Meghna Gulzar’s much-anticipated biographical film, Sam Bahadur, is being loved by the audience. Vicky Kaushal delivers a high-spirited performance that brings to life the legendary Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. The movie, spanning four decades of active military service, five wars, and encounters with Prime Ministers, offers a compelling portrayal of a man rooted in reality but endowed with exceptional acumen and courage of conviction.
The film is more of an intense character study than a typical action-heavy war movie. It covers key moments from the early 1940s to the early 1970s, navigating through historical events with a blend of ambition and restraint. Sam Bahadur manages to maintain a consistently arresting saga, hitting most of its targets.
Vicky Kaushal shines as Sam Manekshaw
Vicky Kaushal’s portrayal of Sam Manekshaw is lauded for its panache, walking the tightrope between caricature and authenticity. The film avoids turning its protagonist into a larger-than-life figure. It presented him as a believable human. The film showed the hero as a man of conviction, intelligence, confidence, and cocky demeanor, celebrated for his strategic brilliance.
The movie’s narrative is skillfully crafted by screenwriters Bhavani Iyer, Shantanu Srivastava, and Meghna Gulzar. They adeptly choose incidents and encounters that contribute to the vivid and vibrant quality of the film. Sam Bahadur reveals as much about an individual as about a nation. It boasted the sprawl of an epic with the delicate touches of an intimate chronicle.
Despite occasional ellipses as the story jumps across decades, the gaps do not impede the film’s sweep. The screenplay successfully incorporates enough narrative meat to do justice to the charismatic general, anchoring his career in the context of India’s eventful history before and after Independence.
The film’s strength lies in its avoidance of flag-waving militarism while celebrating the bravery of India’s soldiers. It navigates the life-threatening minefields faced by infantrymen with thoughtfulness. Sam Bahadur offers a nuanced portrayal of the personal aspects of a general’s life. Especially in moments shared with Sam’s wife Silloo (played by Sanya Malhotra) and family.
Sam Bahadur ending: What happens at the end?
Sam Bahadur is not just a showcase of rousing speeches and battlefield heroics. It delves into the ethos of a time when love for the nation transcended religious exceptionalism, highlighting unity in diversity as the cornerstone of the idea of India. The film’s climactic passages, featuring the war cries of various regiments, underscore the diverse backgrounds of Indian soldiers marching toward a common goal.
The film provided more depth to Indira Gandhi, portrayed by Fatima Sana Shaikh. The narrative involving Mrs Gandhi stealing Sam’s thunder in a confrontation with Henry Kissinger adds an intriguing layer to the historical drama.
In conclusion, Sam Bahadur delivers a remarkable cinematic experience, culminating in a finely balanced emotional payoff. While Vicky Kaushal’s performance dominates the film, Meghna Gulzar’s directorial finesse, striking the right balance between ambition and restraint, ensures that the film’s impact goes beyond just a star showcase. The ending, a culmination of courage and conviction, leaves audiences reflecting on the indomitable spirit of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and the historical events that shaped India’s military history.
