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Paltan






India is an idea, worth dying for – it’s not just a line from the film but also the patriotic notion that keeps the soldiers of JP Dutta’s Paltan marching on. Film’s narrative begins soon after the Indo-Sino war of 1962. Interestingly, that war is referred to as skirmish between both sides, but what follows are more squabbles. This time to save Sikkim from the Chinese army who is treacherously inching toward the Indian side.

Director JP Dutta puts together a team of dapper young and experienced actors to portray real characters from this important yet much lesser known slice of history.

Arjun Rampal as Lt Col. Rai Singh and Sonu Sood as Major Bishen Singh respectively lead the pack not only as top ranking officers but also in performances. Among the younger lot, Harshvardhan Rane stands out as a passionate soldier while Gurmeet Singh Choudhary goes overboard, especially with an accent that oscillates between Jatt Haryanvi and Rajasthani. Luv Sinha as the amiable Attar Singh gives his cheerful best while Siddhant Kapoor is easily forgotten.

But the ones who lose the acting battleground are those playing the Chinese army men. For such important roles, we see caricature figures who simply shout ‘Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai’ after every face-off and do not look menacing enough to be taken seriously.

Shot in real locations, Paltan recreates the 1965 setting, but not the corresponding tension. Director JP Dutta who is also the screenplay and story writer, stays quite rooted to his original style of storytelling. But he uses repetitive conflicts and half-baked backstories that add more to the runtime than the narrative. Bromance between the jawans lacks emotional depth and conviction. All of this collectively blunts much of the desired impact of what could have been a riveting war film.

However, Paltan manages to undo some of the damage in its final moments that are truly action packed. Director JP Dutta fires all his ammo in a rousing climax for a bitter sweet victory.



                 फिल्म 'पलटन' एक सत्य घटना पर आधारित है। यह घटना भारत और चीन के बीच लाइन ऑफ ऐक्चुअल कंट्रोल पर स्थित नाथु ला दर्रे की है। यह भारत और तिब्बत के बीच जाने का एक अहम रणनीतिक रास्ता है। यह घटना 1965 में हुई थी जब भारतीय सेना की राजपूत रेजीमेंट ने अदम्य साहस दिखाते हुए चीनी सेना को धूल चटा दी थी। यह घटना भारत और चीन के बीच हुए युद्ध के केवल 3 साल बाद हुई थी और चीन को ऐसा अंदाजा नहीं था कि उसे भारतीय सेना से ऐसा करारा जवाब मिल सकता है। 
 डायरेक्टर जेपी दत्ता इससे पहले 'बॉर्डर' और 'एलओसी करगिल' जैसी युद्ध आधारित देशभक्ति वाली फिल्में बना चुके हैं। नाथु ला पास पर हुई यह घटना एक छोटी झड़प से शुरू हुई थी लेकिन यही झड़प बड़ी बन गई। इस बार भारतीय सेना सिक्किम को बचाने के लिए चीनी सेना से भिड़ जाती है। इस बार दत्ता ने यंग और अनुभवी दोनों तरह के कलाकारों को अपनी फिल्म में लिया है जो ऐसे रियल हीरोज का किरदार निभा रहे हैं हैं जिन्हें इतिहास में लगभग भुला दिया गया। 

अर्जुन रामपाल ने लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल राय सिंह और सोनू सूद ने मेजर बिशन सिंह के किरदारों को अच्छी तरह से जिया है। इनके अलावा हर्षवर्धन राणे और गुरमीत चौधरी जैसे यंग ऐक्टर्स ने भी अच्छी परफॉर्मेंस दी है। लव सिन्हा भी अतर सिंह के किरदार में अच्छे लगे हैं जबकि सिद्धांत कपूर के पास करने के लिए कुछ खास नहीं था। फिल्म में चीनी आर्मी के जवानों का किरदार करने वालों ने अच्छी ऐक्टिंग नहीं की है। खासतौर पर कुछ-कुछ समय में उनके द्वारा 'हिंदी-चीनी भाई भाई' का नारा लगाया जाना और हिंदी में डायलॉग बोलना अजीब सा लगता है। 

फिल्म की शूटिंग रियल लोकेशन पर हुई है और सेना के हथियारों और यूनिफॉर्म को देखकर ऐसा लगता है कि यह 1965 के समय की कहानी है। जेपी दत्ता ने ही इस फिल्म की कहानी और स्क्रीनप्ले लिखा है जो अच्छा है लेकिन जबरन ठूंसी गई आधी-अधूरी बैकस्टोरीज फिल्म को लंबा और बोझिल बनाती हैं। फिल्म बहुत ज्यादा इमोशनल नहीं लगती है लेकिन ओवरऑल फिल्म आपको बोर नहीं करेगी। फिल्म में अच्छा ऐक्शन दिखाया गया है और फिल्म के अंत में जेपी दत्ता अपने सभी मसालों के साथ भारतीय सेना की जीत दिखाने में कामयाब होते हैं। 


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