Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vani Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Iravati Harshe & Ronit Roy
Director – Karan Malhotra
Producer- Yashraj Films
Set in 1871, Shamshera is an amalgamation of fiction & history. Shamshera is the leader of a fictional tribe of called Khamera. These Khamerans were intrinsic to the Rajputs. However, as the power changed hands from Rajputs to Mughals to Britishers, the Khameran tribe too lost its pride and status.
Consequently, Shamshera has now become an unrelenting dacoit who is ‘karam se dacait par dharam se azaad’. Now enters Shudh Singh, played by veteran Sanjay Dutt, who is cinematically evil & nefarious. He makes an offer to Shamshera, to surrender in lieu-of a respectful life for his tribe. Of course, it’s a trap, and Shamshera and his tribe gets enslaved within the tall walls of the fort of Kaza. It’s a heartless place, much like Hitler’s concentration camps. This suffocates Shamshera to take an extreme step, which leads to the twist this kind of story needs.
Exit Shamshera, and 25 years hence, enters his son Balli, who is an easy-going lad. He refuses to call himself a Khameran, instead aspires to become an afsar in ‘Gori Sarkar’. But the ruthless Shudh Singh, toils his emotions to turn him into a rebel. Balli manages to flee and then begins the epic tale of his bravery and love for the freedom of his tribe. Yes, in between, he finds love of his life Sona, played by Vaani Kapoor.
Director Karan Malhotra, who is also the co-writer of the film has managed to create a larger-than-life magnum opus. The Nebula Valley, where the film shot, suits the color palette of the film very well. The cinematography is at par with big-canvas films like RRR, or a Bahubali. Films seems to have an effortless VFX, which is done by YRF’s inhouse team. So, the film does work well on all these accounts. The first half of the film clues you in very well! However, in the second half, the writer let your interest loose. It reminded me of the drudgery faced by the heroes of 80s. A relentless villain, who is always laughing & we don’t know why, and helpless hero.
The second half drags. We eventually reach to the climax, only to be saved by a flock of crow-looking birds. I mean, with a young-fit Kapoor like Ranbir, who is given his first ever mainstream Bollywood hero avatar in his career, you need more meatier trajectory to his character.
While watching a magnum-opus like this one, I would have wanted to swayed by a very powerful writing, especially when you have a fleet of such fine actors. The big budget is visible, only the high and lows of the emotions are missing. However, in toto, I would still suggest to definitely watch this film in theatres at least once.
3/5 Stars