As Ajay Devgan says in the earlier part of the film, even if the entire platoon is killed fighting the insurgency in Manipur, it may just about make it to a column on page 13 of the national dailies.
The average Indian doesn't care about those dying daily in proxy-wars all across the Indian heartlands. The BSF jawans dying for that Indian, fortunately, don't care either. The rest of the movie makes you care... That is the story of ''Tango Charlie'', in a bombshell.
Bobby Deol is well cast as the lead character, who doesn t need more than 2 expressions to walk through the film shock and awe. India's answer to Keanu Reeves plays Tarun Chopra (aka Tango Charlie in wartime moniker). The story traces his innocent origins as a BSF jawan posted in the jungles of Manipur to the grim realities of the war in Kargil. I am still unsure whether anyone that has seen so much blood can retain the chocolate innocence Bobby does. He looks more like an MBA suited to an air-conditioned lifestyle than the hardened war-hero.
The production design takes all my awards. The producer has not flinched when it came to recreating the ravaged countryside. Be it the sylvan death-traps of Manipur or the period settings of Bengal, the riot-torn streets of Gujarat or the hostile snows of Kargil the viewer travels deep into the canvas. The theater I saw didn t have Dolby sound etc but we didn t miss anything. The visuals and soundtrack (background score by the criminally under-utilized Ranjit Barot) are enough. Direction and attention to detail by Mani Shankar is comparable to the best in Hollywood, with Indian Budgets of course ;)
Cameos by Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty are a delight to watch. They bring an awesome dignity to a minor role, with glimpses of their post-Kaante chemistry. They are like sutradhaars , echoing the excitement and insensitivity of the viewers to all the insanity and gore. It could well degenerate into a documentary with the heavy theme and everyday violence, were it not for the irreverence displayed by these 2 characters. They make it easier for us to enjoy the film as a film.
The women, like all war movies, are required to add a third dimension to the hero. Like all war-movies, they are eminently forgettable except as speed-breakers to the narrative flow. Tanishaa is not Kajol, and that is a disappointment. Nandana Sen, however, marks her debut as the next hot Bollywood babe. Her moves on the deadly Devgan, while hiding from terrorists in a rain-soaked grotto, are not to be missed.
Kelly Dorjie is the surprise gift in this box of goodies. The menacing eyes and contented smile of this model-turned-actor haunt our dreams for many nights after-wards.
With absolutely no line of dialog and no time to develop his character, Dorjie has a daunting challenge to leave an impact. That he does, with a mesmerizing body language and subtle expressions that clearly display the ability and intelligence of his character. He is the quintessential Mowgli; an Olympian athlete; a teenage role model.
That he happens to be a villain is a matter of circumstances. He is merely a freedom fighter and should they win, history would treat him like her hero. Seeing the fluid movements of the guerrilla slither through the jungle, it is hard to believe this is his debut film!
In my opinion, Tango Charlie is a film about patriotism, nationalism and the futility of it all. Yes, there is a message. A strong one. But "Tango Charlie" scores because it is pure entertainment -- Hollywood style!!
