Sardar Udham is a 2021 biographical period drama film directed by Shoojit Sircar. Based on the life of freedom fighter Udham Singh, the movie was released on Amazon Prime Video on the 16th of October. Vicky Kaushal stars as Udham Singh, while the movie is written by Ritesh Shah and Shubhendu Bhattacharya with music from Shantanu Mohra under the Rising Sun films production banner.
Plot
Sardar Udham is a look into the life of quiet yet impactful revolutionary, Udham Singh, who carries out the assassination of the then Lieutenant Governor of Punjab, Michael O’Dwyer. He was the person in charge of giving the go ahead to the infamous Jallianwala Bhag Massacre of 1919, which effectively killed close to thousands of people.
Singh, who was living a couple of streets away from there, was deeply shaken by the horror of the incident. He was an active collaborator with Bhagat Singh, and was also imprisoned for participating in demonstrations to end British Rule. The movie starts with a worn-down and battered Singh getting out of prison and reaching Britain with the sole intention of killing Dwyer.
He finds solidarity in his memories of India, Bhagat Singh and the woman he loved before the massacre. He fuels the fire and hatred for Dwyer for several years, following him around and studying his movements so that he can execute his plan with perfection.
What we liked
Sardar Udham is a poetic ode to the Indian freedom struggle. It eases into its script, with minimal use of talking and Kaushal’s acting, doing most of the dictation on screen. The movie flows through with such ease, and the aid of near masterpiece worthy cinematography and music just adds to the film’s beauty.
Sircar’s direction is noteworthy, and he has taken over the audience, captivating them with a masterful picture. With Sardar Udham, we see a revolutionizing turn in Indian Cinema. It doesn’t stick to the Bollywood norm, with music interferences and unrealistic action. Although it’s not something wrong, breaking the paradigm is simply showing us different directions cinema can go.
Cinematography in a mix with amazing location preferences is another highlight of the film. With an artistic blend of minimalism and drastic themes of natural lighting, Avik Mukhopadhyay does a great job in focusing the viewer’s attention only on Singh. The musical score in Sardar Udham also complimented this dynamic, with elevating music background but no standalone songs.
Vicky Kaushal’s portrayal of Udham Singh is unlike no other. He fit into the characteristics of Singh, and every scene was testament to his dedication to deliver. He was comfortable and confident in his acting, and the realistic outlook that he delivers is transcending. The film was worth watching definitely for Kaushal’s best acting till date.
Why watch Sardar Udham?
The movie by itself is not your usual Bollywood flick and sets off on a different path of its own. It was a pleasure to watch and gave chills towards the end. Every aspect of the film was well rounded off, right from the crisp storytelling, acting, technical imagery and sound and also Sircar’s direction. It embodies the life of Singh in all forms, touching from his personal life to connections to the freedom movement.
Although not outspoken, the film launches Indian cinema onto a path of scenic and meaningful art. If awakening nationalism themed movies are not your taste, then check out light-hearted romantic drama show Modern Love only on Crunchstories.
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