How's the Josh!!!!

How’s the JOSH!!!

High, too high. May be first time in 5-6 years (after our daughter was born), I and Mr. Husband went to watch a movie in theatre sans our daughter. But don’t get too excited. It was no romantic one, rather a hard core patriotic one. But I have no regrets about it.

We went to watch Uri - The Surgical Strike, based on the surgical strike carried out by our Indian Army with a nod from India’s Prime Minister in September 2016. I think only 2 things can make me cry watching a movie – Child missing his/her parents OR losing an army man. Sadly for me, I have seen my cousin brother who was a Major in the Indian Army, losing his life while fighting with the terrorists in an ambush attack. Shaheed Major Alok Mathur is still amar for all of us but time and again, we can’t help but think for what happened that day, how was his contingent blocked, how did he fight with all those terrorist even after being hit with bullets, what went on in his mind at that time? For his parents, family and friends, even though all of us are proud of him, our hearts still ask just one question - ‘why did he not save himself?’ We all know the answer as well. He was a fighter. An Indian Army personnel for whom his Country takes the highest importance followed by his Countrymen and finally the family and friends.

Watched Uri and felt that the personal problems that we all go through everyday and what we crib about are nothing for our Armed Forces.

About the movie. We loved it. The first half set a good background for why India decided to give a solid response to Pakistan. It was an emotional journey. You see the valour of the Indian Army and you see their emotional sides too. They don’t think twice before jumping in front of the enemy’s bullets yet they yearn for the love of their mothers. They are those fighters who do not enjoy sitting in AC offices.

Vicky Kaushal fits the role and is outstanding. Though, he had done some good work in the past but people sat up and took notice of him since Raazi. And he does not disappoint the audience even now. Vicky Kaushal as Major Vihaan Shergill is impressive. The one who does not fail in his planning, the one who promises to bring back every single man of his team back after finishing off the strike, the one who is sharp to notice the grenades tied to the gate they are about to open.

Yami Gautam does her bit. I won’t say too impressive. May be it was only me, but who wear heels while being on an army mission – boarding an army copter while going for interrogation for a terrorist attack? I may not be too aware. Anyway.

Paresh Rawal as Ajit Doval is amazing. Honestly, for a person like me, who is weak in Country’s political and bureaucratic affairs, I had no knowledge about Mr. Ajit Doval. It was when Mr. Husband told that Paresh Rawal looked every bit similar to ‘Ajit Doval’ that I Googled about him and was amazed to read about him. Then, I could appreciate Paresh Rawal even more. He played the role fantastically, also adding his ‘personal touch’ to the character. The subtle humour, of breaking his mobile phones every time he was upset and pulling the intern for why he made his boss run with the Garud if it could take off from hover.

So good to see Swaroop Sampath after such a long time. Though, not shown in the pink of health, she looks her character. All other actors provided a solid support to the film. Mohit Raina (Major Karan Kashyap), Manasi Parekh (Neha), Kirti Kulhari (Seerat Kaur), Shishir Sharma (Gen Arjun Singh Rajawat). Though, I missed catching the name of another actor, but he played the role of Captain Sartaj. Good work.

The direction and screenplay was crisp and too the point. VFX and sound effect just right. You could hear each of the bullet shells falling off. The second half was meant for the planning and execution and that’s what it showed too. The moment the mission was over, the film ended, with few glimpses to make us feel relieved and happy that the team got its due. Be it, Vihaan’s mother momentarily forgetting him but immediately calling out his name and the entire team having dinner after the strike as promised by Mr. Prime Minister. Songs does not stop the film. They give pace to the story.

Though, it is a one-sided story from India’s perspective, as was the case with the actual strike, the neighbouring Country had nothing to defend about. Yes, people call it a propaganda by the current government and I don’t believe in that but even if that was the case, I see no harm in that. Surgical Strike was one of the boldest actions taken by any government of India and it was a success, bringing down the terrorist activities in the Country and everyone should be proud about it.

Director and Writer Aditya Dhar should take a bow along with the entire team and we get our new slang - ‘How’s the Josh?’ High Sir...