Sam Bahadur: Is It A Great Biopic?

Sam Bahadur is a well-made biopic of an eminent and extraordinary war hero, Sam Manekshaw. Sam was an extraordinary Field Marshal in India. As he led us to historical war victories. No wonder he is a great soldier of Modern India. The common folks of the grateful nation simply love and adore Sam.

The director Meghna Gulzar delivers a captivating film, even though she follows the less engaging documentary style of filmmaking. And lead actor Vicky Kaushal shines brightly as Sam.

A Good Biopic About India’s Great War Hero, Sam Manekshaw

“If anyone tells you he is not afraid, he is a liar or he is a Gurkha.”

Sam Manekshaw (said in real life)

In India, the highest ceremonial rank in the Army is Field Marshal, a five-star designation that is a lifetime honour awarded for exceptional service, distinct from the regular promotion system. The first individual to be awarded this title was Sam Manekshaw in 1973 for his leadership in the 1971 war, followed by K.M. Cariappa in 1986, with both individuals holding the rank for life.

Spoiler Free Review: Sam Bahadur (2023/India/Sam बहादुर) Movie

The introduction

A couple of years ago, we saw the following insightful interview of the terrific military general Sam Manekshaw on YouTube. That interview was an extended chat session between Sam and his doting young grandson. Most of this conversation was shot in his home, named Stavka*, in the popular hill station in the Southern part of India. Please note that the *Stavka term refers to the General Headquarters of the Russian armed forces and subsequently in the Soviet Union. It was also mentioned in the War and Peace novel.

In War and Peace - The Life of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, MC | Search and check out his real life video interview on YouTube.

Vicky, Sanya and Fatima have done a wonderful job

Now, when we watched this biographical movie based on his life, we felt that actor Vicky Kaushal had done most things right. He has also gotten very close to his nuanced personal style, for instance, his smart personality, mischievous eyes, mannerisms of the no-nonsense Indian army man, and a dedicated family man. As an actor, he has portrayed his character with a lot of depth and understanding. Then there is Sanya Malhotra, who charmingly plays his wife Silloo Manekshaw. Then there is the unrecognisable Fatima Sana Shaikh, who plays the Iron Lady PM Indira Gandhi.

These two have played their part perfectly. As the spotlight was entirely on Sam, the other actors in its ensemble cast did not have much to do.

Meghna Gulzar has done a great job, too

Meghna Gulzar has adopted an episodic style to narrate almost 5 decades of Sam’s life story. She has focused her attention on all the highlights of his life. Then there are quite a few sensitive Historical issues like British Colonialism, World War II, the war in Burma, the partitions of India and Pakistan, the China War, the creation of Bangladesh, etc.

Given all these complex issues, both as a writer and film director Meghna has done a very good job of focusing on Sam. She has recreated the different eras of India as well as made his actors perform well in the film. In addition, we liked that her film talks about the necessity of a good pension scheme for the soldiers in India – a matter of ongoing debate in India about Agniveer and other issues involving the Indian army.

We loved the ‘Banda’ song in it

Also, being a Hindi movie, the songs are mandatory. So, it has four songs – Badhte Chalo, Banda, Itni Si Baat and Dum Hai Toh Aaja. These songs are penned by Gulzar with their music composed by the trio of Shankar, Ehsaan, & Loy. Our favourite one is the Banda song. It rightly defines the character of Sam Manekshaw, the patriotic soldier of India.

But, what did we not like in this Hindi film?

The lead actor and the reel hero, Vicky Kaushal, has immaculately portrayed the real hero Sam Manekshaw. Except perhaps his exaggerated hunching (crouching) posture, shown in the film, which we did not like. The Indian soldiers, at a young age, are asked to stand upright. We think Sam did not have a hunch when he joined the Indian Army in the pre-independence era. Maybe his posture changed in the post-Burma war, perhaps because of the extensive bullet wounds. Anyway, he got most of the things right.

Besides, we did not like the way this film tried to undermine the towering historical personalities of Nehru, Patel, Indira, and others. Maybe it is due to prevailing politics in India.

The conclusion

This story is about the Gentleman Soldier – perhaps one of the most excellent military commanders that India has ever produced in this modern age. It is fascinating to note that even the denizens of other sub-continental nations respect him a lot.

It is a remarkably well-made biopic movie to watch, in case you wish to know about the true and great war hero, Sam Bahadur.

Rating: Sam Bahadur (2023/India/Sam बहादुर) Movies

Poster: Sam Bahadur (2023/India/Sam बहादुर) Movie

Key Details: Sam Bahadur (2023/India/Sam बहादुर) Movie

Trailer & Synopsis: Sam Bahadur (2023/India/Sam बहादुर) Movie

To the Indian army, to the nation and its people, this film presents to you a glimpse into the life of India's Greatest Soldier, Sam Manekshaw. It revolves around the high and low points of Sam Manekshaw, who became the first Indian Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. It is a tribute to Field Marshal Sam HFJ Manekshaw, MC, India's first Field Marshal and a legendary Army General. His career witnessed the shaping of India's geopolitical borders. His life was marked by significant milestones, from fighting in World War II to being the Chief of Army Staff during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. 

It led to the creation of Bangladesh. This film explores his dynamic personality and his unparalleled military career. Besides, it offers a glimpse into the life of a no-nonsense Army Commander, also known as "Sam Bahadur" by the soldiers he led.

Lastly, in case you like to see more Hindi movies about wars fought by India, read the FM Review of the Pippa (2023) movie too.

Featured Image & Poster of the Sam Bahadur (Hindi/2023//India/Sam बहादुर) Movie| RSVP Film.