‘Shamshera’ fails as a movie on many levels. Apart from a good cinematography, the movie doesn’t have anything that would keep the audience engaged. The storyline is extremely flawed and too hard to believe. Karan Malhotra seemed to had a grand thought in mind but the execution isn’t great even though the actors delivered honest performances. However, the music of the film is original and is brilliantly choreographed.
Ranbir Kapoor plays the role of a tribal leader who was uprooted from his soil and was enslaved in a fort along with his community. Sanjay Dutt who is a British soldier betrays his trust and makes him suffer. Ranbir wants to find a way out of the fort to free his people but unfortunately he dies. His son then takes charge after 25 years.
Sanjay Dutt completely overshadowed Ranbir with his stupendous performance. In the second half of the movie the characters seem to better themselves in their performance.
The film is unnecessarily stretched and after a point becomes boring. The fictional world didn’t have elements to hold the audiences. However, the movie had layers that are worthy of mentioning.
‘Shamshera’ condemns the caste system prevailing in Indian society from ages and how it affected India’s dynamics with the Britishers. The policy of divide and rule was evident in the movie where the higher caste Indians don’t blink to betray their fellow Indians just because they belonged to the lower caste. The lack of nationalism is well portrayed through the section of the society and the way Ranbirunites them is noteworthy.
‘Shamshera’ is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Videos.
Rating: 2.5/5
