What’s it about?
Sandeep Unnikrishnan (Adivi Sesh) always dreamed of serving the nation as an army man. He eventually joins the army despite the reservations of his parents. When the guests of the Taj Mahal Palace hotel were taken to hostage by the terrorists, Sandeep, an NSG commander, jumps in and leads the operation.
Analysis
Lately, Telugu cinema has witnessed a rush of biopics made on many famous personalities from different walks of life. ‘Major’, featuring Adivi Sesh in the central role, is not a regular biopic. For, it not just tells the life story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a brave soldier who sacrificed his life for the nation, but it also depicts the 26/11 attacks. Terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba attacked Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai on 26 November 2008. Sandeep Unnikrishnan saved the lives of hostages before being martyred by the terrorists.
‘Major’ is about Sandeep’s valiance, his sacrifice. Sandeep was a true patriot. “Jaan Doonga Desh Nahi” (You can take my life but not my country) was Sandeep’s spirit. The brave heart lived life as such. He fought with the same spirit in the line of battle.
The biopic uses a back and forth narrative method to tell his life and sacrifice, by focusing on his childhood, college life, romance with his wife, and the operation. The second half of the film is where the action (of the 26/11 attacks and his heroism) happens. The final portion truly touches the heart. No audience can escape turning emotional in the end.
Director Sashi Kiran Tikka and writer Adivi Sesh have captured Sandeep’s life and heroic efforts impressively in the latter half of the movie. The relentless action coupled with patriotic sequences hit home.
“Major” gives what it promises – a portrait of a brave heart.
However, the film also doesn’t escape from the clichés that we find in most Indian biopic movies – glorifying the protagonist to the hilt, over-dramatization, etc. Here, we don’t get to know much about the bravery of the local policemen, who also sacrificed their lives. The generic husband and wife sequences are a tad unimpressive. But these glitches don’t undermine the best qualities of the film.
In the role of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Adivi Sesh delivers a sincere performance. He fits the role to the T and brings out the emotions well. This is his best performance till now. The film also features strong performances from other noted actors including Prakash Raj and Revathi as Sandeep’s parents. Watch out for Revathi’s act when she hears the death of her son and the final speech of Prakash Raj. They give moving performances. Murali Sharma as NSG chief and Sobhita Dhulipala are okay. Saiee Manjrekar as Sandeep’s life partner is impressive.
As Adivi Sesh and Sashi Kiran Tikka proved in ‘Goodachari’, they get the best output from the technicians. Vamsi Pachipulusu walks away with honors with his sterling cinematography. The grand production design and riveting BGM need applause as well. Abburi Ravi’s dialogues are worth mentioning. Director Sashi Kiran Tikka carries the emotions well.
Bottom-line: ‘Major’ is a well-made biopic on Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the hero of the 26/11 attacks. A fitting tribute to the unsung hero! Despite some issues, the emotional handling and the final moments make this movie a compelling watch.
By: Jalapathy Gudelli
Rating: 3/5
Film: Major
Cast: Adivi Sesh, Saiee Manjrekar, Prakash Raj, Revathi, and others
Dialogue: Abburi Ravi
Music: Sricharan Pakala
Cinematography: Vamsi Patchipulusu
Produced by: Sony Pictures, GMB, A+S Movies
Directed by: Sashi Kiran Tikka
Release Date: June 03, 2022
