong as he is today. However, the father himself experienced a similar childhood trauma in which his father made him feel the same way. As it moves on, the respect further diminishes and the intergenerational trauma persists. However, we can see here that Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran), who is a strict father, occasionally asks for his son's approval. Given his shyness and stutter, it's easy to see how vulnerable Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan) is. It's rare to see a father and son holding hands when walking, but he's not hesitant to do so.
As a mother and wife, Mehr (Kajol) is obviously torn between her husband and son, but she wants everyone to get along. By convincing the father that their son should not be treated in this manner, she is, in a way, attempting to overcome the intergenerational trauma. But on the other hand, she reassures the kid that he is almost flawless and that everything will get better with time.
However, what happens if something goes wrong? Well, it's quite straightforward... The family resides in Kashmir's vulnerable region, where attacks are common. Furthermore, Vijay was an army soldier, so his family was constantly concerned about his safety on the front lines of the conflict. We quickly discover that the terrorists have abducted Harman and demand the release of the imprisoned terrorists in exchange for his release.
Like the motif shown in Raazi (2018)—Watan ke aage kuch nahi khud bhi nahi (Nothing comes before the nation, not even oneself)—the movie adheres to the well-known tale of a soldier putting his nation ahead of his family.
In Mission Kashmir, Sanjay Dutt's Inayat Khan takes in Hrithik Roshan's Altaaf, whose parents are murdered in a police raid. After learning that Inayat was the one who murdered his parents, the youngster flees and returns years later as a trained terrorist for a militant leader who exploits his anguish.
Did I ruin the upcoming plot of Sarzameen? About so. Ibrahim's Harman is also abducted here, and he comes back to his parents claiming to have been tortured and expressing satisfaction and security in being with his family.
Similar to Vidhu Vinod Chopra's direction, the film explores violence, loss, identity, and the cycle of hate, demonstrating how children caught in conflict may be transformed into weapons of war. Like Hrithik's second film, Mission Kashmir, Ibrahim's purported debut, Sarzameen, turned out to be his second release.
However, the most recent movie's plot is so hazy that it doesn't correspond to its stated goal. As the movie goes along, the screenplay, which was written by Arun Singh and Soumil Shukla, becomes more and more predictable because it is so copied and unoriginal, which shows how they put the plot together. The movie also signals that they've made a suspenseful revelation, but that's not the case until the third act. The true suspense arises at that point, as Vijay continues to wonder who is providing him a tip at random intervals throughout the movie.
Nevertheless, the movie is ultimately unsuccessful, despite keeping viewers in anticipation up until the very conclusion. Kayoze Irani's full-fledged directorial debut film tackles the subject head-on, whether it's the "maqsad pura hona chahiye" theme or the emotional moments that start right from the beginning. But his approach is compatible with the provided material; it doesn't exude enough to convey strong emotions like patriotism or family ties.
In addition, the discourse between Jehan Handa and Kausar Munir is superficial, like many other films that explore similar topics. The movie does not attempt to improve itself via its narrative, screenplay, or discussion. As a result, the movie falls short of the actors' expectations, even though it features two well-known actors and a newcomer who does a respectable job. These roles come naturally to Prithviraj and Kajol because they are skilled at playing more difficult characters on film. Conversely, this was meant to be Ibrahim's first picture, and as a newcomer to such a complicated topic, he gives it everything he has. However, the movie lets them down by trapping them in a well-known conflict with a nearly predetermined conclusion from the start.
Even though the movie focuses on a father-son bond, it may appear that Kajol's part is rather little. However, this is also where the movie shines; Kajol's performance is outstanding, and she will blow you away with her flawless execution.
The movie's soundtrack is a bad match; it attempts to convey emotions about family and nation, but it fails to progress the plot.
By the conclusion of the story, Sarzameen is a missed chance—a moving story about love, loss, and loyalty is lost beneath the weight of clichés and a narrative that seems all too well known.
The verdict from Sarzameen:
Between patriotism and inner struggle, Sarzameen walks the line but never achieves a firm equilibrium. Because the picture is laden with heavy themes, it has far too much emotional baggage and lacks a solid plot.
