Movie Review: Deewaar [Let's Bring Our Heroes Home!]

The Greatest Escape Ever
Vinod Doshi presents
Gourang Doshi's DEEWAAR [let's bring our heroes home]
Language: Hindi
Director: Milan Lutharia
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Amrita Rao, Tanuja
Music : Adesh Srivastava
Lyrics: Nusrat Badr
Action: Tinu Verma
Cinematography: Nirmal Jani
Official website: http://deewaar.com

The movie is based on the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. At the end of this war 92 thousands Pakistani soldiers returned home. Sixty thousands Indian defence personnels also returned. But 54 Indian soldiers remained unaccounted for. 33 years later, their families are still waiting for their return. In 1983, Pakistan allowed a contingency of six Indian family members of the POWs to check the jails for themselves. Intriguingly, the families were allowed to check only one jail, and felt cheated. An International Red Cross team attempted to trace them, but failed. Apparently, the POWs are left shells of the brave, valiant soldiers they once ware. This film is dedicated to those who are not-existent.

Plot: The movie is based on the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. Akshaye Khanna plays Amitabh Bachchan's son who goes to rescue him when Bachchan is taken a prisoner in Pakistan. Sanjay Dutt helps Akshay in the rescue. December 3, 1971. War broke out between India and Pakistan. At the end of this war, 92,000 Pakistani soldiers returned home... 60,000 Indian Defence Personnel also returned... But 54 Indian soldiers remained unaccounted for. Pakistan on its part denies their presence in any Pakistani jail. 33 years later, their families are still waiting for their return. This film is dedicated to those men, Non-Existent people.

Music:
Sanjay Dutt swings to the tune of 'Marhaba Marhaba', whiDied at C:\Inetpub\vhosts\indiatarget.com\cgi-bin\detailnews.cgi line 171. ch for sure is not another 'Ishq Samandar'. 'Chaliye Ve Chaliye' (Vande Mataram) tries hard to be patriotic but doesn't succeed much. At maximum, the punch landed by Big 'B' in the air does remind the poster pose he struck for 'Main Azaad Hoon' about 15 years back, but that's all. This number it's all about the captured soldiers' cry of rebellion on breaking all the walls and going back to the motherland. A completely situational song.
Musically, the beginning of 'Todenge Deewar Hum' is so similar to Nadeem Shravan's 'Rehne Ko Ghar Nahi' from 'Sadak'.
'Kara Kaga' is the number picturized on a village belle who is waiting for her prince charming to come and take her in his arms.
Off late most of the big movies have had a qawalli as a part of their musical score. Same follows suit over here where 'Ali Ali' comes towards the end of the album. Sung by Krishna who sounds like late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan saab at places, it is well supported by Vijayta and Shraddha Pandit.
A better sounding number that follows next is 'Piya Bawri' for which an instrumental also appears. With classical background vocals by Kailash Kher. A complete 'Hindustani' number, the song still doesn't turn out to be a chartbuster material.


Why you should watch the film? The film will mark the reunion of the talented Tanuja, as Big 'B's on-screen wife after 33 years. The duo was the lead pair in 'Pyar Ki Kahani' (1971), and also co-starrer in 'Yaraana', 'Khuddar', and of lately in 'Khakee', the power-packed star cast makes this film a definite must watch.

Overall:
Deewar - LBOHH defies the mammoth expectations that one had from the movie after the initial promos that were generated about 8-9 months back and the current promos on screen when the movie is about to be released. Movie definitely seems very promising due to it's distinct theme, well-cut teasers, excellent cinematography, mega star cast, good production values and the hype generated in all these months since the time of the project's inception.