‘Sarzameen’ Review: Patriotic Drama With Heart, But Lacking Nerve

Reuben Saldanha
Jul 25
2 min read

Streaming now on JioHotstar, Sarzameen marks Kayoze Irani’s debut as a feature filmmaker, produced by Dharma Productions and Star Studios. With a cast headlined by Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kajol, and Ibrahim Ali Khan, the film blends family, patriotism, and ideological tension in a sleek, drama-heavy narrative. While it has moments of power and emotional depth, Sarzameen often opts for the safe and the sentimental when it could’ve gone deeper and darker.

The Performances Shine — Especially the Veterans

Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers a commanding performance as Brigadier Vijay Menon, bringing nuance and dignity to a role that might have easily slipped into caricature. Kajol, as always, is a grounding force. Her portrayal of Meher — a mother torn between her husband and a son lost to extremism — adds real weight to the emotional core.

As for Ibrahim Ali Khan, this is clearly a better outing than his much-criticized debut in Nadaaniyaan. He’s committed, physically transformed, and more emotionally present — though one does wish the script had given him more complexity to play with. A promising improvement, but the writing keeps him at arm’s length from true intensity.

Direction: Confident, but Over-Cautious

For a debut, Kayoze Irani handles scale and tone with assurance. The Kashmir backdrop is treated with care, the action sequences are well-composed, and the tension is well maintained for most of the first half. But where Irani plays it too cautiously is in the emotional resolution.

Rather than explore the greys of radicalization, indoctrination, and the costs of loyalty, the film retreats to melodrama and monologues. The impact is softened, when it could have left the audience shaken.

Writing & Dialogue: Serviceable, But Seldom Surprising

The screenplay (by Irani, Soumil Shukla, and Arun Singh) is tidy — sometimes too tidy. Key moments feel manufactured rather than earned, and some of the dialogue veers into the overly didactic. One wishes the film had allowed its characters to speak more like people and less like mouthpieces for national messaging.

Technical & Visuals: Glossy, Well-Packaged

There’s no denying that Sarzameen looks polished. The cinematography captures both military tension and domestic vulnerability with equal flair. The music and background score are stirring, though occasionally overused to dictate what the audience should feel. Subtlety, in these moments, would have made a bigger impact.

Final Thoughts: Good Intentions, Missed Boldness

Sarzameen is not a bad film — far from it. It’s sincere, earnest, and tries to handle weighty issues with a sense of responsibility. But it plays too much within the lines. For a story about conflict, it chooses comfort too often.

Still, it’s worth a watch for Prithviraj, Kajol, and a surprisingly solid Ibrahim Ali Khan. It’s also the kind of movie that will resonate with audiences who want their patriotism mixed with emotion and family values.

But for those hoping Sarzameen would break new ground in the nationalistic thriller space — this one’s a careful salute, not a bold statement.