Ground Zero

In Ground Zero, director Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar attempts to blend fact-based realism with cinematic intensity, setting his sights on one of India's most volatile Kashmir conflict issues. Anchored in the backdrop of the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the subsequent manhunt for the elusive terrorist Ghazi Baba, the film sets out to be a gripping military-political thriller. The film unfolds through the eyes of a BSF officer.

Tejas Deoskar's direction is sincere and grounded, opting for a restrained, fact-based approach. His choice to present the conflict through a soldier's moral compass is commendable. The engagement dips at crucial junctures, and the screenplay though ambitious, stagnates in parts. The climax feels slightly rushed and abrupt. It leaves the audience feeling affected, but not entirely fulfilled.

Ground Zero is a well-intentioned & moderately effective film. If there's one consistently strong pillar in the film, it's Emraan Hashmi's sincere performance. Sai Tamhankar and Zoya Hussain offer commendable support. Mukesh Tiwari was decent. Deepak Parmesh, Lalit Prabhakar, and the rest of the supporting cast contributed well to the film's overall texture.

For viewers interested in real-event-inspired cinema and a mature take on the Kashmir issue, Ground Zero is definitely worth a watch, even if it leaves you wanting a bit more in terms of depth and emotional payoff. The cinematography captures the starkness of Kashmir's landscape well. The action sequences are executed with restraint and authenticity rather than Bollywood-style spectacle. Its commitment to realism over propaganda is one of its strengths, even if the storytelling occasionally falters.

Direction 3/5 Acting 3.5/5 Music 2.5/5 Story 3/5 Screenplay 3/5.

It seemed like the film was being shot keeping Zero Dark Thirty in mind. The story was pretty good and writing was to praise for. The only area that can steal the show is the cast and their performance. Emraan, though underrated, is a versatile actor and Sai is as usual perfect for the role. Other characters were also well casted. The movie was a bit fast paced and this left viewers to think more as they watched. Crux of the film was the climax and to arrive at that point, the surrounding story was well knitted and connected. Shootout to the actor who played the character of Hussian (Mehroos Mir). RT's tip: Make sure you watch the movie in a silent environment to experience it's true sound.

It is clearly visible that it has been made with a lot of hard work.

The hard work of the director and the dedication of the writer while writing the story is evident as soon as you see it.

Emraan Hashmi is a very good actor without a doubt and always brings his character alive with his work. He is shown as level-headed men in this movie.

He has tried to show Kashmir in the right way and you will understand as soon as you see the situation there.

The hard work and dedication of the Border Security Force are many things which cannot be explained only in a movie.

They worsen the situation and then handle it but what about the atmosphere which gets spoiled.

The story moves forward in a very simple way and some real events of Kashmir have been shown in this movie. Movie is Slow a bit but negligible.

I liked the movie and the one song which is played on the death of army men, sounds good, it makes you cry. It is a good movie.

Itsbymayank - Mayank Bharat Bhushan Louteriya Review of Ground Zero 2025.

Watch it once and understand the situation and think how the atmosphere has been spoiled.

Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar's Ground Zero is based on Operation Ghazi Baba, conducted by the BSF in 2003.

The film is very grounded and balanced in its approach, dealing with the subject matter with sensitivity. There are a good number of intense sequences that provide thrills, yet there are also several dragged-out portions where the film's energy dips. Camerawork, music, and background score work very well in support of the film, whereas the editing feels subpar. The action sequences are good.

Emraan does a very good job as BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, handling both the action and emotional scenes nicely. Sai

Tamhankar provides good support. Mukesh and Zoya are okay, while Mir Mehrooz stands out.

The rest of the supporting cast does a decent job.

Overall, we liked the film but wish it had been tighter in terms of pacing and screenplay.

OVERALL 7.25/10.

"Ground Zero," attempts to be a patriotic film based on true events. While the factual incidents themselves may be accurate, the film's execution, particularly its direction, is a major disappointment.

The narrative suffers from a "one-man-saves-the-country" syndrome. The entire weight of intelligence and action rests solely on the main hero's instinct, making everyone else seem completely redundant. Senior figures, like the IB Director and BSF Chief, are portrayed as shockingly underdeveloped and ineffective, leaving you questioning how such individuals could hold positions of authority. This "Bollywood" approach, where only one person is competent and the rest are "fooling around," inadvertently paints our agencies in an unconvincing and frankly, quite stupid light.

A true story deserves better. The strong potential of its subject matter is regrettably overshadowed by a simplistic and unbalanced directorial vision.