Gunjan Saxena which was making a buzz lately premiered on Wednesday,12th August 2020 on Netflix. Movie stars Jhanvi Kapoor in and as Gunjan Saxena, Pankaj Tripathi, Angad Bedi, Vineet Kumar Singh, and Manav Vij in pivotal roles. It is written by Sharran Kumar and Nikhil Malhotra, Directed by Sharan Sharma.
Gunjan Saxena- The Kargil Girl is a biopic on the life of Gunjan Saxena who dreams to be a pilot and her dream turns to reality when she is selected in Indian Air Force (IAF). This movie covers her journey of struggle from being selected as pilot and getting into a patriarchal world where she does not fits to getting all credits and accolades and becoming the first Indian female pilot in combat. She breaks all the traditional norms of education, getting married, making family (in the 80’s and 90’s) and proving that what she desires is what she achieves.
The scenes are very well shot by Manush Nadan and gives a very fresh look and feel. And not to mention recreating an era (80’s and 90’s) is not a easy task and making it look like that time, is a fabulous job done by behind the camera masters. Let it be Production Design , VFX or Colour Grading, I have a very sincere respect for the artists who work in a team to make the movie look what it mend to be.
The Good
The ensemble cast in the movie is amazing and each and every one whether it be a major character or a minor one makes the scene very believable. Performances are spectacular, but the character that steals the light in a very natural and subtle way is Pankaj Tripathi. He as a father made me believe in him and his vision. I wish if every father becomes like the Colonel Saxena, there will be no Patriarchy. The moment Pankaj Tripathi comes in screen a smile comes to your face and his conviction of delivering dialogue is just flawless.
“Mujhe nahi pata ki duniya kitni muskil hai auroton ke liye! Par uska hal pinjre main qaid ho jaana nahi hai…pinjra tod ke ud jaana hai“.
“Dekho plane ladka udaye ya ladki dono ko pilot hi bolte hain“.
Well I can’t get over Pankaj Tripathi and just want more from him. I believe its one of his top 3 best roles till date. Additionally, Angad Vedi and Vineet Kumar Singh at the same time completely justify their roles as elder brother and Air Force officer respectively. Manav Vij on other side too plays his character in a low key and subtle way. Manav become a soul support to Gunjan in a professional way and his screen presence is like a soothing experience as we see Gunjan struggling hard to cope up with the conservative system around.
The Bad
There were not many flaws in the movie. However, at some points dialogue delivery by Jhanvi Kapoor was not up to the mark. It seemed a little bit mechanical and at some times it felt unnatural and monotonous too. It’s wrong to say that she is expressionless. Yet, her big expressive eyes just say everything. Especially, in emotional scenes. As Jhanvi is 3 movies old she might take some time. She will emerge as a beautiful performer like her mother Sridevi.
Verdict
The movie is made with very minimal treatment that is what pops out as the final product. Performance by the ensemble cast is just alluring to watch and needs much more credit especially Pankaj Tripathi. At fin, the movie shows us that the story is the real hero. Alongside this, when you bring great actors to the movie then it’s like added gems on the ornament. The movie comes in a very subtle and effective way. Movie not only discusses the struggle of Gunjan but also discusses gender inequality. It efficiently delivers the message in a conscious way. The music in the movie was lent by Amit Trivedi. It is one of the most whelming aspects of it. I can’t get over “Asmaan di Pari” and the fun song “Rekha o Rekha”.
Do give it a watch on Netflix as it is just 1 hour 52 mins. The movie deserves the recognition cause it celebrates real war hero Gunjan Saxena.
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A graphic designer by profession, Ashutosh zealously indulges in photography, illustration, and painting. He intends to be a filmmaker and scribes stories in his downtime. Yes, an impassioned wanderlust and part-time foodie too!!