So, what is director Anil Sharma best at? Making patriotic films.The same director who gave us ?Gadar-Ek Prem Katha? and ?The Hero-Love Story Of A Spy? is back with a bang, with ?Ab Tumhaare Hawaale Watan Saathiyon?.This one is a very huge project with a huge star cast.This film brings Amitabh Bachchan, as a sardarji, wearing a turban on his head.This film also marks the comeback of Bobby Deol, but this film doesn`t have Anil Sharma`s favourite Sunny Deol in it. Without Sunny Deol, will his film still work?
THE FILM:
Movie World Studios. ?Ab Tumhaare Hawaale Watan Saathiyon?, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol, Sandali Sinha, Aarti Chabbria, Naghma, Danny Denzongpa, Kapil Sharma and introduces Divia Khosla.This is one of the most awaited film of the year, because of its havy budget and such huge star cast.This film is about the Indian navy officers, which is something very new for Bollywood, but the patriotism is the same.So, lets check out how does the final product comes out, by adding all these ingredients.
THE CHARACTERS AND PERFORMANCES:
1.General Amarjeet Singh(Amitabh Bachchan):Amarjeet Singh is one such person who loves his country more than anyone else and he is always ready to fight bravely, with the one who tries to harm his country.Amitabh Bachchan shines in this film and he has yet again given a power-packed performance.His getup, of a Sardarji, with a turban on his head, looks really good.He is excellent in the scene, where he talks about of peace by saying that the Indians won`t do the same thing to Pakistan what Americans did to Iraq and Afghanistan.This performance, is surely going to bring lots of applause to this legendary actor.This is one of his best performances, in the recent times.
2.Kunal Singh(Bobby Deol):Kunal Singh has been sent to the Indian army, by his grandfather who wished him to join the army.Kunal Singh who hesitates to be a army man first, finally, discovers how much important are the interests of his country to him.Bobby Deol plays a double role in this film.One is of Kunal Singh`s father, Vikramjit Singh, and the other one of Kunal Singh, of course.The actor makes an excellent comeback and he also performs very well.He has lived the character of Kunal Singh.The tragic yet brave look which he gives to his character Kunal, who gets mature by time, is done wonderfully, by Bobby Deol.With this film, I think the actor is back here to stay.
3.Shweta(Divia Khosla):Shweta is the widow of an officer Rajiv who leaves out for a war but never returns back.Kunal falls in love with her and she also agrees to get married to him, as her husband had told her before leaving that if he doesn`t come back, she can marry someone else.But what if he is not dead?Divia Khosla gives a decent performance, this one being her debut film.She has done a music video, ?Honey Honey?, before this with Salman Khan.She looks innocent and simple in this film, and I don`t know why but she resembled with Aishwarya Rai, a bit, at places.As her first film, she gives a fine performance, but for her next film (if she does any other film), some improvement is definitely required.
4.Rajiv Singh(Akshay Kumar):Rajiv is a Prisoner of War in Pakistan and is still alive but everyone, back home in India thinks that he has died.Rajiv is another person who loves his country a lot.He is also a very good poet and a very romantic person, who loves his wife, dearly, who keeps on waiting for him.Akshay Kumar has done an amazing job.This is his best performance, this year, so far.He is very good in the romantic scenes, and in the scenes where drama is required, he does a brilliant job, there, but some times, in the film, he also overacts.His poems look really annoying and I found him to be too melodramatic in the scene where he says-?hum ulti lakeeron par chalne ka hunar jaante hain? (we know how to walk on the lines that are not straight), but keeping that out of mind, all in all, it`s a fantastic job done.
Naghma as Kunal Singh`s mother (!!!), doesn`t get much to do.Sandali Sinha as Kunal`s secret admirer and doctor friend, shows a remarkable improvement over her previous performances.This time she looks more confident than before and after gaining some weight she looks better than before too.Danny Dengzongpa gets overboard as the wicked and cruel capturer of Indian POWs, Ashfaqullah Khan.Aarti Chabbria is totally wasted, in a small appearance.Kapil Sharma as Trilok Singh, does not leave any sort of impression on anyone.
THE STORY:
Vikramjit Singh, an Indian Navy officer, dies in the 1971 war with Pakistan, leaving his father, Amarjeet Singh, a retired army officer and his wife completely depressed.Luckily, Vikramjit`s wife is pregnant, and she gives brith to a boy, whom they name Kunal.
When Kunal grows up, he grows up with the same face as his father`s.Now, Amarjeet Singh, wants his grandson to join become an army officer in the Indian Navy, but Kunal is not at all, interested in doing so.For joining the Indian Army, Kunal is convinced a lot by his doctor friend and Trilok Singh, who himself is a very brave officer in the Indian army.Kunal`s life takes a twist when, he sees Shweta, a beautiful girl, at Rajasthan, and falls instantly in love with her.He proposes to Shweta, but comes to know that she is already married to an officer Rajiv Singh, who never came back when he went out for a war.Keeping this thing in mind, that before leaving Rajiv gave her the permission of getting married to someone else if he doesn`t come back, Shweta agrees to get married to Kunal.Rajiv, on the other hand, is alive and is in the prison of Pakistan as a Prisoner of war (POW), under the very celver and stone-hearted capturer, called Ashfaqullah Khan.
Back home in India, Kunal and Shweta`s marriage preparations are going on.One tragic incident takes place when Trilok Singh is killed, while fighting, which makes everyone feel very sad.One fine day, Rajiv manages to escape from the clutches of the Paskistani prison and comes back to the current scenario where his wife is getting married to Kunal.The marriage, due to Rajiv`s return, doesn`t take place.By now, Kunal is completely disheartened , after Trilok`s death and the break up of his marriage, and Kunal turns on a new leaf.He realizes the importance of his country and becomes a very active member of the Indian army.Now, the Pakistanis want to capture, Amarnath Yatra, which is very sacred to the Indians.Protecting Amarnath Yatra is the ultimate goal of Kunal now.Will he be able to succeed in this mission?
THE WORK OF THE CREW:
Anil Sharma`s direction is good, but the film could have done without all the Pak-bashing, as it is not the right time for India or Indian films to criticize Pakistanis and vice versa.This film seems to be outdated due to this reason, but finally, in the end, the film comes to the conclusion that India and Pakistan should maintain love, friendship and peace and this message is conveyed well, by the director.
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