SHAURYA
BOLD, EARNEST BUT
by Vishal Verma
Rating: 
What is it?
You need guts to make a film which is bold, thought provoking, and also ask questions and when you are able to do it at one go then it is indeed an honour. Samar Khan who gave a turkey called ‘Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye’ has come up in sleeve to give a thought provoking court room drama ‘Shaurya’. Samar’s earnest efforts needs to be garlanded but the execution some how leaves you baffled.
There are ‘A few Good points (read men)’ in this inspiration from Rob Reiner’s brilliant courtroom drama staring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson Demi Moore & Kevin Bacon which was nominated for Oscars and won 7 other awards.
The problem with ‘ Shaurya’ is that this courtroom drama lacks the kicks required for an intense drama and is slow pace. The intensity builds up during the second half and the last 30 minutes gives you the punch but alas it doesn,t hurt!
The movie has major flaws like the defense lawyer hardly does any investigation and the dilemma of an army officer who has surrendered for the pride of the army and his lawyer who is fighting for the truth and encounters harsh facts which changes the entire scenario and his perception of life is never shared with the audience. Things happen and attitude’s change with the split of a second and you wonder how this turnaround has takes place.
Even though with its share of flaws, ‘Shaurya’ is still a decent watch for its theme and power packed performance especially from Kay Kay Menon ( he can’t be Jack Nicholson but still packs a punch) with adequate support from Rahul Bose, Minissha Lamba & Javed Jaffery.
What is it all about?
Major Siddhant (Rahul Bose – he plays the role which Tom Cruise played in the original) but with a difference, he escapes from reality and believes that life is just a bungie jump but one expedition shows him the deep hidden facts and truth of pride humanity & honour when he has to fight the case of Captain Jaaved Khan ( Deepak Dobriyal – above average) who is charged of with mutiny, treason and killing a fellow officer.
The initially open & shut case gradually takes Siddhant to different layers of truth where he finds his best pal Major Aakash Kapoor ( Javed Jaffrey- very good, one of the most underrated actors of bollywood, he plays Kevin Bacon) fighting the case against him as his rival and introduces the shocking truth of Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh (Kay Kay Menon- powerpacked, he plays Jack Nicholson) who lives by his own rules even if they were against humanity...
What to look out for?
Performance by the lead actors and some real punch in the last 30 minutes makes this courtroom drama a cut above the rest.
What not?
The pace in the first half is slow that the narrative hardly takes any momentum. People just sleepwalk in the first walk only to wake up later in the second. There was no need for any duetbazi. & hello from where & when did the defense lawyer gets the proof’s and details and when does he investigates.
Getting inspired from a brilliant film is understandable but excuse me you cannot go too far. Even some questions like your favourite colour etc is directly lifted from the original. Not good my Men.
And also why an army officer is freed from all the charges in spite of murdering a fellow officer (no matter what ever the circumstances are, a murder is a murder).