Sarzameen aims for patriotic highs but lands flat. Read our full movie review exploring its intent, execution, and why it fails to strike a chord.
As the plethora of patriotic Bollywood dramas continues to mount, Sarzameen makes its brave attempt to enter the fray, with aspirations as lofty as the tricolor flying in the wind. Directed by Rohit Karnik and featuring the promising Rajeev Khandelwal and debutante Ayesha Rana, Sarzameen hopes to resonate as a tremendous tribute to India’s unsung heroes; however, despite seemingly genuine intentions, the film is so far removed from actionable storytelling, nuance to characters, or evoking emotions.
A Narrative That Has Heart, But Not Quite a Pulse
Sarzameen follows Major Arjun Mehta (Rajeev Khandelwal), a lauded army officer, who, after returning home from a troubled mission on the Line of Control, is maimed by the loss of comrades and vexed by the bureaucrats who can never allow for true service. Arjun is embroiled in the midst of an insurrection, where local politics, vile corruption, and betrayal all abound.
Then, we have the busy subplot involving Meera (Ayesha Rana), a spunky journalist seeking the truth at the heart of a farcical cover-up around missing tribal children within her hometown. As Arjun and Meera’s paths become one, we are left with an investigation-style patriotic thriller, intending to land a sharp point but perhaps successfully only delivering a weak one.
Direction and Screenplay: A Patriot’s Voice Gets Lost in the Noise
Director Rohit Karnik certainly seems to want to invoke national pride and respect for the armed forces. The problem is that the screenplay is inconsistent. The first act starts out strong, a military operation that is engaging, reasons to be glued to the screen with sharp visuals and exciting background music. After this opening, the film falls off a cliff in terms of engagement.
Scenes begin stretching forever, and the story wobbles between heavy-handed nationalism and what seems like a feeble reflection on social issues, tribal victimization, political scams, and the media cycle. It wants to do too many things in the limited time it has, so it underdelivers on all counts.
Even the dialogue, even though full of over-the-top enthusiasm, feels forced. The one-liners like “Sarzameen ke liye toh jaan bhi haazir hai!” aspire to be clapping-worthy lines but have the flavor of pantomime and feel dated and very used up.
Performances: Khandelwal Shines in a Dull Setting
Rajeev Khandelwal, a very dependable actor, is making an effort to enliven Major Arjun Mehta. His subtle and restrained performance is fine, and in some of the more thoughtful parts of the film, you can tell he is fundamentally controlled. But even an experienced performer like Khandelwal can’t lift a flimsy script.
In her debut, Ayesha Rana is good as Meera. This character doesn’t get much development and is often mostly there to support the hero’s arc, but Rana is a very genuine actress, and with stronger writing, she can be good in other works made in the future.
The supporting cast, including names like Govind Namdev and Anup Soni, do what they can to contribute to their characters’ onscreen time, but they are left with thi,n one-dimensional roles each. These characters are a localized neta who is corrupt, an unscrupulous journalist, and a soldier who is loyal.
Cinematography and Music: Good Visuals but Forgettable Soundtrack
Technically, Sarzameen has some positives. Anshul Chaturvedi’s cinematography does consider the juxtaposition of the country flora of the beautiful landscape and the hullabaloo of violence is stunning. Besides, the battle scenes have been shot well and feel real, even if the CGI in a few explosions feels budget-caged.
In the case of music, the score and songs were done by the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, but overall, they don’t add to the overall memorability of the film. The patriotic film includes aspirational anthems such as “Bharat Maa Ki Pukar.” However, the follow-up impact of the song is limited. Even the score, which is vital in any patriotic film, has no momentum or anything that creates goosebumps.
The Big Picture: Ethical Yet Sermonizing
There is no question that Sarzameen is coming from a good place of genuine patriotism. It attempts to remind the audience that members of the armed forces make sacrifices and must face bureaucratic and political hurdles. However, the apparent message is so heavy-handed that it changes from a layered text to a sermon.
Instead of skillfully interweaving its themes into the narrative, Sarzameen comes back to its dully didactic monologues repeatedly – breaking the fourth wall at points. And while some audiences might appreciate the lack of self-awareness, some audiences might see it as unsubtle, emotionally manipulative, and unnecessary.
Sarzameen vs. Other Patriotic Films: Why it feels empty
When playing them off against effective films like Uri: The Surgical Strike, Shershaah, and Rang De Basanti, Sarzameen felt empty. The overarching theme of patriotism is there, but great narratives rely on compelling stories, characters, with the greatest care given to present the emotional arc.
Sarzameen is missing the sophistication and smart storytelling that is essential to really loving patriotic cinema. Sarzameen also does not trust the intelligence of the audience and proceeds to over-explain every emotion, political point, and moral lesson.
Final Verdict: Watch It If You Are A True Patriot
Sarzameen could have been a strong film that pays tribute to the military as well as the fighting spirit of India’s homeless people, but instead chooses to play it safe and predictable. It’s earnest but uninspired – a good intention tribute that does not ever quite get off the ground.
Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5)
Pros:
Rajeev Khandelwal’s grounded performance
Strong action scene cinematography
A genuine sentiment of patriotism
Cons:
Clichéd and predictable screenplay
Underdeveloped characters
Dull music and forced dialogues
No true emotional rooting
Will It Trend On OTT?
Unlikely. For some reason, Sarzameen has an easy, memorable title and a patriotic motif in the film that could grow on OTT. Typically, this type of film will trend on OTT during a national holiday like Republic Day or Independence Day. However, outside of that, it is unclear why audiences would come back to watch it.
Final Thoughts
Sarzameen is a passionate speech that overstays its welcome for decades and loses its way halfway through. The intent is correct enough, but the delivery feels old and uninspired. In an era where people crave characters with depth and intelligent stories, Sarzameen could have had the same feel-good factor behind a unique and impacting story.
FAQs
1. What is Sarzameen about?
Sarzameen is a patriotic Bollywood drama about Major Arjun Mehta, an army officer who is returning home after a traumatic task. It tells a story about how corruption is rooted in our society, and it focuses on sacrifice and patriotism when he realizes the political conspiracy affecting tribal areas.
2. Who is the cast of Sarzameen?
The film stars Rajeev Khandelwal in the lead as Major Arjun Mehta and Ayesha Rana in her feature film debut as investigative journalist Meera.
3. Is Sarzameen based on a true story?
No, Sarzameen is a fictional story, but based on real problems assigned to Indian soldiers and rural areas.
4. How is Rajeev Khandelwal’s acting?
Rajeev Khandelwal acts well as a conflicted soldier struggling with trauma and moral dilemmas. He probably provides one of the few highlights of the film with his acting.
5. How long is Sarzameen?
The film is about 2 hours and 20 minutes long.
7. Is Sarzameen going to be released on OTT?
Sarzameen has had a theatre release, and an OTT release should be coming soon, probably around Independence Day or Republic Day.
