Sarzameen Cast/Actors: Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Tara Sharma, Rohed Khan, KC Shankar, Ronav Parihar, Mihir Ahuja, Rajesh Sharma & Others
Sarzameen Movie Director: Kayoze Irani
Sarzameen Production House: Dharma Productions
Sarzameen Movie Release Date: 25th July, 2025
Sarzameen Movie Available On: JioHotstar
Sarzameen Released/Available In Languages: Hindi & dubbed in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam & Kannada
Sarzameen Movie Runtime: 2h 17m
Sarzameen Critic Review:
An army man sworn to protect his country at any cost. Even if the cost is his young son’s life.
It resembles the premise of the Dilip Kumar-Amitabh Bachchan starrer Shakti (1982), tautly directed by Ramesh Sippy. Dilip Kumar had played uncompromising DCP Ashwini Kumar who wouldn’t negotiate with a gangster even if it meant endangering son Vijay’s life. Vijay, played by Amitabh Bachchan, had grown up resenting his father and had purposefully walked off in the opposite direction – to the world of crime.
Travel to a troubled Kashmir in the 90s and transplant the Shakti theme against an Indo-Pak backdrop, with Soumil Shukla and Arun Singh (along with Kausar Munir and Jehan Handa) taking credit for story, screenplay and dialogues.
After running to the rescue of his men who’ve walked into a trap, a fierce exchange of fire and much hand-to-hand combat, staunch army man Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran) captures dreaded brothers Qaabil (KC Shankar) and Aabil (Rohed Khan).
But when his own son Harman (Ronav Parihar) is nabbed, Vijay faces the toughest decision of his life – release the terror brothers who are wreaking havoc in the valley in exchange for his son?
Despite the familiar theme filmed decades ago by Sippy, director Kayoze Irani makes the first hour watchable. Slickly shot, there’s an early introduction to Vijay’s disappointment at having a diffident son with a speech impediment, accompanied by flashbacks to his own past where his stern army father had told him, ‘Kamzor log is vardi ke layak nahi’.
Vijay’s wife Meher (Kajol) is caught between making him a more encouraging Appa and comforting their son. Although Meher’s ‘surprise’ of presenting Harman on stage to congratulate his father at a promotion party raises the first of many queries, Kayoze films it competently, following it up with a grimly executed kidnap scene.
There are routine scenes that filmmakers keep dipping into. A chain that belongs to Appa, flashbacks of the allegiance sworn to the country, Meher demanding that Vijay bring back Harman, “Be a father, not an army officer,” and unending BG songs for every situation. Yet there are moments like Vijay returning home after the exchange that will bring the son back home and Meher’s silent breakdown that are effectively picturised.
It’s the story eight years later that sets off a flurry of questions. Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan), now grown up, is back.
Dogged by doubts and red flags all over, Vijay questions Harman across the dining table, Meher exasperated.
It is exasperating. One would’ve thought all such interrogation, including a DNA test, would have happened with professional thoroughness by the army before Harman is allowed back into Brigadier Vijay’s home. But then the horrified mom looking on wouldn’t have been possible.
One would’ve also believed that an officer presented as crisply efficient as Vijay Menon would have checked for bodies before returning from an important encounter.
So, with a screenplay laden with holes, Kayoze plods on, labouring to strew plot twists across the snow.
The Indian army wonders, who’s helping us with information from across the border?
Is Harman really who he claims to be?
The dramatic family drama set against an army backdrop in Kashmir therefore stumbles due to the strain of wanting to provide an incredible twist.
After a prolonged climax and many father-son face-offs, when answers are finally provided, they raise a lot more questions. In order to ensure that no spoilers are revealed, let’s just say, if only love and brainwash were needed to lose a stutter, speech impediments would have an easy cure. And yes, we need people from across the border to teach us the value of ‘apnon ka khoon’.
The good news is that Kajol is always at her best with gravitas but one wishes she had a role with infallible credibility. Prithviraj needs no further pat on the back as a performer but again, if only his dilemma hadn’t been stretched so painfully. Ibrahim Ali Khan has a stronger screen presence this time than he had in his debut outing.
Sarzameen Watch Or Not?: It’s on OTT where Fast Forward is a welcome option.
Sarzameen Review Score Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (i.e. 2.5/5)
Sarzameen Official Trailer:
Credits: JioHotstar
Must Read: Saiyaara Movie Review: A Heartthrob Is Born
