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.

Story of the movie is good but zoya akhtar and Lalit prabhakar acting is worst Would recommend raashi Khanna (Farzi) she can played army officer role much better It's army movie it should be in serious situation and both of them are laughing which shows stupidity in their acting career.

Also soldiers friends which shows in movie there acting also should be More serious than they're weakness of dialogue and which clearly shows in their face I don't know what the director thinking before getting this scene overview before releasing.

Sai acting is superb as she already did many Marathi movie lead that's nice role she's done.

In Ground Zero, director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar attempts to blend fact-based realism with cinematic intensity, setting his sights on one of India's most volatile Kashmir conflict issues. Anchored in the backdrop of the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the subsequent manhunt for the elusive terrorist Ghazi Baba, the film sets out to be a gripping military-political thriller. The film unfolds through the eyes of a BSF officer.

Tejas Deoskar's direction is sincere and grounded, opting for a restrained, fact-based approach. His choice to present the conflict through a soldier's moral compass is commendable. The engagement dips at crucial junctures, and the screenplay though ambitious, stagnates in parts. The climax feels slightly rushed and abrupt. It leaves the audience feeling affected, but not entirely fulfilled.

Ground Zero is a well-intentioned & moderately effective film. If there's one consistently strong pillar in the film, it's Emraan Hashmi's sincere performance. Sai Tamhankar and Zoya Hussain offer commendable support. Mukesh Tiwari was decent. Deepak Parmesh, Lalit Prabhakar, and the rest of the supporting cast contributed well to the film's overall texture.

For viewers interested in real-event-inspired cinema and a mature take on the Kashmir issue, Ground Zero is definitely worth a watch, even if it leaves you wanting a bit more in terms of depth and emotional payoff. The cinematography captures the starkness of Kashmir's landscape well. The action sequences are executed with restraint and authenticity rather than Bollywood-style spectacle. Its commitment to realism over propaganda is one of its strengths, even if the storytelling occasionally falters.

Direction 3/5 Acting 3.5/5 Music 2.5/5 Story 3/5 Screenplay 3/5.

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!