Sarzameen

This film presents a frustrating paradox. On one hand, it is a visual masterpiece, featuring absolutely beautiful and well-composed frame shots that could easily be mistaken for good storyline. The cinematography is, without a doubt, the high point of the entire production.

However, a film cannot survive on visuals alone. The sole spark of life in the narrative comes from Kajol. She is the only believable part of a story that otherwise feels completely empty.

2 Stars extra for Kajol

It's a real shame, then, that the rest of the movie falls apart because it has nothing to say. The plot is empty and feels forced, with other characters so poorly written you barely notice them. To have such a great main actress and such amazing visuals wasted on a story this dull is not just disappointing, it's very annoying. You are left with no feelings for the story, just the clear, irritating feeling that you watched two hours of a wasted chance. See it for Kajol if you have to, but don't say I didn't warn you.

The much-hyped Sarzameen, a film that promised a gripping, high-stakes socio-political thriller, arrives with a resounding thud rather than a roar. Instead of a tense and immersive experience, viewers are left with a tedious, formulaic mess that struggles to justify its lengthy runtime. It's a cinematic misstep that fails on almost every conceivable level.

The primary issue lies in the convoluted and deeply unoriginal script. The narrative feels less like a finely tuned clock and more like a collection of discarded plot points awkwardly stitched together. The central mystery is so heavily telegraphed in the first act that any semblance of surprise is lost long before the climax. Subplots involving a generic family drama and a shoehorned romance not only fail to land but actively detract from the already weak main story. The pacing is glacial, with key moments stretched out to the point of exhaustion and crucial emotional beats completely glossed over, leaving the audience feeling detached and bored.

Compounding these script issues are the uninspired performances. The lead actor, often celebrated for their intensity, seems to be going through the motions here, delivering dialogue with a flat, monotonous tone. Their character lacks any real depth or motivation, making it impossible to root for them. The supporting cast fares no better, with many characters existing solely as exposition dumps or as archetypes who react in predictably clichéd ways. The palpable lack of chemistry between the leads makes their romantic arc feel entirely unearned and out of place, serving only to halt the plot's already stuttering momentum.

The direction is equally pedestrian. The camera work is static and uninspired, doing little to build tension or atmosphere. The film's washed-out color palette makes every scene feel drab and unengaging. The director appears content to rely on slow-motion shots and an overbearing background score to convey importance, rather than trusting the story or the actors to do so. In the end, Sarzameen is a monumental disappointment-a film that's neither thrilling nor emotionally resonant. Save your time and money; this "land" is not worth visiting.

Sarzameen is a half decent Kashmir-set thriller that never quite reaches its potential. The film follows an Army officer torn between duty and family, creating conflict when his military principles damage his relationship with his son.

There are clear echoes of Shakti (1982) in the father-son conflict, but where that film had two powerhouse actors creating electric tension, here the mismatch between Prithviraj's commanding presence and Ibrahim's limited range makes the central conflict feel uneven.

Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers a strong performance as the patriotic father, bringing necessary gravitas to anchor the film. Ibrahim Ali Khan shows improvement from Nadaaniyan but remains dramatically lightweight. Kajol is wasted in an underwritten role that doesn't utilise her talents properly.

Kayoze Irani's directorial debut handles the Kashmir conflict with reasonable sensitivity, though the execution feels safe rather than bold.

The script could easily have been trimmed by 30 min, or chopped at the editing table, and that is the film's biggest bane. The pacing drags considerably in places, emotional beats often feel contrived, and the film plays things too safely when it should take risks.

It's watchable but frustratingly ordinary given its strong premise.

Rating: 6.5/10 (Good performances can't quite elevate predictable material that wastes its dramatic potential)

One time watchable below average movie.could be better .still one time watchable movie.postives prthiv and Kajol acting .son character is very weak.its family emotional drama .so if you watch with family it would be better. So go and watch the movie with your family .keep your expectations at low it's only below average one.

Review: Sarzameen 1.5/5

Sarzameen is a cinematic autopsy of what happens when a powerful premise is murdered by weak writing, hollow emotion, and a complete disconnect from truth. It doesn't move you, it doesn't disturb you-it just leaves you cold and disappointed.

A story that had the potential to explore identity, pain, and the deep scars of conflict instead becomes a confused mess of half-baked dialogue, implausible decisions, and characters who feel more like cardboard than flesh. Even Kajol, with her immense depth, is utterly wasted here. The emotional stakes are spoken of, but never felt. The performances float without weight, and the narrative-built on a critical revelation-falls apart under the simplest scrutiny.

When a supposed twist rests on a DNA test in a region soaked in surveillance and tension, you expect precision. Instead, we get melodrama over meaning. The script treats its audience as passive observers, never inviting them to engage, only to endure.

Cinema like this does more harm than good-because it pretends to speak truth, but it whispers fiction dressed as depth.

A missed opportunity. A wasted canvas. A story that deserved so much more.