Paltan

A pure war film is a thing of past now. The movie is highly descriptive and at the same time is high on drama too. Mr. J P Dutta tried to recreate something we have already scene in his magnum opus Border and succeeded at places. However repititive dialogues, flat acting, over enthusiastic expressions, heavy background score, and slow narration makes this movie a tough one to watch in a single go. Still the Indo-China conflict of 1967 is something every Indian should know and be proud of. The movie could have worked wonders as a TV or Web Series.

I am personally a huge fan of war movies and it takes a lot for me to rate it lower. But this movie is made on the border template. Without application of thought. Same type of character building, same style of back story. And just when the tempo would get exciting, they cut the tempo with flashback or some song. Sad editing. It could have been fast and furious. But alas. All my loyalty could not make me like it.

Okay so i was excited to watch this movie when i saw the trailer. as someone who has seen a lot of hollywood war movies, i wouldnt say it was bad but wasnt good either. the clash took place for 5 long days but here it shows everything ending in one single day. it would have been better had the movie taken this into account, like LOC Kargil and continued the battle sequence for atleast 3-4 days. The directors and producers need to see how hollywood made SAVING PVT RYAN in 1998 and still tops the hollywood war movies list. The emotional back story of the soldiers could have been less and more action could have been there. Finally JP Dutta sir forgot that a good war movie requires good actors who could deliver the movie in a better way. and a lot of money and research. because it was based upon real incidents, i loved to know about a forgotten and often neglected part of our history where we were victorious and should be proud of.

Tone, Script & Story: Apart from a few factors changed, this movie tries to create what team J.P.Dutta created with Border. It was story of 1971 war between India and Pakistan. This is the story of war between India and China for post called Nathula. It takes place in year 1967 five years after India lost to China in 1962.

What it has copied from Border are the scenes highlighting family life, scenes highlighting love life, lone soldier taking entire bunker, waiting for orders from high authority to take further action.

Now what new has been introduced here is Chinese keep being a pain by exploiting border regulations. A chief explains how in some book it is written tactics to demoralize your enemy and China is acting in the same way.

The melodrama here in this movie is reduced maybe because today's audience won't accept it. For me Border was a better movie. Paltan on the other hand despite being rated low by me does not hurt to watch.

Direction, Screenplay, Cinematography: It was a story to be told and the director succeeded. Screenplay and Cinematography were justified.

Music: After giving such a good music in LOC Kargil and Border, I would say the Dutta team ended up on what I call less than average account. Acting: Acting was Justified.

Final Verdict: What should I say? In a journey to recreate Border it fails vaguely! Or Chichorapan handled well in this melodramatic patriotic deal.

Paltan is pretty slow, is simplistic in all moments apart from those at the border, where it comes to gritty and realistic life. The relentless jostling for position, the eerie quiet in the barren plateaus of Sikkim, the reverberating hammer, driving the stake to the ground, where inch by inch, India washed the demons of 1962. Its as if you are there, and watching the action. So, unlike a Bollywood movie, things happen slowly. Therefore it's not going to be a hit. Yet, if anyone needs to understand what's happening on the LAC day in and day out at Arunachal and Ladakh, this is a must see. JP Dutta uses his motifs of letters from loved ones, calls to them, and the mandatory flashbacks, yet he doesn't quite create the magic of the iconic 'Border'.