A Potpourri of Vestiges Review
By Murtaza Ali Khan
In the recent times, films inspired
by reality are creating more buzz than ever. Amongst these the mostly popular
are the ones which document the lives of real people. In the cinematic parlance
such films are termed as biopics. The sudden increase in the number of
biopics made in Hindi cinema has taken everyone by storm. It’s not that such
films weren’t made earlier but today they are being churned out at an
unprecedented rate just like the formula-based entertainers of old. And the
box-office figures only confirm the growing popularity of the biopics amongst
the filmgoers.
Now, while it is difficult to
pinpoint one particular film that ushered in this trend, it would certainly be impossible
to understand the recent rise of the biopics without taking a closer look at these
biographical films whose commercial and critical success undoubtedly paved the
way for more such movies: The Dirty
Picture (2011), Paan Singh Tomar
(2012), and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
(2013), inspired by the lives of actress Silk Smitha, athlete turned bandit Paan
Singh Tomar, and sprinter Milkha Singh, respectively. Nowadays an important
subject that’s proving to be conducive for making biopics is nationalism. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl, based on
the life of Indian Air Force officer and helicopter pilot, is the latest in the
series of films revolving around the theme of nationalism and war. The film
starring Janhvi Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi, Vineet Kumar Singh, and
Manav Vij in pivotal roles is currently streaming on Netflix.
Flight Lieutenant Gunjan Saxena, who
joined the Indian Air Force in 1994, is a 1999 Kargil War veteran and the first
woman Shaurya Chakra awardee. She is also the only woman to be part of the
Kargil War. During the Kargil War, she was tasked with the responsibility to
evacuate the wounded, transport the supplies, and assist in surveillance. As
part of operations, she helped evacuate over 900 troops, both injured and dead,
from Kargil. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil
Girl follows the journey of a young girl who dreams of becoming a pilot.
When she grows up into a young girl she realizes that the world sees men and
women very differently. But with her father’s support she is able to join the
Indian Air Force. However, her real struggle begins when she reports for her
induction programme at an all-male training facility. So, Gunjan must be ready
for one acid test after another in order to prove her worth.
Gunjan Saxena’s journey is source of
great inspiration for young girls and boys; it dares them to dream and dream
big. The Sharan Sharma-directed biopic tries hard to be true to the story of
Gunjan’s struggle. Alas, it lacks the realistic treatment that a subject like
this demands! That’s precisely why biopics such as Paan Singh Tomar, Shahid, and Poorna
stand out a cut above the rest. However, despite its shortcomings, the Gunjan
Sharma biopic does succeed in putting spotlight on the life of a brave daughter
of the soil. The credit, of course, goes to the compelling performances of Manav
Vij, Pankaj Tripathi, Janvhi Kapoor, and Angad Bedi, and in that order.
Rating: 6/10
A version of this review first appeared in The Sunday Guardian.
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