Meghna Gulzar, Bhavani Iyer, Shantanu Shrivastava and Vicky Kaushal take a bow; what a fitting tribute to one of the finest soldiers of Indian Army and a true gentleman Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
The screenplay is fast paced and crisp. The writers remain true to the historical events and have woven all of Sam Bahadur's anecdotes into the script beautifully. The transitions between timelines are smooth. The screenplay spotlights bravery and the brave rather than bravado. The dialogues are spot on, there's humour and there's pain. The anguish of partition in a speech by a young Yahya Khan tugs at your heart and you find yourself swallowing upon a lump in your throat. Meghna Gulzar's dialogues do remind one of her father's writing prowess.
There are just three songs in the movie. The lyrics of Badhte Chalo give you goosebumps, as an Indian you feel proud to hear the war cries of every regiment. Only Gulzar Sahab could have written this.
Vicky Kaushal is ably supported by Sanya Malhotra, Fatima Sana Sheikh and Mohmd. Zeeshan Ayub.
Sanya Malhotra is sweet and likeable as Mrs. Silloo Manekshaw. Though Fatima Sana Sheikh looks a softer version of Mrs. Gandhi but her aloofness does convey a stern persona.
Mohmd. Zeeshan Ayub in a cameo as Yahya Khan is convincing.
Vicky Kaushal is in fact Sam Bahadur in flesh. He aced the expressions, body language, voice and mannerisms to perfection and by doing so he pays the greatest respects to a great personality that is Sam Bahadur. Anything less would have been a great insult to Sam Bahadur's memory. Rab ka Banda.
As the end credits rolled and I looked around all I saw were smiling faces. Amidst the howling and rattling of animals, Sam Bahadur is like a mother's lullaby; soothing and comforting to the soul,
A must watch.
