Shershaah
2021 · Directed by Vishnu Varadhan
Original language: Hindi
- action
- drama
- thriller
- war
The story
Inspired by the life of Captain Vikram Batra (PVC), the film celebrates his bravery, valiant spirit and honors his invaluable sacrifice during the Kargil War of 1999, at the age of 24.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached high-altitude landscapes give way to dust-colored military camps, and the palette runs from pale Himalayan blue and snowfield white to khaki, olive and blood-warm amber at dusk. Much of the camera work is steady and wide, with long takes that let mountain ridges and marching columns fill the frame, then tighten to handheld closeness during firefights. Sound leans on wind across rock, distant artillery rolling through valleys, and a score of rousing brass and sparse strings that swells at moments of resolve. The mood is earnest and patriotic, more heroic than bleak, with stretches of quiet among the soldiers that carry camaraderie and homesickness. Violence is present and occasionally graphic: combat with gunfire, shelling and wounded men, handled with some intensity but without gore as a focus. Pacing moves from slow barracks scenes to tense, sharp bursts of action and back again. Best suited to viewers who want a stirring, emotionally direct war biography, watched on a weekend evening, and who are comfortable with sustained military action.
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