Ground Zero

It seemed like the film was being shot keeping Zero Dark Thirty in mind. The story was pretty good and writing was to praise for. The only area that can steal the show is the cast and their performance. Emraan, though underrated, is a versatile actor and Sai is as usual perfect for the role. Other characters were also well casted. The movie was a bit fast paced and this left viewers to think more as they watched. Crux of the film was the climax and to arrive at that point, the surrounding story was well knitted and connected. Shootout to the actor who played the character of Hussian (Mehroos Mir). RT's tip: Make sure you watch the movie in a silent environment to experience it's true sound.

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 Deoskar's "Ground Zero" is a perfectly decent counter-terrorism thriller that takes its sweet time getting to the good bits, though when it does, it rather makes up for the sluggish start. Based on true events involving BSF operations in Kashmir, the film delivers proper thrills once it stops faffing about with exposition.

Emraan Hashmi turns in a committed performance as a BSF officer, bringing his usual intensity whilst mercifully avoiding the chest-thumping heroics that plague most Indian military films. He's genuinely compelling when given decent material to work with, particularly as the story picks up steam in the latter half.

The film's biggest bugbear is its pacing. Deoskar seems hellbent on establishing every conceivable bit of backstory before getting to the actual story, which tests one's patience rather unnecessarily. The Kashmir setting feels authentic, and the supporting cast provides adequate backup without being particularly memorable.

Where "Ground Zero" truly comes alive is in its final act. The tension ratchets up considerably, and the action sequences feel authentic rather than choreographed for maximum spectacle. However, the film occasionally gets a bit preachy when it should have trusted its story to do the talking.

What's most refreshing is the film's restraint. It's genuinely surprising to see a military thriller that doesn't descend into flag-waving nationalism. Instead, Deoskar delivers a thoughtful examination of counter-terrorism work that respects both the complexity of the subject and the intelligence of the audience.

A decent thriller that could have been genuinely excellent with tighter editing and more faith in its own narrative strength. Worth sticking with, even if the first half tests your patience.

6.5/10.

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!

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.