Paltan

I watched this movie because I like war films & i expected something like border from JP Dutta, but he disappointed me. Nothing great not even an average movie according to me. Performance of the actors were below average. I don't know what made JP cast Arjun for this movie, he was not even average. I don't think he is even made for such kind of movies. Jackie , Sonu Sood were ok Direction was poor. Guys just don't waste your money and time.

Paltan is pretty slow, is simplistic in all moments apart from those at the border, where it comes to gritty and realistic life. The relentless jostling for position, the eerie quiet in the barren plateaus of Sikkim, the reverberating hammer, driving the stake to the ground, where inch by inch, India washed the demons of 1962. Its as if you are there, and watching the action. So, unlike a Bollywood movie, things happen slowly. Therefore it's not going to be a hit. Yet, if anyone needs to understand what's happening on the LAC day in and day out at Arunachal and Ladakh, this is a must see. JP Dutta uses his motifs of letters from loved ones, calls to them, and the mandatory flashbacks, yet he doesn't quite create the magic of the iconic 'Border'.

Tone, Script & Story: Apart from a few factors changed, this movie tries to create what team J.P.Dutta created with Border. It was story of 1971 war between India and Pakistan. This is the story of war between India and China for post called Nathula. It takes place in year 1967 five years after India lost to China in 1962.

What it has copied from Border are the scenes highlighting family life, scenes highlighting love life, lone soldier taking entire bunker, waiting for orders from high authority to take further action.

Now what new has been introduced here is Chinese keep being a pain by exploiting border regulations. A chief explains how in some book it is written tactics to demoralize your enemy and China is acting in the same way.

The melodrama here in this movie is reduced maybe because today's audience won't accept it. For me Border was a better movie. Paltan on the other hand despite being rated low by me does not hurt to watch.

Direction, Screenplay, Cinematography: It was a story to be told and the director succeeded. Screenplay and Cinematography were justified.

Music: After giving such a good music in LOC Kargil and Border, I would say the Dutta team ended up on what I call less than average account. Acting: Acting was Justified.

Final Verdict: What should I say? In a journey to recreate Border it fails vaguely! Or Chichorapan handled well in this melodramatic patriotic deal.

I am personally a huge fan of war movies and it takes a lot for me to rate it lower. But this movie is made on the border template. Without application of thought. Same type of character building, same style of back story. And just when the tempo would get exciting, they cut the tempo with flashback or some song. Sad editing. It could have been fast and furious. But alas. All my loyalty could not make me like it.

Paltan is a very poorly made film. The first half is very slow and fails to grip you whatsoever. The acting is weak, the dialogues are awful and the screenplay average. The final was scene was marginally better but couldn't recreate the epic scenes from Border.

What made Border the film it is was it's performances. Sunil Shetty and Akshaye Khanna were at the start of their careers but were able to deliver career defining roles. Then add seniors like Jackie Shroff and Sunny Deol. Unfortunately in Paltan no one really steps up. I was extremely excited when I saw Gurmeet in the film but he lacked the power the role required. Arjun Rampal was ok. Sonu Sood a little disappointing. Harshvardan Rane actually impressed me so I'm surprised he hasn't done more films. Jackie Shroff has limited scope but delivers his role fine. Luv Sinha and Sidhanth Kapoor not worth talking about. On the whole the starcaste was not up to standards. I'm not saying you have to pick Sunny Deol to make a good war film but pick better actors!

Not sure what Anu Malik was thinking when he created the music. It's so bad!!! How amazing was the music in Border, Refugee etc but this is pathetic. Shame he used Sonu Nigam for 2 songs but they were extremely poorly created.

On the whole Paltan is an extremely weak film which fails to tell an epic war story well to its audiences. JP Dutta hasn't made a good film for a very long so perhaps he needs to reconsider his strategy.