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India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Sarzameen reduces Indian Army to a prop and that's its biggest failure
When a film chooses to tell a story set against the backdrop of the Indian Army, expectations are naturally high. Audiences look forward to patriotism, action, and stories that show the courage and sacrifices of soldiers. Films like 'Shershaah' and 'Raazi' have raised the bar, with human emotion and gripping narratives rooted in real military and intelligence contexts. Unfortunately, 'Sarzameen', which promises to be an action thriller, delivers very little of the war and almost none of the drama that honours the Indian Kayoze Irani-directorial is less a tribute to the armed forces and more an emotionally fragmented family drama. The plot follows Vijay Menon (played by Prithviraj Sukumaran), a high-ranking Army officer determined to eradicate terrorism from Kashmir, even if it means losing his son, Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan), in the process. But instead of presenting a layered exploration of national duty versus personal grief, the film dissolves into an undercooked tale of a strained father-son relationship, with the Army merely acting as a backdrop. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JioHotstar (@jiohotstar)The disconnected military context Despite branding itself as an action thriller, 'Sarzameen' barely shows the surface of Army life or operational warfare. Viewers expecting combat sequences, strategic missions, political undercurrents, or interdepartmental dynamics will find none of that here. There is little insight into the life of a soldier, no camaraderie among officers, and no exploration of the Indian Army's role in conflict zones. Vijay Menon, despite his rank, operates in isolation, chasing terrorists and confronting personal demons of the most confusing scenes in the film is when Harman gets kidnapped from a wedding - very easily. There's no Army security, no safety arrangements, no backup, nothing. What's stranger is that Vijay Menon, a senior Army officer, runs after the kidnappers alone, looking more like a helpless father than a powerful officer with full support and resources. The scene not only feels unrealistic but also shows the Indian Army in a careless and unprofessional light, which is far from the truth. An emotional core that lacks substanceThe emotional conflict at the centre of the film, Vijay Menon's coldness toward his sensitive, stammering son, is not inherently weak. Many war dramas and action thrillers, including '1917', 'Saving Private Ryan', and India's own 'Border', show personal stories along with the bigger war story. But 'Sarzameen' stays too focused on just the father-son issue. Harman's journey, from a boy who just wanted his father's approval to someone who stands against the country, feels unclear and overdramatic. His reasons are not well explained, and his change doesn't touch the heart the way it (played by Kajol), the mother, is the only emotional support in the film. But sadly, even her role is limited to the same kind of emotional scenes and crying moments. This is very different from the strong and inspiring characters people usually expect from this with 'Shershaah', where even the love story served to highlight Vikram Batra's courage and conviction as a soldier. The romance was a complement to the narrative. Similarly, 'Raazi' thrived not just on Alia Bhatt's performance but on its suspenseful depiction of espionage during wartime, showing the character's bravery within a tightly-wound political the Sidharth Malhotra-starrer, even the love story in that film made Vikram Batra's bravery stand out more. The romance added to the main story, it didn't distract from it. Similarly, 'Raazi' was not just about Alia Bhatt's strong acting, but also about how well the film showed her character's courage during a tense wartime mission. Both films had solid stories that balanced emotion with action. 'Sarzameen' lacks all of that. There's no music that lingers, no standout performances that elevate weak writing, and no strong supporting cast to build a world around the protagonists. For a film set in a region as politically volatile and emotionally charged as Kashmir, the storytelling remains curiously Indian Army has been portrayed on screen with dignity, complexity, and power in several successful films. 'Sarzameen' had a great chance to show the emotional pain between generations, the sense of duty towards the nation, and the bond within a military family. But the film wasted that chance by hardly showing anything about the Army or its real of honouring the uniform, the film reduces the soldier's journey to a fractured fatherhood story with questionable realism. The Army becomes a symbolic device rather than an active the name of showing the Indian Army, it ends up being just a weak family drama, missing the strength, respect, and discipline that truly represent our soldiers.- EndsTrending Reel
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Ve Mahiya' song from 'Sarzameen' out now
Singer has lent his vocals to the 'Ve Mahiya' track from the 'Sarzameen' film. Directed by Kayoze Irani, the film stars as Vijay Menon--a man torn between a father's love and a soldier's duty, as Meher--a mother who fights against all odds to keep her family intact, and Ibrahim Ali Khan as Harman--a vulnerable young man caught at a crossroads. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Ibrahim Ali, in a press note, expressed his experience, saying, "Sarzameen is an emotional milestone I'll carry forever. It challenged me in ways I never imagined, not just as an actor, but as a person too. My character is torn between love, loyalty, and truth, and navigating that emotional spectrum was the most intense learning curve. It was a treasure trove to see Kajol Ma'am and Prithviraj Sir in action. They are so gracious and effortless in their art, and this pushed me to put my best foot forward. Kayoze too pushed me in all the right ways--he demanded depth, stillness, and vulnerability. I have put my heart and soul into Sarzameen and I hope the audiences enjoy watching the film. Stories like Sarzameen deserve to be seen and felt by everyone, everywhere." Sarzameen is produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta under the banner of Dharma Productions. It will be out on JioHotstar on July 25.
