Dr. Shankar Naidu, an NRI, has helmed a Telugu-Hindi bilingual entitled Bharateeyans. The creators tout Bharateeyans as a patriotic film that demands the attention of every Indian. Let’s delve into the movie and see what it offers.
Plot Summary:
Bharateeyans follows the journey of six individuals from diverse backgrounds – Telugu (Nirroze Putcha), Nepali (Sonam Barphungpahailing), Punjabi (Samaira Sandhu), Bhojpuri (Subha Ranjan), Peden O Namgyal (Tripura), and Bengali (Rajeswari Chakraborty). These individuals find themselves whisked away to a military farmhouse by purported members of the Indian army. After receiving a single day of training, they are assigned a covert mission to China. Motivated by personal tragedies, they embark on this mission. The film explores whether they succeed in their endeavor.
Highlights:
The cinematography of Bharateeyans is commendable, with Jaypal Reddy capturing visually stunning sequences. Among the cast, Sonam Barphungpahailing delivers a satisfactory performance, with a few scenes standing out.
Drawbacks:
Patriotism is a weighty theme that demands delicate handling. Unfortunately, Bharateeyans falls short in this aspect, trivializing serious national issues in its attempt to evoke patriotic sentiments. The filmmakers’ misunderstanding of patriotism is evident throughout the film, resulting in several cringe-worthy moments.
The characters’ readiness to undertake a national mission after just one day of training is implausible. Instead of stirring emotions, certain scenes elicit unintended laughter, underscoring the film’s poor execution. Bharateeyans is riddled with unintentionally humorous moments that detract from its intended seriousness.
The portrayal of border crossings and the depiction of certain characters resemble clichés from previous films, undermining the film’s originality. Additionally, the film’s pacing feels prolonged, testing the audience’s patience. The antagonist’s role is particularly weak, blurring the distinction between a faction and a patriotic film.
The dialogue is subpar, causing significant irritation among viewers. The excessive lectures and action sequences further contribute to audience frustration. The portrayal of the Prime Minister’s character adds to the film’s shortcomings.
Technical Analysis:
Satya Kashyap’s music is passable, while Jaypal Reddy’s cinematography stands out. However, the editing falls short, and the dialogue fails to resonate, resembling generic patriotic messages.
Director Deen Raj’s handling of Bharateeyans leaves much to be desired. The film lacks a nuanced understanding of nationalism, evident in its amateurish presentation. While the production team invested considerable effort in challenging shooting conditions, insufficient attention to the script undermines the film’s potential. Thorough research and a nuanced understanding of sensitive topics are crucial when tackling subjects like patriotism.
Verdict:
Bharateeyans disappoints on multiple fronts, failing to handle patriotism with the care it warrants. The film’s amateurish execution trivializes important national issues, resulting in a tedious viewing experience. Emotional scenes evoke unintended laughter, highlighting the film’s lack of direction. Bharateeyans stands as a prime example of a misguided attempt at portraying patriotism, making it one of the recent disappointments in cinema.