Ground Zero

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.

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.

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!

Movie Review: Ground Zero Streaming on Prime video!!

Not many might have watched this film when it hit the cinema halls in late April. So here's my review for those who would like to watch it on OTT !!

Based on real incidents , this gripping film describes the operation conducted by the armed forces to kill the dreaded terrorist Gazi Baba , the mastermind of the Parliament & Akshardham Attacks. It also describes the passion of zeal & fervor shown by army officer Narendra Nath Dubey who was instrumental in bringing this operation to a logical conclusion!!

The film offers an emotional & authentic portrayal of Kashmir and its people. Imran Hashmi's portrayal of protagonist Narendra Nath Dubey is very realistic and his bonding with a misled Kashmiri youth who later becomes his informer is very endearing. Despite the terrorists being two steps ahead every time and our hero encountering failure time and again , his relentless pursuit & perseverance finally pays dividend when he finally nabs his man !!

If u want to watch no nonsense cinema with strong content and substance then Ground Zero is a delightful watch for the weekend!!

Right from the first scene, the strong screenplay , slick editing, action and cinematography will keep you hooked till the end.

Going with 3.5/5 for this one .. Adios 😊!!

For the others , u can always watch Housefull 5 😂😂!!

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