1971: Beyond Borders

1971: Beyond Borders is a war film directed by Major Ravi. The film stars Mohanlal, Allu Sirish and Arunoday Singh.

The film is a fictional story based on the backdrop of 1971 India Pakistan war from a soldier's point of view.

This is probably one of the worst war films i have ever seen. The worst part is the casting and the film doesn't looks natural. A pot bellied major who seems to be more interested in drinking, an hapless looking Indian army and an second lieutenant who is more interested in love letters. This film is more about preaching and less about war and even the war scenes doesn't looks natural.

Screenplay of the film is slow and acting in the film is decent. The one more factor that makes this film less then a war film is that the film is more and more based on just one man and no war can be described on the viewpoint of just one man. The film also lacks facts.

Only true and hardcore Mohanlal fans will like this film for others who are coming to watch a war film will be disappointed as this film is anything but a war film.

The movie starts with Indian Army lead by Major Mahadevan (Mohanlal) helping Pakistan Army from the terrorist attack on the same day India celebrating victory above Pakistan. Pakistan Army comes to the celebration of Indian Army after Major Mahadevan invited them. All of sudden, both Army leaders find out that their fathers were related in the previous war and the story has started of previous war.

Mohanlal's dialogue deliveries and inspiration speeches are good. Even Ashutosh Rana has done a great work in a Malayalam movie. But, most of the war scenes shows that Mohanlal has become old to do a war movie. Even history repeats when Major Sahadevn's favorite Lieutenant Chinmay (Allu Sirish) died same as Major Mahadevan's favorite Havildar Jaykumar (Jiva) died in Keerthi Chakra.

This movie was not up to the mark compared to the director Major Ravi's previous Army movies and viewers need to think themselves whether they understood the message of the movie (Pakistanis are not a enemies and nobody want WAR).

The movie begins with colonel Mahadevan commanding a UN mission. The mission scenes were short and the focus soon shifted to retired major Sahadevan. The film shifts to a flash back to the 1971 period. By the way Mohanlal has got really fat. But that didn't stop the versatile actor from pumping patriotism into our veins. However the plot wasn't interesting enough to keep you on your edges. The movie begins to lag after a point making it boring to watch. An unnecessary song sequence just added to the boredom. It was only until the tank scene, things started to get interesting again. The movie in a whole wasn't convincing enough regarding various emotional scenes. There was an attempt to recreate Jeeva's character in Keerthichakra but again wasn't convincing enough. The entire film tries to tell us why Sahadevan was impressed by the valor of Colonel Raja but as the viewers we just couldn't feel it. Frankly speaking Picket 43 and Keerthichakra could kick this movie out of the park.

The actual story was remade. In real life, the war ends as IAF attacks Pakistani Armed Infantry on very morning after a fierce battle fought all night. Mohanlal is expressive well, but he looks too fluffy and chubby making unfit for a soldier's physique. His war actions were funny 😂 and me laugh. There are many good actors who will fit for it. Allu Sirish acting was good and well fitted. I feel movie could be made much better. I felt a bit intresting and sure a stuff to watch. RIP to them 🙏, who think the whole plot is real. I admire the opening scene where, both Indian and Pakistani soldier treat each other despite knowing story of their fathers.

I have to admit I had decided I am not going to like this movie before I watched it. After watching the movie promotions, trailers and interviews, I kind of gathered that there is no substance in the movie. Only thing that stands out about Major Ravi is his devotion for Mohanlal. Spot reviews from theaters (obviously by Mohanlal fans associations) sounded dubious. Most media reviews sounded rigged too. Despite all that I decided to give it my 2 hours.

When I saw a group of Indian soldiers led by Mohanlal jumped out of a military convoy holding machine guns and aimlessly scattering about with no skills and no practice, I knew this movie is not for me. I lasted for about 10 minutes after that. I had to walk out of the fiasco.

Similar to how internal trading is illegal in stock market, padded reviews by fans associations should be made illegal.