Shershaah, adding to the list of war-based films
Watching Shershaah will definitely remind you of URI, at times.
Directed by Vishnuvardhan, written by Sandeep Shrivastava, and co-produced by Dharma Productions, Shershaah is a film that will indeed serve goosebumps to any.
In case, you prefer hearing over reading, head to the link and you will her this review on my podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2EnWuNPCU79QqCGvovthen?si=6df8ee083efe4e65
The film is based upon the story of Captain Vikram Batra who sacrificed his life to free the land of India on multiple borders, won Param Vir Chakra posthumously, and always wanting more by saying: Yeh Dil Maange More.
While Captain’s code language of capturing the land back from Pakistani’s remains: Yeh Dil Maange More. We as an audience, get to see less of the Kargil War or as I say, war-based sequences and thus saying: Yeh Dil Maange More (of the Kargil War scenes).
The first half of the film majorly covers the love story of Vikram Batra (played by Siddhartha Malhotra) and Dimple Cheema, his girlfriend (played by Kiara Advani). The love story of the two starts at Punjab University. While the second half mostly covers the war sequences.
The screenplay is set as a TedTalk where Vikram’s elder brother: Vishal (also played by Siddhartha Malhotra) is heard narrating and seen standing by an audience while narrating the story of his younger one.
An uncountable number of flashback scenes show Vikram’s passion to join the army that rises from watching a show called: Param Vir Chakra at his neighbors home, his love story, Vikram's dream of joining the army shifting a bit, but then coming true, and Dimple’s love towards Vikram, which forces her to stand against her parents when they refuse her to marry Vikram who is Punjabi Khatri while them being- Punjabi Sikh.
Vikram’s first posting as an army officer takes place at Sopore, J&K. From then onwards, his immense valor fears all the other brave soldiers. When the life of an army officer who is yet to embrace his 6-month daughter comes to a halt, Vikram is stunned. He promises his superior that he will not let anyone die when he will lead the officers, should someone die, he will be the one.
In a scene where his friend, Sunny (played by Sahil Vaidya) reflects the fear of losing Vikram in a war. Vikram fearlessly says: Ya toh tiranga lehra kar aaunga, ya fir usme lipat kar aaunga. Par aaunga zaroor.
The film set to depict a war takes up a little time to actually reach the peak point of the film: The Kargil War. This, in some way, doesn’t actually grip the audience to the romance between the two. A film sure to serve goosebumps schedules the peak point for the second half.
The battle begins and we as an audience get to see the immense courage of the army, shot of rifles, explosives, bodies oozing blood, the life of Kashmiri’s handling check post scrutiny, time and again, and more.
The battle on point 4875 becomes the place of Vikram’s last war. He is unconscious when he sees his men waving the Indian flag right before his eyes, at the moment of his death.
The film ends by showing the footage of real heroes from the war sharing their experiences, a simple text distributing the fact that Dimple has not married anyone.
And when I say that this movie will remind you of URI, comparison between the two is sure to happen. On the acting part, Vicky Kaushal in URI was better, but Siddhartha Malhotra in this one gives a more simplified view on the life of Captain Vikram Batra, rather than exhibiting a Larger than life portrayal.
