It is easy to make films with larger-than-life characters. It is not so difficult to make realistic films with characters that you see in your everyday lives. But, it is really a challenge to come up with a larger-than-life story and make it look realistic. Major Ravi has succeeded in this task in his very first film.
‘Keerthichakra’ is an attempt at portraying the stark reality of life in Kashmir through the eyes of a man whose impression about the state hasn’t been tainted by the image that media presents. Major Ravi tells us this story through a handful of armymen posted in Kashmir.
The elite unit team is led by Major Mahadevan (played by Mohanlal). He had lost his family to violence. Now he leads a team of trained soldiers in the battle against terrorists in Kashmir. Their task at hand is to destroy the plans of the militants, led by their Afghanistan-based leader, to blow up a mosque and create a communal war in the state. The 2 hours-9 minutes film documents this very well and sleekly. Mohanlal’s performance as Major Mahadevan is very well supported by Jeeva and by Shammi Thilagan.
In the climax, Jaykumar (played by Jeeva) dies while saving Mahadevan from a bullet. The dialogues too convey the passionate feelings of patriotism and the harsh reality of life for ordinary folks in Kashmir. The scene in which Mohanlal confronts the rebel leader, Nawab, is a good example.
The heroines have nothing much to do in the film that revolves mainly around male-bonding in the battlefield.
What makes this film different from all the other war-stories is- this one doesn’t preach hatred. It simply presents the plight of innocent villagers and civilians who are caught in the bitter war between two nations and who can’t afford the luxury of taking sides with either the militants or the army.
The Good
• Pace, screenplay and a refreshing presentation of war movies
• Performances of all the lead stars
• An apt title
The Bad
• Nothing
The Ugly
• Nothing at all
- 14.08.2006
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