Raag Desh - Birth Of A Nation Review

Expectations

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia is known for making some powerful films like 'Haasil', 'Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster', 'Paan Singh Tomar' and others. Though, his last released film 'Bullet Raja' was a disaster as he had strayed into the commercial entertainer zone.

Audience love watching him direct some hard-hitting films and thus there is a slight amount of excitement over his latest film 'Raag Desh'. The movie theme is different and has interesting line up of actors, but low key marketing has diluted the initial excitement.

Story

'Raag Desh' is a story inspired from the real life happenings related to the trials of officers from the Indian National Army (I.N.A). Three main officers of I.N.A, Shah Nawaz Khan (Kunal Kapoor), Prem Sehgal (Mohit Marwah) and Gurbaksh Singh (Amit Sadh) are arrested for treason and murders. Prem's father (Kanwaljit Singh) appoints ace lawyer Bhulabhai Desai (Keneth Desai) to defend them.

The 'Glitz' Factor

The story is highly interesting as well as intriguing at times. The whole theme related to after effects of I.N.A is like an alienated topic in our Hindi films. This movie also displays an integral part related to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. The first half is gripping as well as highly engaging. The movie starts with some great scenes related to the Indian National Army.

The cinematography is good and goes well with the flow of film. The dialogues are impactful. The background music is powerful and 'Kadam' is haunting.

Director Tigmanshu Dhulia manages to keep you involved into the process of army trails due to his experienced direction. Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh and Mohit Marwah manages to display their fine performances. Together as well as in individual scenes all the three actors shine out with passing colours. Kanwaljit Singh and Mrudula Murali lends good support. Keneth Desai is super impactful.

The 'Non-Glitz' Factor

In comparison to the first half of the film, the second half drags a lot and rides only over a thin one liner plot. It's the unique concept and gripping theme of the film, which keeps you glued to the silver screen. But, in case of such movies, the screenplay has to be tight and powerful. There are few abrupt scenes followed by repetitive scenes which dilutes the flow of the film.

The second half should have been crispier as out here it's dragging and boring at times. This movie would have been a great short film as out here it's been stretched to the fullest due to which the impact in the main scenes lacks the required impact.

Though, at one point the movie sounds to be preachy as well as full of repetitive scenes.

Tigmanshu has a right kind of film but fails to present it right manner. There are few goose bumps type of scenes which manages to keep you highly patriotic while in case of several others the impact gets totally diluted. Zakir Hussain and others are wasted.

Final 'Glitz'

'Raag Desh' is like a text book based army story. The facts are there, excitement is there, curiosity is there but the feel is highly missing.