Ae Watan Mere Watan

This movie is likely to be enjoyed by cinegoers who have in interest in the politics at that time. I have little knowledge of the subject to so it was hard to resonate with the story. The movie is shot in sepia and was kinda boring tbh, it took me a few times to finish watching it. Sara's gives probably her best performance to date, however there is still something lacking on screen. She doesnt emit the passion for the character/movie. Her acting is relagated to her face and it seems she puts a lot of effort to portray her emotions through. I think if she tries to act with her body then her performance will be much better.

"Ae Watan Mere Watan" fails to hit the target, weighed down by Sara Ali Khan's stiff and unconvincing acting, lackluster dialogue, and missed chances to honor unsung heroes. Sara's portrayal lacks depth, leaving scenes flat and uninspired. The dialogue feels forced, failing to evoke emotion. The film fails the opportunity to shine a light on the bravery of forgotten heroes, opting instead for superficial storytelling.

The supporting cast of Emraan Hashmi, Sparsh Shrivastav, Alexx, and others fails to inject life into the narrative, leaving it flat.

Overall, it's a disappointing watch that falls short of its potential. "Nevertheless, the world needs to hear such stories"

The film presents a commendable narrative that beautifully balances patriotism in a nuanced manner. While the screenplay might not captivate everyone, the effort to steer clear of religious and political bias is praiseworthy, contributing positively to the film's integrity. Sara is mediocre but rest of he cast delivers decent performances with the material they're given. Production aspects, including the choice of locations, sets, and costumes, are satisfactorily executed, enhancing the visual appeal of the movie.

Although the cinematography falls short of expectations, it's evident that there was an ambitious vision behind the camera. The direction, despite showing signs of inexperience, demonstrates a commendable effort and a genuine attempt to realize the film's potential. In essence, this movie, with its heart in the right place, is worth watching for those with a keen interest in the subject matter. It's a film that manages to appreciate its themes and aims to deliver a meaningful experience, albeit with some areas for improvement.

The film starts with anticipation and promises, and halfway through it looks like the plot is building to something good in the middle somewhere it loses its touch and becomes a repeated freedom struggle movie with few good actors and other bad. After all, it is Sara Ali Khan's movie, it revolves around her character Usha, there are parts when her acting looks real but mostly every other co-actor overshadows her work. The movie gets more predictable over time, so much could have been done with this type of plot but it has been wasted with poor writing. The climax is another expected bore and after completing the movie there is nothing much of a takeaway other than knowing these freedom fighters, who deserved a better movie than this.

The story itself is bold, intriguing, and offers an important glimpse into history. It's a story that should be told and brought to light.

Unfortunately, the writing and way the story was told fell flat for me. Despite the close-ups, deep glimpses into the character's eyes, and creation of atmosphere, there was only one scene that stands out to me. One were Usha hides under a burka when the police search for her and Kaushik shows her his shaking hands when she reappears. The rest of the movie felt like the same message and image on repeat: stand up for revolution and freedom. After a while, the same scene and message on repeat is just flogging a dead horse.

What I found frustrating was the message, despite coming from the right place, did not shed any new ideas or perspectives on the plight against colonialism. Instead, it amplified stereotypes. It was the stereotyping in the film and the characters that unsettled me the most. John Lyre, the British man hunting down the revolutionaries, is portrayed as ruthless, cold-hearted, and intense to the point that he feels more like a cartoon than a human man bred to view himself as superior (pure) and take pride in his country (points that could have been paralleled and contrasted with Usha's purity and pride in country, but were entirely missed). Usha, on the other hand, is portrayed as self-righteous, ego-centric (her ideas being the purest above all others'), naive about the impact she had on relationships with family and friends, and ruthless in her intensity to revolutionize India.

The most unsetting point was the way the movie glossed over radicalization. The ability to influence and spread one's beliefs (such as through a radio) comes with intense responsibility. Usha never questions once the possible myriad of outcomes that could happen... including igniting a rebellion that may fail/may lead to needless loss of lives and bloodshed. Especially since the film stated (but did not show) that she was a Gandhian.

Overall, I look forward to learning more about Usha and appreciate the movie from bringing her plight to light.