By Eye TV India Bureau
Critic's I-view
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ISN'T A BAD FLICK
By Eye TV India Bureau
Critic's I-view
Bollywood subjects and premises are gaining but melodrama isn't waning. So, even a good film goes down despite the conviction. 'Heroes' isn't a bad flick; the subject is closer to life and interesting. Two film students, high on the good life had to make graduation film; so they created `Why not join the armed forces'.
One is immediately reminded of 'Lakshya', 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Summer 2007'. A friend's cousin is a war journalist and gives them a mission which will help understanding, writing and making the film. It's about delivering three letters by deceased soldiers to their families. Hopefully, the experience would make their film. The spirited lads - Sammy (Sohail Khan) and Ali (Vatsal Seth) - bike their way to rural Punjab.
The first letter is delivered to a war widow (Zinta) and then a flash back 3 years as a love story unfolds with her martyr husband (Salman Khan). Zinta is coping in the aftermath of with many issues and responsibilities. The second letter goes to Himachal to a disabled ex-air force officer Vikram Shergill (Sunny Deol) who has resorted to alcohol and loneliness. Vikram doesn't lament losing his brother Dhananjay (Bobby Deol) and the rest of his family to the war for the country.
The melodrama seems a little overboard when Vikram repeats 'garv' (pride) just too often. Though there are enough instances of practical patriotism over jingoistic lines, which are refreshing. No subtlety though when Vikram in every bit Bollywood drives modern day miscreants away with one leg and a crutch. The third and last letter is to Army officer Sahil Naqvi's (Dino Morea) mother who is trying hard to be social to recover from son's loss while the father (Mithun Chakraborty) is inconsolably bitter.
There is a hint of comedy and satire in the film, which doesn't play so well. A recording of a son's message to parents and getting killed right then is jarring. It might have brought tears to the eyes of our moviemaker lads in the movie, but it unmoving at all. On a good note, there's less enemy bashing. Helmer Samir Karnik should have kept a balanced approach than the melodrama that appears once too often. Story is told in typical Bollywood fashion with flashbacks and long dialogues.
It isn't a bad movie in terms of delivery by actors. Preity Zinta, Sunny Deol and Mithun render good, complex roles. Vatsal falls short of expectations. Sohail just doesn't cut it for a young student role. Cinematography by Binod Pradhan and Gopal Shah is just vivid, not exceptional, in terms of landscapes of Punjab, Himachal and Leh. Writing and editing needs revision and should be tight. Dialogue is replete with clichés. Don't give up a special plan to go watch this movie.
By Eye TV India Bureau
Critic's I-view
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