Operation Valentine Review: Partially engaging aerial action drama
Operation Valentine Movie Rating: 2.5 Stars
Watched Operation Valentine movie in Hindi in Cinema. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Varun Tej, Manushi Chhillar, Navdeep, Paresh Pahuja and Mir Sarwar
Director: Shakti Pratap Singh Hada
Release Date: 1st March 2024 in cinema
Story: Movie revolves around Arjun (Varun Tej) who is a wing commander in the Indian Air Force. He is in love with Ahana Gill (Manushi Chhillar) who is also the radar commander guiding him from the radar wing. e loses his friend Kabir (Navdeep) during the test of Project Vajra which is a tactic that involves flying at low altitudes to avoid being detected by enemy radar. She has arguments over the former going out of his way and putting himself in danger for the sake of his country. While Aahana understands the sentiment behind his daredevilry, she is worried for his life.
After a few years of the project being shelved, he rejoins as a test pilot. When he is still recovering phase from this tragic past, is called to lead a new mission by the higher officials. Before Arjun gets into his mission completely, Pulwama attack takes place and India loses more than 40 soldiers.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Khan orders the Indian Air Force to strike Pakistani terrorist camps in retaliation for terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. With no other choice, the IAF must choose to pursue Arjun Dev’s dangerous project Vajra. Will Operation Valentine proceed as intended and what challenges do they encounter? The film has answers for this.
Positives
1. Performances
2. Story
3. Direction
4. Cinematography
Negatives
1. Length
2. Screenplay in 1st Half
3. Music
4. Climax
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie on its release date as loved the trailer and also liked recent Air Force Film Fighter which is based on same story.
Arjun is a wing commander in the Indian Air Force. When he is in the recovering phase from a tragic past, is called to lead a new mission by the higher officials. Before Arjun gets into his mission completely, Pulwama attack takes place and India loses more than 40 soldiers. How does the Indian Air Force retaliate to this attack by Pakistan?
Operation Valentine basic plot of the film is intriguing regardless of its similarities with other films. The Pre interval and action sequences in the second half work well for the film. The VFX was also good apart from a few tacky moments. The aerial combat scenes in the second half, as noted by the team, are genuinely engaging, effectively capturing the patriotic fervor. The rest of the cast also gives their best, contributing to the film’s decent portrayal of characters. While director Shakti Pratap Singh Hada succeeds to a certain extent, a more engaging narrative and tighter screenplay could have elevated Operation Valentine into a gripping aerial action thriller. The film has its moments where it manages to generate goosebumps, but also has buzzkills that carry on throughout the film. Though I wish the writers had focused more on the emotional impact and given the main characters more room to breathe, the movie honors the bravery of our Air Force heroes on the front lines and the difficulties they faced while fighting one of the fiercest aerial attacks India has ever seen.
On the flipside, the first half heavily concentrates on the lead pair’s love track which does not have any effect and the most talked about flashback of Project Vajra was also handled poorly. Though the film provides occasional high moments, the ending lacked the required effectiveness. The background score which is very crucial for this kind of films falls flat. Capturing the essence of true incidents on screen is challenging, as seen in Operation Valentine. While the film has its moments, some scenes lack engagement, falling short of expectations. The portrayal of the terror attack and its aftermath lacks the desired impact, missing an opportunity for a more heart-wrenching approach that could have heightened emotional resonance. The first half, with ample opportunity to highlight the prowess of the IAF, is marred by unnecessary sequences, such as the romantic scenes between the main leads. Characters portrayed by Ruhani Sharma, Paresh Pahuja, Shataf Figar, and Ali Reza could have been better utilized to evoke the necessary emotions for this patriotic narrative. The emotional and patriotic scenes are its weak spots and the dull first half is another minus.
Overall, movie is a decent aerial action drama, bolstered by solid performances along with engaging air strike sequences. It is the first aerial action film made in Telugu and in that regard, it offers something freshness and is a respectful nod to the bravery of the Indian Air Force, offering audiences a mix of action, patriotism, and drama. While it may not reach the emotional or cinematic heights of its preceding aerial combat and air force films, it remains a decent watch for its spirited portrayal of heroism and sacrifice in the face of adversity. My view on this movie Time pass if you liked patriotic films.
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