Keerthi Chakra (2006)

WOW!!! that was my first response after the film. Its definitely one of the best war movie ever made in India. I'm personally a big fan of War movies. Till this date there wasn't many movies with army in prime focus in India. What we had just melodramatic pathetic Hindi junks with a ton of heroins and heroes and a big tank of tears... There are some exceptions like Tango Charlie which is an all army film. And now we have Keerthi chakra.

The film is entirely happening in Kashmir. It starts as flashback of Sandhya (Gopika) wife of Jai. From the very first scene to the very last scene its Commando Operations, whats actually happening in Kashmir actually. Mohanlal is Major Mahadevan a great military commando with a great courage and a great heart. Jai(Jeevan) is his buddy pair, who is the assistant and bodyguard in the team itself for Major. He is a courageous and chocolate boy in the troop. Who is just married and is called back to army just after two days after marriage.

Shammi Thilakan is an egoistic character who wants to be buddy pair of Major mahadevan and is jealous of Jai. Sai Kumar is the caring senior officer of Major Mahadevan. And Spadikam George is the officer coming from Delhi to carry out operations in Kashmir, and actually on a pleasure trip on his bulletproof vehicle over Kashmir. He is jealous of Major's smartness and capability. He even once threaten to complaint against Major in the film.

One of the scene i cant't forget is the cruel rape scene. That i think a bit too much, at least for kids.

This film contains many layers which shows many difficulties faced by army personals. They have to face human rights who threatens them to take actions against killing a surrendered criminal who killed school children. Then the incorporative Kashmiri police who fires bullets only for giving warning to terrorists, then incompatible senior officers,Wireless tigers, who sits in the AC room and want all the credit of operations. And at last the resistance from one's own home for security reasons.

The most interesting thing is not everybody is 'malayalees'. The film speaks and sings in Kashmiri Hindi Malayalam and Tamil. The music is great there are three songs, one Malayalam one Tamil, and one Kasmiri.

The films Technical detailing is great. The cinematography by Tirru is great and is then again beautified using Digital Intermediate. The sound is great that even the wind in the hills blows directly to your ear in theater and the bullets omg they sounds so clear and real.

And the director himself comes as a tea boy Appukuttan in the film...;) Oh i forgot this film has footages from Afghanisthan. That seems to be shot in a DV and converted to film coz its a bit sluggish. The villain is from Afghan in real life and reel life.

Overall this is a great Indian movie everyone can be proud of. When the movie is finished the thrilled crowd stood up and it was applause for some five minutes and then followed by Bharat Matha Ki Jai and Jai for Keerthi Chakra and Lalettan. That was really heart touching.

I give this 8/10 in Indian Standards not in international. We still have to move a lot to catch Bridge on the River Kwai or Saving Privat Ryan...