Shershaah

There is something irrefutably comforting about a biopic, especially if it chronicles the life of a true hero. And I do want to stress, true hero. In recent years, we’ve had too many Bollywood biopics on gangsters and politicians and gangster-politicians. Shershaah honours a man who gave up his life at the age of 24 for his country. Sure, we honoured Vikram Batra with Param Vir Chakra. But ask his family, if the medal comforts them when they remember Vikram every single day. To his credit, Sidharth Malhotra plays Vikram Batra with a sincerity and honesty that shine through in every frame. In every frame, he is Rajesh Khanna in Anand and Aradhana. You know he is going to be missed sorely once he’s gone.

Malhotra plays Batra to an unforgettable perfection. Boyish, helpful, sincere and endearing… There is not a duplicitous bone in this soldier and lover-boy. The film allows the protagonist to fly freely. Director Vishnuvardhan’s storytelling is remarkably liberated of gimmicks. If you are looking for unexpected twists and turns in a soldier’s saga, then I suggest you watch The Deer Hunter ,or maybe Abbas-Mastan’s Soldier? Kitsch is not in demand in Shershaah. A Sreekar Prasad’s editing and Kamaljeet Negi’s cinematography are unobtrusive. They know who the true hero is this time. Shershaah plays it straight. It has no room for or patience with humbug except for a few love songs. And they, the songs, fit in effectively without seeming like impositions because, well, Vikram strikes me as the kind of guy who would burst into a throaty Punjabi number to woo his ladylove.

Release Date: August 2021
Genres: Drama
Director: Vishnuvardhan
Cast: Sidharth MalhotraKiara AdvaniShiv Panditt