Vicky Kaushal shines as a military strategist who speaks truth to power in Meghna Gulzar’s war biopic.
In an age of fanciful tales, where political leaders seek to borrow military manoeuvres through spin doctors, here comes a tale of true valour that includes the exploits of Sam Manekshaw, India’s most loved war general. Culture.
Director Meghna Gulzar, known for telling complex stories like Talvar (2015) and Raazi (2019), has this time made a relatively straightforward and admirable biopic of a military strategist who doesn’t seem to be in two minds and has the courage to speak truth to power.
The film critiques the relationship between politicians and the military. There was a time when war veterans were entrusted with construction jobs. Jawaharlal Nehru’s emotional approach softened his political will on matters of war and peace with sensible neighbours.
Though Fatima Sana Shaikh’s performance is inconsistent, the film brilliantly portrays the chemistry between the feisty but insecure Indira Gandhi and the determined Sam (Vicky Kaushal). Indira and Sam show former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger his place and the American tendency to pry into other people’s affairs is best seen here. The film is a timely reminder of Kissinger’s rare failure at secret diplomacy, as the controversial American politician died that week.
Sam Bahadur (Hindi)
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Sanya Malhotra, Zeeshan Ayyub, Neeraj Kabi, Fatima Sana Sheikh
Run-time: 145 minutes
Storyline: The exploits and accomplishments of Sam Manekshaw, the architect of India’s victory in the Bangladesh war
The film is also a painful reminder of how colonial power divided the best of gentleman cadets on the basis of religion. Yahya Khan (Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub) rides with Sam for interesting times, with and without prosthetics, but years later they come face to face in East Pakistan. The battle scenes are sharp and believable and don’t seem overcooked. Shankar-Ehsaan-Lai have created an inspiring mix of war chants from various regiments that highlight the vibrant culture of the Indian armed forces.
Magna doesn’t elaborate on how Sam ensured respect and honour for Pakistani POWs, earning him respect and opposition in the neighbourhood, but he does hint at how Punjabi-speaking Parsis must shrug. The anti-patriotic tag shows how the past is not as inclusive as some would like us to believe.
There’s a witty humour in the writing, driven by Sam’s wit, which makes its presence felt even in difficult situations. The best is when Sam comments on the idea of discipline by a junior and senior officer saluting each other.
Vicky has not only adopted Sam’s personality but also imbibed his charming energy. There is no hint of sarcasm in the tone and expressions. There is a line by Gulzar that defines the man precisely: Vardi pe watan si gaya (He sewed the nation into his uniform). The talented actor has infused his soul into this role. One moment his eyes exuded soldierly grit and determination, the next moment the magic exuded by the dashing man with his sarcastic fierceness was palpable. When the script fails, Vicky works very hard to continue his mission.
We all know that Sam was only a secondary authority in the house and Sanya Malhotra too proves equally charming as his sweet, supportive wife Chilu Vicky.
After a point, the screenplay turns into snapshots of his long list of accomplishments, but Sam Bahadur has enough firepower to keep us hooked.