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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Sarzameen: Ibrahim Ali Khan's terrible film accidentally gets you to root for a terrorist to kill an Indian soldier, and you can't even deny it
In Sarzameen, a stern military man allows his only son to be murdered by terrorists in Kashmir because… nation comes first or something. You often hear about parents who proudly declare that they are willing to sacrifice their children for the country, and perhaps Prithviraj Sukumaran's Vijay Menon is cut from the same cloth as those folks. The only difference is that his son isn't a soldier on the front-lines, but a child for whom he feels no love. Played by Ibrahim Ali Khan, the child's name is Harman, and the only reason his father hates him is that he isn't like the other boys; he's timid, he can't play sports, and he speaks with a stutter. Bizarrely enough, Sarzameen implies that Vijay wouldn't have let his son die had he conformed to the 'norms' of boyhood. If Harman didn't have a speech impediment, the movie suggests, he'd likely have lived. It's an astounding thought that struck absolutely nobody in the Dharma writing incubator that coughed up this script, which relies almost exclusively on contrivance, convenience, and coincidence to keep the plot moving. Sarzameen expects us to root for a reunion of some kind after it reveals that Harman miraculously survived a bullet to the head — nobody dies in this movie, even after being shot at point-blank range — but unintentionally gets us to cheer for a terrorist to kill a member of the Indian Army. Also read – Nadaaniyan: Ibrahim Ali Khan makes one of the worst debuts in years; is Karan Johar determined to set fire to his career before it even begins? Only a complete failure in storytelling can send a viewer so wildly off track. Sarzameen is directed by Kayoze Irani, who showed such promise with his heartfelt short film in Ajeeb Daastaans. For him to have selected this as his feature debut makes no sense; as it is, it feels like he wasn't involved in the conceptualisation and execution of the action scenes at all. His focus, presumably, was on the drama. And it's drama straight out of a poor '90s movie; you can imagine how competent Sarzameen is when you realise that even Netflix, which gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to Nadaaniyan, drew the line. As with that film, it feels like every line of dialogue here has been dubbed in a booth and not performed on set. Hindi isn't Prithviraj's mother tongue, and acting doesn't come naturally to Ibrahim. He shows up only after the first act, when Harman inexplicably escapes from the clutches of his captors and reappears in his parents' lives. For some reason, his mother, played by Kajol, is still married to Vijay, even after he abandoned Harman and left him to die. Had Sarzameen shown us what happened during those eight years, her decision would've made sense. But because it doesn't, you're left to assume that the only reason she stuck around is because she has a job to fulfil in the film's third act. Unlike Brody from Homeland, who was closely monitored by the CIA after he returned from captivity tried to begin his life afresh, Harman is simply allowed to go home to his parents. They barely recognise him. He no longer has a stutter, and he seems more confident than he used to be. Vijay is convinced that he's an imposter — the fact that he believes Harman would be the same person who 'died' eight years ago is bananas. Vijay knows that Harman was living with terrorists; he knows that Harman was probably tortured and brainwashed. And still, he welcomes Harman into his house without having him cleared first. Sarzameen seems to think that the dramatic conflict of these scenes rests in whether Harman is Vijay's son, and not whether he's a terrorist. The more suspicious Vijay becomes of Harman, the more you want to lean in and remind him that it's all his fault. Consequently, you root for the kid to shoot him in the face. This almost happens in the pre-interval scene, by the way. But the scene ends with a twist so wild that its sole purpose, seemingly, is to disarm you for the further insanity that Sarzameen has prepared for the climax. Let's talk about it. It is revealed that Harman was, indeed, a militant brainwashed against his father, who, it wouldn't be a stretch to assume, is the living manifestation of India. The villains didn't have to work too hard; Vijay did have him murdered, after all. The movie would've been far more complex had Harman come from a loving home, or if it had shown Harman commit a terrible crime before resurrecting himself. It's almost as if the most interesting chunk of the story — the eight years that Harman spent away from home — was deliberately edited out. Read more – Ae Watan Mere Watan: Heartbreaking, the worst film you've seen just made some strong political points Vijay, of course, has an awakening. But nothing can redeem him; he's like the dad from Udaan, but if he was also a child-killer. The real twist — and Abbas Mustan would be so proud of Kayoze — is that Kajol's character was a double agent all along. It's like they're gifting the Saiyaara generation with their own version of Gupt: The Hidden Truth. She was sent to spy on the Indian Army, but she fell for Vijay and had a child with him. Why she fell in love with a man like him isn't something that the movie feels confident enough to explain. And, having seen what sort of guy he is, it's impossible for the viewer to fill in the blanks either. Sarzameen is, after all, a movie that paints an Army officer as the villain and projects militants as morally justified in their actions. So, why can't it be appreciated like the scores of films made about America's war crimes after 9/11? Why does Sarzameen have more in common with Kajol's own Fanaa — the film's Harry Potter connections deserve a separate article — than it does with something like The Forever Prisoner, a film that understands the difference between empathising with a wrongdoer and actively cheering them on. By relying on trivial tropes, the movie does a disservice not only to its own characters, but also a very real geopolitical issue.
Mint
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
'This film addresses problem of loneliness': R Madhavan, Fatima Sana Shaikh share how Aap Jaisa Koi deals with complexities of relationships
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 7 (ANI): Actors R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, who are gearing up for the release of their upcoming film 'Aap Jaisa Koi', discussed the romantic drama and how the story is relatable, portraying the real aspects of relationships. Starring Madhavan as Shrirenu, a reserved Sanskrit teacher, and Fatima Sana Shaikh as Madhu, a spirited French instructor, 'Aap Jaisa Koi' brings together two opposites in a story that's as much about family and belonging as it's about romance. The film is directed by Vivek Soni. In a conversation with ANI, Madhavan shared, "The film 'Aap Jaisa Koi' addresses the problem of loneliness." He continued, "Aaj kal ke zamane mein jaisa ki humne film mein bhi kaha hai akelapan sabse badi bimari hai sabki bheed mein rehte huye social media hote huye aap raat koi sote waqt yehi feel karte ho ki mere karibi log mujhe pasand karte hai aur us akelepan ko, lonliness ko address karte huye ye film hai jahan hum keh rahe hai aap jasa koi hamari zindagi mein ho jaaye to hume us akelepan ki dawa mil jaye.. ( Even when you are in a crowd, even when you are in social media, sometimes when you keep your head on the pillow at night, you are forced to think, do the people close to me like me as much as I depend on them? And this film addresses that loneliness, where we are saying that if we get someone like you, we will get the medicine for this loneliness." Fatima, who is known for her roles in 'Ludo', 'Ajeeb Daastaans', 'Modern Love Mumbai', and others shared how she got the project and why she decided to be part of it, saying, "Vivek called me, who is the director of our film, and he told me roughly what it is, and then he sent me the script. The script is very beautiful. If you see in the trailer, there is a beautiful emotion, that there is a boy and a girl who love each other, and we keep hearing the complications between them. But how to tell what their conflicts are, they were very layered. And on top of that, I was getting a chance to work with Maddy for the first time, and I didn't want to miss that and lose that. So I was very excited." She added, "The film beautifully shows the emotional complexities and conflicts between a man and a woman." The 'Kesari Chapter 2' actor shared what he liked most about this project, saying, "The specialty of this story is that it is an age-appropriate role. I am not playing a 22-23 year old hero, I am playing a 40 year old man, who falls in love for the first time... jab insaaan ko pehli baar pyar hota hai vo teenager ki tarah hi behave karta are learning how to express love in new ways in this modern age..." "After watching the film, you will realise that there are still many good things in this world, and there will be some complications, complicated individuals, but there is still goodness and love," added Madhavan. The Netflix film features Madhavan as Shrirenu Tripathi, who has been raised in a rigid Jamshedpur-based family led by patriarchs who abide by a set of rules and regulations for women. Situations take a downturn when Madhavan falls in love with Fatima. Fatima hails from an independent family and believes in speaking her mind, objecting to the systemic condition of women being forced to follow rather than lead. The movie features the collision of two contrasting ideologies, leaving the couple heartbroken as their love suffers. Explaining the concept of the film and how it subtly challenges patriarchy, the 'Dangal' actress said, "In this film we are talking about finding true equality in love... There are those who are patriarchal, who are aggressive, but here we are not talking about that man. We are talking about a very innocent man who actually wants to love. But his conditioning is such that he doesn't realise that the way he loves is not watching this film, men will realise that women today are not trying to control bahiut hi choti baat kar rahe hum equality ki baat kar rahe.." Earlier, taking to his Instagram handle, actor R Madhavan shared the trailer for the film, which features a unique chemistry between him and Fatima Sana Shaikh. According to the trailer, the movie is about the love between a couple who must overcome obstacles stemming from different cultures and ideologies. The movie is produced under the banner of Dharmatic Entertainments. The movie is set to stream from July 11. (ANI)
NDTV
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Sarzameen Teaser: Ibrahim Ali Khan Plays Terrorist In Prithviraj Sukumaran And Kajol's Kashmir Saga
New Delhi: Dharma Productions released the teaser of their upcoming film Sarzameen featuring Kajol, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Ibrahim Ali Khan on Monday. The teaser promises an intriguing tale, set against the backdrop of terror-ridden Kashmir. Breaking Down The Teaser The teaser shows Prithviraj Sukumaran risking his life for the nation. Prithviraj's character seems to be driven by a personal loss. Dressed as a soldier, Prithviraj is bent on saving his motherland at any cost. Kajol appears to play Prithviraj Sukumaran's wife in the film. The couple share some emotionally loaded moments. What became talking point was Ibrahim Ali Khan's drastic transformation. Ibrahim, showing his scars to the camera, plays an antagonist in the film. The teaser hints at that Ibrahim is playing a terrorist though details of his character are kept under wraps. His intense look and chiselled body language have already triggered a chatter on the Internet. The film is set in Kashmir. The snow-capped roads leading to the valley are shown as the battle field where Ibrahim and Prithviraj will take on each other. About The Film Sarzameen has been directed by Boman Irani's son Kayoze Irani. He had earlier directed a story in the Netflix anothology Ajeeb Daastaans. The film has been produced by Dharma Productions. The film will release on Jio Hotstar on July 25. Ibrahim Ali Khan, who had earlier worked as an assistant director on Karan Johar's directorial Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, got his first acting break with the production house's OTT venture. After Nadaaniyan, Sarzameen marks Ibrahim Ali Khan's second work with Dharma Productions. Nadaaniyan was thrashed heavily on social media. It seems Ibrahim is trying to prove his acting calibre with this hard-hitting film. In A Nutshell Ibrahim Ali Khan, Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran's Sarzameen will release on JioHotstar. The teaser shows Ibrahim playing a terrorist in the film.
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
‘Frustrated' Karan Johar questions ‘why we get slotted' as he admits to breaking barriers with Homebound
Homebound, starring Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter, and Vishal Jehtwa, recently made the entire nation proud. They received a 9-minute standing ovation from the audience as they screened at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. It is directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and backed by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. Now, 'frustrated' KJo opened up about being slotted and admitted breaking barriers with Homebound. In a recent conversation with Variety, Karan Johar criticized being labeled and with frustration he shared, 'I don't know why we get slotted.' He added that he has been producing anthologies like Ajeeb Daastaans and even Neeraj directed the Geeli Pucchi. The filmmaker further opened up on moving the bar of cinema with Kapoor & Sons and Kill that was screened at Toronto International Film Festival in 2023. KJo further shared that he consciously backs films that, every now and then, break boundaries and reshape Dharma's identity, not just riding the mainstream wave, but also reaching for deeper, more meaningful cinematic shores. In the same interview, Karan Johar also opened up on backing Homebound and the reason behind it. He shared, 'There are only two things I can say. One is Neeraj. The other is Ghaywan. I was like, he always had me at hello.' Earlier, The Royals actor Ishaan Khatter took to Instagram to share his excitement about reuniting with Karan Johar and Dharma Productions after seven years for Homebound. Reflecting on the project, he described it as a deeply personal and challenging experience, one that he felt was special from the very beginning. He also celebrated the film's journey to Cannes, Ishaan called it a dream come true, shaped by intention, grit, compassion, and truth. He also acknowledged director Neeraj Ghaywan as a rare talent with both vision and empathy, crediting him for leading one of the proudest chapters of his cinematic journey. For more such news, stay tuned to Pinkvilla!
Pink Villa
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Aditi Rao Hydari wears sindoor and red saree as she flaunts new bride energy at Cannes 2025
Aditi Rao Hydari walked the streets of Cannes in an unexpected ensemble sure to win hearts. The Bollywood actress embraced a red saree with sindoor, showcasing Indian cultural roots on the global stage. Channeling a gorgeous new bride look, Hydari exuded a desi feminine energy—a perfect blend of beauty and boldness. Let's dissect her look! Gracefully set against the serene blue sea, Aditi Rao Hydari wore a breezy red saree by Raw Mango, a brand known for crafting sarees inspired by traditional and remote Indian styles. Staying true to this, Rao's drape was minimal yet radiated a desi charm that represents pan-India's sartorial legacy. The red silk saree featured thin blue borders, creating a striking and stylish contrast. The pallu and hemline boasted a wide band of golden strips, adding subtle texture to the flair. The Heeramandi actress paired her plain red saree with a sleeveless blouse featuring a tube-top style bodice, a subtle sweetheart neckline, and delicate straps. The minimal, matching blouse enhanced the feminine flow of Aditi's ensemble. For jewelry, the Ajeeb Daastaans star chose pieces that perfectly complemented the saree's vibe. She adorned her bare neck with a vivid kundan choker and matching earrings. The intricate necklace showcased blue stones, kundan work, and pearl-studded strings, centered around a circular red stone charm trimmed with tiny rhinestones. She completed the look with matching circular earrings, adding a regal touch to her appearance. However, the adornment that truly stole our hearts was the sindoor (vermilion powder). Even her bindi was crafted from sindoor, honoring one of India's deeply rooted cultural traditions. Complementing this, Aditi flaunted makeup that elevated her desi glam—smokey eyes defined by kohl and lengthening mascara, rosy cheeks that gave her a fresh, new-bride glow, and creamy light mauve lips. The striking, smoky eyes and blushed cheeks perfectly balanced Indian feminine boldness with graceful poise. She finished the look with a messy updo, her hair center-parted and tucked into a low bun. On dissecting Aditi Rao Hydari's Cannes 2025 look, it's clear that she and her styling team nailed the vibe they aimed for—pure nayi dulhan core.
