Film: Major
Cast: Sesh Adivi, Saiee Manjrekar, Shobita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj
Director: Sashikiran Tikka
Story: Sandeep Unnikrishnan is a do-gooder with the potential to be a hero. No wonder the Army was his natural choice. He became a trainer in the National Security Guards, the elite force that was called into action when Mumbai came under a deadly attack by terrorists on November 26, 2008. The film is about how Sandeep tries to save as many lives as he can during the attack.
Analysis: It’s the story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a brave soldier who sacrificed his life for the nation; but it also depicts the 26/11 attacks. And director Sashi Kiran Tikka submits to the vision of the story told by screenplay writer Adivi Sesh.
The narration is through the eyes of the protagonist's father (Prakash Raj). The makers have used a back-and-forth style to showcase Sandeep’s life and sacrifice – it covers his childhood, college life, romance with his to-be wife, and then the anti-terror operation.
The film delivers what it promises – a portrait of a brave-heart.
Major is Sesh's one-man show for the most part. He wants to tell the story sincerely. And he does it with conviction. And this is undoubtedly Sesh’s career best performance. He has managed to capture the true essence of Sandeep’s life and his heroic efforts impressively in the latter half of the movie.
The action choreography is engrossing in the second half. The terrorists have been shown as ruthless but not in a cliched way. This is where Major shines — it doesn't make the villainy in-your-face. Its focus is firmly on the hero, his bravery and exceptional thinking.
The film’s emotional appeal, particularly towards the end, leaves everyone with moist eyes.
Vamsi Patchipulusu's cinematography and Sricharan Pakala's music are stand-out technical features. Saiee Manjrekar as Sandeep's girlfriend gets as much voice as the hero's parents.
However, the film is not without flaws. Perhaps the pace in the first half could have been steadier. Also, the director took his own time to establish the characters.
It has been many years since the Mumbai Attacks took place. Major is the first attempt to tell a biographical story of that incident. This is not about the terrorists, their ideology, their hatred. This is about Sandeep, his parents, his patriotism, and his poignant moments. The film is also about the daredevil action in the middle of a spine-chilling terror attack.
On the whole, Major movie is a fitting tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan - it’s a classic film version of a story that deserves to be told!
