Major Movie Review: A 26/11 Story Retold With Love. Adivi Sesh Aces Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan Biopic

Starring Adivi Sesh, the film traces the life story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an army officer who sacrificed his life in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

'Major' is another formulaic film in the biopic-genre. Starring Adivi Sesh in the titular role, the film traces the life story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an army officer who sacrificed his life in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. 'Major' also stars Saiee Manjrekar, Prakash Raj, Revathi and Sobhita Dhulipala.

'Major' opens with the most typical opening sequence of the carefree hero/army officer returning home to a worried mother. The first fifteen minutes of the film lower your expectations as cliche dialogue, repetitive narrative devices like fashbacks, patriotic fervour through music/action scenes etc. fly around.

However, 'Major' is a film that builds slowly to engage you in parts and sequences that are well-choreographed, shot and acted in.

The innocent-school romance between Isha (Saiee) and Sandeep( Adivi) scored with poor background score only conventionalizes the way background stories of such patriotic heroes are generally displayed. For instance; one will be reminded of  another biopic--Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani starrer 'Shershaah'. However, 'Shershaah' has a better touch of background score that 'Major' truly lacks.

'Major's dialogues are cringy in many instances while they challenge and bring out new angles in very few. For instance; when Revathi( who plays Sandeep's mother) is about to send her son to NDA for his army training and worries about her son's life, Sandeep very unconventionally says 'agar har ma aise sochegi toh...', or when Isha and Sandeep are on the phone, Isha points out how everyone talks about the sacrifices of soldiers but not the people in their lives who goad them on their path.

In terms of screenplay as well, the first half of 'Major' is slightly slow and more personal where we see the humane and personal side of the soldier-in-making, Sandeep. 

Like every biopic, we see this generous, selfless fellow then transition to a top-notch achiever in the second-half where the backstory and the tone set in the first-half furthers and informs the narrative choices in the second. 'Major' in that way is exactly the same.

The second-half is about the attack, how Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's NSG special forces sqaud counter-attacks, saves hostages and manages to eliminate the terrorists at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai.

Naturally, the second-half is better shot, designed and planned. It's also more eventful. The background score is helpful in the encounters between terrorists and NSG troops( specifically Sandeep), Sandeep saving hostages etc.

The writing is also more polished in the second half where we see smooth transitions between sequences. This is also because the second-half of the film covers the span of only two days while the first half traces Sandeep's journey from childhood to adolescence.

Some narrative devices like Prakash Raj's ( who plays Sandep's father) voiceover or sepia-tinted shots which show that the story is being recollected in retrospect help freshen up a densely patriotic film that gets a little over the top in many action and dialogue scenes.

For instance; the climax of the film post Sandeep's sacrifice is way too lengthy. It only diminishes the impact and catharsis the film builds.

To speak about the performances of characters, Adivi Sesh is A-game in most parts, especially the aspiring soldier sequences in childhood and the soldier-in-action sequences in the second half. 

Saiee plays the role of a neglected daughter who is strong and quiet. A girl who gives up her ambitions to be with the man she loves; who only inspires her to pursue her dreams further. Her performance is notable in parts, and for some reason one feels she does have more screen space than heroines in such biopics. 

Revathi is superb as Sandeep's mother while Prakash Raj could have toned down the proud father's zeal a notch down in some scenes. Not to blame the veteran actor for his performance, this was obviously the way the script of the film had been written that had to be acted in a certain way.

Notable sequences of the film include its action sequences and saving Sobhita( Pramoda) sequence. There is also quite a lot of movement in between timelines and memories, all well-structured but poorly written.

Naturally, it is difficult to include all key and momentous moments of such an eventful life in a 2 hour long film, but the effort by the filmmaker is commendable.

'Major' tries to use an 'observational' tone in documenting Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan's life but ends up participating in it quite completely. Long takes on patriotism were completely unnecessary as was this desire to 'talk instead of show'.

The use of wide angles in this documentary style were complimented by ample close-ups and medium shots, plus the kind of music and dialogue that make the biopic a complete feature film that becomes a mass entertainer.

In all, 'Major' is a well-structured film with its heart at the right place but it suffers because of poor-writing and music. Yet another celluloid piece on the 26/11 attacks but with a different and important subject matter. A must watch for all die-hard action fans.