Operation Valentine

Film loosely based on true events, and fairly Owen as story. If you want to watch, watch without any expectations. Visuals are fairly good. Actors did a fair good job. And story was smoothly executed without much twists. From beginning to end the movie executed smoothly. Director didn't tried to over exaggerate the situations which would have made movie complicate. The story directly jumps into story without much delay. Which is a good one otherwise it would have made story boring. The technicals are good. So if you are bored it's a fair good try to watch movie which would not disappoint much.

Operation Valentine tries to deliver a high-energy patriotic film but somewhere loses grip on reality. The movie clearly wants to reflect India's real-life surgical strikes and the heroism of our Air Force, but the execution feels quite filmy and far from how things actually happen.

The lead actor gives a strong performance, and Manushi Chhillar is graceful and composed in her role. The emotional weight is there, especially in the parts inspired by Wing Commander Abhinandan, which are done with heart.

However, the screenplay follows a familiar pattern we've seen in many recent war dramas. Once again, we see an Indian officer not following commands but somehow being the bravest - this cliché is getting repetitive and takes away from the realism. At times, the story drags, especially in the buildup portions, making it feel slow and stretched.

That said, the film does carry a patriotic touch and makes a decent one-time watch. Just don't expect anything new or highly realistic.

Did go to the movie without knowing the story. It started slow but the pace picked up slowly. By interval, you are in the edge of your seat. The direction, acting, music and VFX were just in enough dose. Congrats to the entire team for making this movie. Though the star cast is not well known, they have pulled it off nicely. Definitely a good watch for the weekend. I didn't expect the VFX. To be so good. It really elevated the aerial fight scenes. Almost to the Hollywood standards. Screenplay had played a very good part to keep the flow. No unnecessary songs that kept the movie going. Finally, the photography did great justice to the gorgeous locations in kashmir.

The plot meandered aimlessly, relying on tired tropes and predictable plot points. The opening scene, while attempting to be explosive, felt rushed and lacked the necessary punch to set the stage for a thrilling adventure. Attempts at humour landed flat, and the supposed emotional moments felt unearned. The "big reveal" near the end felt like a desperate attempt to inject some excitement into a narrative that had long lost its momentum. The cardboard-cutout characters felt like rejects from a discount romantic comedy bin. Come on guys, we all know the tea was fantastic. Can we please stop making propaganda movies with low budget VFX? The concept is getting old and monotonous.

Aerial action movies are being explored by filmmakers recently, and it's not easy to execute them as they require high budgets and extensive research.

This movie depicts an aerial attack that India has never faced before, and our decorated officers must give their all to save the nation from catastrophe.

We have seen many stories in this vein, mostly centered on the Indian army. As a result, the story lacks uniqueness. Even the use of real-time incidents or sequences is not well established, making everything seem too fictional. There are multiple sequences that are absurd and funny, as even a common person can tell that the IAF doesn't operate the way it is portrayed.

Varun Tej, as the central lead, has the persona to carry such roles, but his limited expressions dampen the whole viewing experience. The same goes for the leading lady, Manushi Chillar, who looks beautiful but needs to work on her acting chops. Their chemistry also does not work in their favor.

The graphics are amateurish, and you can tell that people have acted in front of a green screen, though a few scenes in the sky are brilliant and well-captured. Movies like this should evoke a patriotic feeling, but this one does not, as you know you are watching a fictional tale. In one scene, a missile lands in a terrorist camp with the text 'Happy Valentine's Day' on it. This shows how much the filmmakers got carried away.

Cinematic liberties are fine, but they should elevate the experience, not make you laugh at its absurdity. The dialogues are good, though, and pack a punch. Credit can be given for trying something new, but it turned out to be a below-average affair.

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