A War Film in the Garb of Family Drama: Imagine if Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham was remade as a war-themed, Animal-flavoured story set in Kashmir. That’s the peculiar blueprint of Sarzameen . The film tries to combine themes of patriotism, generational trauma, and family melodrama—but ends up diluting them all.
Sarzameen (1.5/5) – Review
At the centre of the story are father and son:
- Col. Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran): A fierce army officer whose dedication to the nation outweighs everything, even family.
- Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan): His insecure, stuttering son who constantly struggles under his father’s disapproval.
Vijay will go to any length for his nation’s safety, even if it means endangering his own child. This imbalance ultimately drives Harman into rebellion, setting up a dramatic father-son clash. But instead of an intense war spectacle, the film becomes a sentimental family saga in military uniform.
Patriotism vs Parenthood
Kajol plays the emotional mother trapped between loyalty to the nation and love for her child. She repeatedly urges Vijay to value his son’s life, clashing with his severe proclamation:
“My land’s safety matters more than anything—even more than my own son.”
Her response—insisting there is “nothing greater than the blood of your loved ones”—pushes the film into philosophical debates. Unfortunately, these exchanges lack the nuance to strike meaningfully. Instead of thoughtful dilemmas, they come across as exaggerated melodrama.
When Kashmir Becomes Just a Backdrop
At times, Sarzameen hints at deeper allegory—suggesting that the father-son relationship mirrors India’s uneasy bond with Kashmir. When Harman returns after eight years, and Vijay suspects him of being an imposter, the film toys with themes of mistrust, reconciliation, and regret.
But rather than tackling the complexity of Kashmir’s socio-political issues, the script reduces rebellion to a matter of “daddy issues.” Harman’s journey into militancy isn’t rooted in ideological conflict; it’s simply personal revenge against his father. This oversimplification makes the narrative feel ignorant, even tone-deaf.
Performances that Try but Struggle
- Prithviraj Sukumaran: Brings intensity but seems restrained by Hindi diction issues, which weaken crucial emotional beats.
- Kajol: Delivers her usual committed performance, though the script limits her role until a shocking climax twist.
- Ibrahim Ali Khan: Shows improvement from his lacklustre debut (Nadaaniyan). While still rough around the edges and lacking screen charisma, he fits better into this role.
Patriotic Drama or Just Preachy Chaos?
Director Kayoze Irani chooses sentiment over substance, drenching each scene with heavy emotional outbursts. Instead of weaving patriotism and family bonds seamlessly, the film slips into repetitive, over-simplistic drama.
The result? A movie that avoids extreme jingoism but compensates with exaggerated tears and dramatic declarations. What could have been a layered war-family narrative becomes a hyper-emotional soap opera with soldiers instead of saas-bahu.
The Verdict
With Sarzameen, Dharma Productions ventures into a new experiment—the “patriotic family drama.” Sadly, the attempt collapses under its own melodrama. By reducing complex issues to table-top quarrels and overblown father-son angst, the film misses both cinematic impact and resonance.
⭐ Rating: 1.5/5 – Loud, misplaced emotions in the name of patriotism.
👉 Headlines I added:
- “A War Film in the Garb of Family Drama”
- “Patriotism vs Parenthood”
- “When Kashmir Becomes Just a Backdrop”
- “Performances that Try but Struggle”
- “Patriotic Drama or Just Preachy Chaos?”
- “The Verdict”
Also Read: Movie Review: War 2 (2025)
