Pippa

It was better than I expected. Honestly, the trailer did not do much for me and I was going to skip this one. I still gave it a shot and was pleasantly surprised.

Now I'll be first to admit, I do not know a whole lot about the war of 71 except for few key things. Pippa and its role in war was unknown to me. I was glad that they didn't make this movie about a Tank although it's an important character just like the lamp is for Aladdin or the book is in Jumanji.

The good:

• Ishan worked for me as an actor for the most part. He did have few misses here and there but for the most part it was great.

• Imaamulhaq who played Shibli was the favorite part of the movie. That actor I have never seen before but won me over. He understood the assignment and had the time of his life on the set.

• That one take, people who will watch will know. It was beautiful but it was prematurely cut.

• I liked how the story was written. The screenplay was okay at best. The rift between the two brothers was good drama. The brotherhood in army. Mrunal Thakur's semi arc. Etc. It wasn't cringefest.

• The background score and sound design was great too. Not as great as Uri. Uri had the best score and sound design of any Indian war movies but this one was good too.

• The movie is shot very well. Some great Bangladeshi landscapes looked great on screen and a few scenes were extremely memorable.

The average:

• All the battle sequences except one gun fight. The tank battles which are the essence of this movie were very underwhelming. They weren't as bad as Border or LOC Kargil. But come on. We have better technology and equipment to shoot a gripping tank battle don't we?

• The final battle I don't know historically much about. But I doubt it was so small scale. And even if it was, it felt like I was watching some old 80s bollywood climax fight sequence. It was okay at best.

The bad:

• Editing was the worst and the bane of this movie. Whoever edited this had no idea how to stitch two scenes properly. Some cuts and transitions were just jarring.

• Songs were forgettable. None of them are worth visiting again. AR Rahman what are you doing?

• VFX was below average. Given the small budget I get it but please use squibs for close ups at least or have real fire on tanks. That shouldn't be a problem I suppose. Or hire the guys behind Tumbad. That movie had small budget but did such great job.

• The opening shot. I won't spoil it. But its supposed to be such an impactful, last nail in the coffin kind of event. But it was so poorly executed and acted that I almost turned off the movie.

• Some of the supporting cast, such as the lady who played Indira Gandhi, did not work for me. Soni Razdan who I like usually like did not give her best. The deserter and the guy playing Pak army chief were terrible and took me out of the film.

Guys in the end, my low expectations did wonders. I didn't hate it as much as many others and I also did not think it's like a 5 or 1 star movie. It's an above average film that deserves a 7. Worse movies have better scores than this one has.

The movie is americanised. The dialogues, accent, the lingo used by military personnel is all americanised. I am actually thinking, what american shows were they watching to learn such things or is these some American Training on how to hollywood style, also with guitar and drums playing in the background.

And then we have bollywood masala or songs and dance numbers.

If you are building a war movie, then build a war movie... why put all this bollywood magic masala and old formula. I was just waiting for some item number to pop up.

Instead, they could have dove deeper into the politics of it, the history of East Pakistan, Bangladesh, Mukti Bahini.

The story based on the book " The Burning Chaffees" by Brigadier Balram Mehta has been put forth as film Script brilliantly by Raja menon and his team...With Arr onboard what could be the best thing one can get...

Pippa is one of the brilliantly made films on wars that stand out due to its spontaneous events and not build ups.

It gives a view of a part of the 1971 Indo Pak war that liberated Bangladesh. It shows patriotism and valour in a beautiful way...

The cast has done a great job - especially Ishaan khattar shoulders the entire film. He has put out huge efforts starting from dancing to action sequences.( The starting dance number is excellent)...

While our Mozart of Madras brings out the soul of every martyrs with his brilliant composition and bgm are the core asset of the movie...

Overall the film brings out the morality of Bangladesh crisis stating that " Refuge is a faceless crowd" so give it a try you won't be disappointed...

"Pippa," stands out as a refreshingly understated entry in a genre typically known for its boisterous patriotism, especially within Bollywood. The film, anchored on the life story of Balram Singh Mehta, delves into the crucial role of the amphibious battle tank-aptly named 'Pippa' (a Punjabi word for a tin can that floats)-in the pivotal battles of 1971. Unlike many of its counterparts, "Pippa" eschews the usual jingoism, opting instead for a more nuanced approach to storytelling.

The narrative, admittedly slow to ignite, eventually finds its footing, drawing the audience into the thick of the action. Ishaan Khatter, portraying the main protagonist Balram Singh Mehta, delivers a remarkably measured performance, striking a balance between intensity and restraint. His portrayal underscores the character's evolution through the tribulations of war, a journey of maturation and transformation that is both compelling and convincing.

Supporting performances add depth to the narrative, with Mrunal Thakur and Soni Razdan offering strong turns as Mehta's sister and mother, respectively. Priyanshu Painyuli, initially rigid in his role as Balram's strict brother Ram, eventually finds his groove, contributing to the film's emotional depth.

Visually, "Pippa" impresses with some stunning tank sequences, showcasing a commendable level of technical prowess. The film's real auditory triumph, however, lies in its music and background score by the legendary A. R. Rahman, whose compositions elevate the film's mood and energy, keeping the "josh" (spirit) high.

A notable surprise is the performance of Kamal Sadanah, who steps into the shoes of the legendary Sam Manekshaw with a finesse that belies his time away from the spotlight. His portrayal adds a layer of authenticity and gravitas to the film.

However, "Pippa" is not without its imperfections. The script shows signs of looseness, particularly in the initial segments, and the VFX, crucial for a war movie, occasionally falls short of expectations, detracting from the film's overall impact.

In conclusion, while "Pippa" may have benefited from a grander release on the big screen, it remains a worthy watch. It tells a story that needed to be told, doing so with a subtlety and sensitivity that sets it apart from typical Bollywood war dramas. Its few flaws aside, "Pippa" is a commendable effort that contributes meaningfully to the Indian war film genre.

An immersive war film experience without the unnecessary chauvinistic nationalistic pomp and show-I enjoyed the film thoroughly. And yes! I wasn't really aware of the details of the war of '71, precisely the Battle of Garibpur, and how India helped East Pakistan (Bangladesh) attain liberation from West Pakistan.

The story of three siblings is straightforward and neat. The rift between the brothers was interesting. I am glad the makers didn't burden our protagonist with a love interest. The war scenes-WOW-beautifully designed. The locations where the film is shot contributed immensely. I believe not much of VFX has gone into the film. The tank battles could have been dealt with better. Underproduction? Small budget ? Maybe the reason, but whenever PIPPA was in the water, I was watching without a blink. Ishan worked for me as an actor mostly. Imaamulhaq was brilliant.

The visuals are for the theatre, and cinematographer Priya Seth did an excellent job, especially during the war sequences; the camera immersed me. Director Raja Krishna Menon did commendably as well-the setup, the war sequences were well done. I had teary eyes more than once.

On the flip side, the pacing gets slow towards the end. The climax is underwhelming indeed. Edits at some places were abrupt; also, the makers could have shortened the film. The background score was changing tones, so it worked for me only in parts. AR Rahman sir didn't impress. I wish the film had seen the theaters. Pippa Pippa, "Ghee da dibba," is a victory indeed.