Sarzameen Review: A missed opportunity despite promising story
Sarzameen Movie Rating: 2 Stars
Watched Sarzameen movie on Jio Hotstar. Let’s focus on the complete details, story, positive/negatives and at last my personal view on this movie.
Cast: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Boman Irani, Mihir Ahuja, K.C. Shanka and Anurag Arora
Director: Kayoze Irani
Release Date: 25th July 2025 on Jio Hotstar
Story: Set in Kashmir, film with a gripping military operation. A dreaded terrorist codenamed Mohsin and presumed dead since 2006, resurfaces. When the army tracks his whereabouts, a tactical team led by Colonel Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran) is tasked to eliminate him. But as they storm the hideout, they realize it’s a trap.
As two terrorists Qaabil (K.C. Shankar) and Aabil (Rohed Khan) are captured, Vijay feels one of them is Mohsin. Meanwhile Vijay’s son Harman befriends Shoaib (Mihir Ahuja) unaware that Shoaib is part of a terrorist organization.
One night, Shoaib kidnaps Harman. Vijay chases the truck carrying his son but fails to catch it. Later, Vijay receives a call demanding the release of two terrorists to secure Harman’s release. Unwilling to betray his country, even to save his son, Vijay refuses. Convinced that Harman is dead, Vijay and his wife Meher (Kajol) grieve their loss.
Eight years later, Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan) is rescued along with a group of hostages and reunites with his parents. But the timid, stuttering boy they once knew has grown into a confident, strong young man. As this transformation raises doubts in Vijay’s mind, the rest of the film unravels the mystery of whether Harman is truly their long-lost son, or is there a deeper conspiracy at play?
Positives
1. Performances
2. Cinematography
3. Story
Negatives
1. Length
2. Screenplay
3. Climax
4. Direction
5. Music
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: When I watched the trailer of this film planned to watch this movie in my free time as loved the trailer. Set in Kashmir, the film follows an Indian Army officer who discovers that his estranged son has joined a militant group.
Sarzameen shines with its raw honesty and compact storytelling. It doesn’t waste time with unnecessary subplots, keeping the narrative tight and focused. This directness makes it easy to follow and engaging, especially for viewers who appreciate a story that cuts to the chase. The film handles the sensitive topic of terrorism and family dynamics with care, never trivializing the pain or conflict. The cinematography is a standout, capturing the beauty of Kashmir, as well as its tension. The performances from lead actors are quite good.
From patriotism to parental love and even the central conflict, the narrative lacks conviction, rendering everything somewhat superficial. At two hours and seventeen minutes, the pacing is tight, but the film offers little real engagement. The confrontational scenes, where Vijay quasi-interrogates Harman to uncover the truth, are handled well but quickly taper off. The narrative had immense potential to be layered, but it overlooks key emotional threads most notably, how the strained dynamic between Vijay and Meher is impacted, as the two are clearly not on the same page. The big reveal about Mohsin’s identity also feels forced and unconvincing. The plot feels familiar, leaning on predictable themes of betrayal and redemption that we’ve seen in many Bollywood dramas. Additionally, the stakes never feel as high as they should. K.C. Shankar, as the antagonist Kabil, feels like a caricature more than a character. His menace lacks detail, his ideology is thin, and his presence never quite lands with the dread the story calls for. We can conveniently say that his character has not been the importance he deserves.
Overall, movie had all the ingredients for a compelling emotional thriller, an evocative backdrop, a promising premise, and a capable cast. However, a superficial narrative and weak execution turn it into a missed opportunity. Despite a few well-acted moments, the film fails to leave a lasting impact. It’s a missed opportunity that could have been so much more. For now, it remains a promising but uneven affair. It’s a middling watch at best, and one that can easily be skipped. My view on this movie Not Recommended.
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