Sarbjit - A soulful, overstretched drama

Cast: Randeep Hooda, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Richa Chadha, Darshan Kumaar.
Rating: 3.5/5

This year’s much awaited biopic ‘Sarbjit’ directed by Omung Kumar hit screens today. The trailer and the music has already created quite a buzz. But what is commendable is the character transformation of the leads,Randeep Hooda and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, which has has left many fans awestruck. 

The plot begins in the 90s.  Sarbjit and his family have been living a happy life in a small village of Bhikhiwind in Punjab. Until one unfortunate day, Sarbjit Singh (Randeep Hooda), a hardworking farmer goes missing. Unaware about his whereabouts, his beloved sister Dalbir Kaur (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), wife Sukhpreet (Richa Chadha) and the villagers go all extent to find him. This incident occurs when her brother leaves home with a friend, to enjoy an evening over drinks. The alcohol hits high and he wakes up few hours later at the India-Pakistan border. Pakistani army arrests Sarbjit, suspecting him to be Ranjeet Singh Mattu, a spy involved in the previous bombings that shook the neighbouring nation.

The story from this moment gets intensely melodramatic, emotional and attempts to kindle the soul.

Sarbjit (suspected as Ranjeet) is questioned over and over about the bombings and other assocations. He initially says the truth about himself and his life, but he gives up and fails, as his treatment in the jail worsens day by day. To escape from the same, he lies and accepts himself as Ranjeet. The court declares a verdict based on it, that the accused must be hanged till death. The extent of his love towards Dalbir now drives him to accept the only way, albeit extremely risky, to communicate with her. Sarbjit’s brave effort becomes the vital element for the storyline, as this mode of communication leads to the beginning of Dalbir’s 23 year long protest which becomes the main crux of the movie.

The makers of the film ( Legend Studio, Pooja Entertainment & Films, T-Series)  through the drama, have put a lot of effort to highlight the trauma all the characters  experienced. Sarbjit’s ‘torture scenes’ in the jail will give you shivers and there is no one moment in the film where you will not feel the plight of the accused innocent farmer. The first part of the movie is narrated well and the incidents make it quite gripping. The interval comes at the point when Dalbir and the members of Sarbjit’s family, after two decades of struggle, get visa to Pakistan. The protest continues in the second part of the movie too and there are many onscreen emotional moments, but I wish it was cut short as the melodrama seems never ending.

Sarbjit’s music album has a total of 10 songs, composed by a variety of musicians. The song ‘tung lak’ is used right in the beginning of the film, but it would have been rather palatable if it was edited out as it doesn’t connect with the scenes related to Sarbjit’s disappearance. The other songs come along and are well incorporated. Overall, it is just another average album.

Director Omang Kumar, writer Utkarshini Vashishth and others in the team have tried ther best to convince us with the narration, but unfortuately fail partly. Although the movie is titled on Sarbjit, a lot of screen focus has been given to the sister – Dalbir. Randeep Hooda as Sarbjit is convicing and in many instances makes you emotional. The love depicted by the siblings comes across very well, however Aishwarya as Dalbir could have been more appealing. Her high-pitched tone with a not-so-impressive Punjabi diction lets the character down. Richa Chadha as Sarbjit’s wife, Sukhpreet, makes a mark. She has very less dialogues in the movie, but her eyes and energy add spark to the story. The actress leaves an impression everytime she appears on screen.

As mentioned before, scenes of Sarbjit’s torture are the best and will clings on to your senses even after you exit the theater. It is painful to watch the plight and emotional plague of a helpless man. You heart goes out to Sarbjit and many instances you would relate to his sorrow state and wish to provide him with some much needed succor. Despite some good performances; certain parts of the narrative, melodrama and the mash of emotions, let down the film to an extent.  

I’d suggest you to watch the movie for Randeep Hooda. He is underused, but does impress you with his part as Sarbjit.