Let's
clear
a
misconception
before
we
get
down
to
reviewing
Shaurya.
It's
not
a
war
film.
It's
not
jingoistic.
It
doesn't
spew
venom
on
the
neighboring
country.
It
doesn't
show
mutilated
bodies
or
blood-soaked
faces
and
limbs.
Sure,
Shaurya
has
the
backdrop
of
the
armed
forces.
But
it's
about
a
court
martial.
It's
about
two
friends,
who're
pitched
against
each
other
in
a
courtroom.
The
'culprit',
in
turn,
doesn't
want
to
defend
himself
and
remains
a
mute
spectator
for
reasons
best
known
to
him.
Shaurya
is
a
serious
film
and
raises
a
serious
issue
in
the
penultimate
20
minutes.
And
that's
where
it
scores.
Director
Samar
Khan
gradually
builds
up
the
tension
and
when
it
explodes
in
the
finale,
it
leaves
you
stunned
and
speechless.
Most
importantly,
it
makes
you
uncomfortable…
perhaps,
that's
one
of
the
reasons
why
it
succeeds.
Shaurya
is
about
the
common
man,
but
as
a
cinematic
experience,
it's
more
for
the
discerning
viewer
looking
for
a
hatke
theme,
thirsting
for
a
story
in
those
2
hours.
Most
importantly,
it
does
justice
to
the
tagline
-
'It
takes
courage
to
make
right...
right'.
Captain
Javed
Khan
[Deepak
Dobriyal]
is
charged
with
mutiny,
treason
and
killing
a
fellow
officer.
Even
when
he
is
held
for
court
martial,
he
refuses
to
speak
in
his
defense
as
the
secret
he
holds
is
too
powerful
for
the
establishment
to
handle.
Assigned
for
this
task
are
Sid
[Rahul
Bose]
and
Akash
[Jaaved
Jaaferi],
two
best
friends,
lawyers
and
very
ambitious
individuals
who
have
contrasting
views
on
life.
Nevertheless,
this
one
case
changes
their
lives
forever.
The
case
takes
them
to
Srinagar.
While
Akash,
for
whom
winning
the
case
matters
the
most,
follows
the
blueprint,
Sid
discovers
a
new
meaning
in
life,
Kavya,
Javed
and
of
course,
the
man
in
question,
Brigadier
Pratap
[Kay
Kay
Menon].
Why
is
Javed
silent?
What
is
the
truth
of
that
night?
Why
is
Brigadier
Pratap
hell-bent
on
getting
Javed
convicted?
Will
Sid
have
the
courage
to
save
Javed's
life?
Shaurya
isn't
a
flawless
script.
But
it
has
been
treated
with
utmost
realism
and
sensitivity
by
Samar
Khan.
Talking
of
the
narrative,
the
film
could've
done
without
the
item
song
at
the
very
start
[and
what
was
Pawan
Malhotra
doing
in
this
song?].
Besides,
one
fails
to
understand
why
Deepak
Dobriyal
doesn't
confide
to
his
mother,
since
the
family
has
always
taken
pride
in
the
fact
that
they've
adhered
to
principles
all
their
lives.
Besides,
the
film
could've
been
shorter
by
at
least
15/20
minutes.
The
second
hour
drags
at
places!
Despite
the
hiccups,
Shaurya
delivers
what
it
promises.
At
the
end
of
the
screening,
you
actually
pinch
yourself.
Did
the
same
guy
who
helmed
this
riveting
fare
called
Shaurya,
direct
Kuch
Meetha
Ho
Jaye,
a
bitter
cinematic
experience?
The
execution
of
Shaurya
is
impressive
and
Samar
also
succeeds
in
extracting
stellar
performances
from
the
ensemble
cast.
Despite
the
shortcomings,
the
screenplay
is
tight,
not
deviating
from
the
core
issue.
The
reason
that
compels
Deepak
Dobriyal
to
shoot
a
fellow
officer
and
also
the
powerful
climax
prove
that
the
writers
[Jaydeep
Sarkar,
Aparnaa
Malhotra
and
Samar
Khan]
know
their
job
well.
There's
not
much
scope
for
music
in
a
film
like
this,
therefore
the
two
songs
don't
make
much
of
an
impression.
However,
in
terms
of
melody
[Adnan
Sami],
'Dheere
Dheere'
has
a
soothing
effect
on
the
listener.
Carlos
Catalan's
cinematography
is
topnotch.
The
story
rests
on
five
actors
-
Rahul
Bose,
Kay
Kay
Menon,
Jaaved
Jafferi,
Deepak
Dobriyal
and
Minissha
Lamba.
Rahul
excels
in
a
role
that
fits
him
like
a
glove.
In
fact,
this
performance
easily
ranks
as
one
of
his
finest
works.
Kay
Kay
is
dynamic.
Watch
him
explode
in
the
climax
and
you
realize
the
potential
this
actor
possesses.
Jaaved
does
a
decent
job.
However,
his
character
is
relegated
to
the
backseat
after
a
point.
Deepak
conveys
a
lot
even
when
silent
-
that's
the
sign
of
a
fine
actor.
Minissha
is
effective.
Besides,
she
looks
the
character.
Amrita
Rao
handles
her
part
with
maturity.
She's
first-rate.
Seema
Biswas,
as
always,
is
a
complete
natural.
On
the
whole,
Shaurya
is
a
well-made
film
that
will
have
to
rely
on
a
strong
word
of
mouth
to
sustain
in
the
coming
days.
However,
the
film
deserves
to
be
tax-exempted
since
it's
a
genuinely
deserving
case.