Ground Zero

Based on true events, Ground Zero salutes our hero for their sacrifice and courage to keep our country safe.

While it was a tough ask, Emraan Hashmi did play his part with everything he had but the storytelling was a letdown. The film moves at an inconsistent pace and nothing leaves a major impact to your eyes. Although the cinematography and background music were decent, no scene felt hard hitting. There are a good number of intense sequences that provide thrills, yet there are also several dragged-out portions where the film's energy dips.

Overall, a decent attempt, I would say and it does work at some levels.

My Rating : 6/10.

Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar's Ground Zero is based on Operation Ghazi Baba, conducted by the BSF in 2003.

The film is very grounded and balanced in its approach, dealing with the subject matter with sensitivity. There are a good number of intense sequences that provide thrills, yet there are also several dragged-out portions where the film's energy dips. Camerawork, music, and background score work very well in support of the film, whereas the editing feels subpar. The action sequences are good.

Emraan does a very good job as BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, handling both the action and emotional scenes nicely. Sai

Tamhankar provides good support. Mukesh and Zoya are okay, while Mir Mehrooz stands out.

The rest of the supporting cast does a decent job.

Overall, we liked the film but wish it had been tighter in terms of pacing and screenplay.

OVERALL 7.25/10.

This movie is based on a real-life operation conducted by the Border Security Force (BSF) of India. It depicts the heroism of the soldiers and the red tape that exists in the forces.

The main protagonist, played by Emraan Hashmi, was very convincing in his role as a BSF jawan. He was good at carrying the story forward and performing the stunts. The only place where he lacked was his dialogue delivery, especially during speeches to charge up the battalion. Emraan was especially weak in those scenes.

The other characters, played by Sai Tamhankar and Zoya Hussain, did their job quite well. My only gripe with this film is its pacing, specially in the second half. The first half is edited well, and you won't feel bored at all. But the second half loses its pace a little bit. Pacing up the second half could have reduced the running time by at least 15-20 minutes. Still, I would recommend people watch this movie at least once in the theatres.

I really liked the restraint of the movie... It's rare to find a Bollywood movie based on a BSF soldier's daring, sans melodrama. The restraint in storytelling, especially in patriotic or armed forces-based films, is rare but refreshing. I found Emraan's performance compelling. Sai Tamhankar as Jaya Dube is convincing. The music also does justice to the theme. One can imagine how difficult it must have been to crush terrorists when almost the entire ecosystem of Kashmir was either overtly or covertly supporting 'jihad'. The probe uncovers the mastermind Ghazi Baba, facilitating India's largest anti-terror operation. A quasi-real portrayal... Indian movies are coming of age!

In Ground Zero, director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar attempts to blend fact-based realism with cinematic intensity, setting his sights on one of India's most volatile Kashmir conflict issues. Anchored in the backdrop of the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the subsequent manhunt for the elusive terrorist Ghazi Baba, the film sets out to be a gripping military-political thriller. The film unfolds through the eyes of a BSF officer.

Tejas Deoskar's direction is sincere and grounded, opting for a restrained, fact-based approach. His choice to present the conflict through a soldier's moral compass is commendable. The engagement dips at crucial junctures, and the screenplay though ambitious, stagnates in parts. The climax feels slightly rushed and abrupt. It leaves the audience feeling affected, but not entirely fulfilled.

Ground Zero is a well-intentioned & moderately effective film. If there's one consistently strong pillar in the film, it's Emraan Hashmi's sincere performance. Sai Tamhankar and Zoya Hussain offer commendable support. Mukesh Tiwari was decent. Deepak Parmesh, Lalit Prabhakar, and the rest of the supporting cast contributed well to the film's overall texture.

For viewers interested in real-event-inspired cinema and a mature take on the Kashmir issue, Ground Zero is definitely worth a watch, even if it leaves you wanting a bit more in terms of depth and emotional payoff. The cinematography captures the starkness of Kashmir's landscape well. The action sequences are executed with restraint and authenticity rather than Bollywood-style spectacle. Its commitment to realism over propaganda is one of its strengths, even if the storytelling occasionally falters.

Direction 3/5 Acting 3.5/5 Music 2.5/5 Story 3/5 Screenplay 3/5.