Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata

Manoj Tapadia’s screenplay is not half as exciting and thrilling as it should’ve been. For one, the drama takes too long to come to the point. Before the actual terrorist drama unfolds, a lot of time has been devoted to establishing how genuine, sincere and duty-conscious the nurses of Cama are — something which could’ve been done in two or three minutes. Even once the terrorist drama unfolds, the emotional angle takes a back-seat so that the pain and anguish don’t come to the fore. A couple of light moments in the midst of the tension-ridden drama don’t serve any purpose. Probably, the biggest drawback of the screenplay is that quite unwittingly, the drama reduces the enormity and seriousness of the havoc-wreaking episode by concentrating so heavily on just one location (the hospital). Manoj Tapadia’s dialogues are not very impressive.

Overall, Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata is a sincere and respectful retelling of a lesser-known chapter from the 26/11 attacks. While it may not be a perfect film, its grounded storytelling, emotional honesty and Kangana Ranaut's strong performance make it a worthwhile watch. The film succeeds in reminding audiences that acts of bravery are not limited to soldiers and officers; sometimes, they come from ordinary people working quietly behind hospital walls.

Where the film falters, however, is in its use of music by GV Prakash Kumar. The intention is understandable: to make the film more accessible and emotionally engaging for a wider audience. But during the attack sequences, the storytelling occasionally shifts into overtly heroic territory. The result feels like a deliberate filmi punch. Also, there's so much packed into the last hour that the interest begins to wane, and by the climax, the emotions don't hit as hard as they should. The ending allows it to redeem the shortcomings.

Manoj Tapadia finds ways to introduce balance. Although Kangana Ranaut’s Geeta is shown as the one who comes up with all the bright ideas, she does not dominate the narrative. If anything, Geeta is one among a crowd, a leader but also a co-worker. By giving Geeta’s colleagues strong scenes, the film lets them become a part of her reflected glory. The efforts of the small people who expect nothing more than an extra-tight hug before they go back to emptying out bedpans stand out in Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata. The film rescues itself from being a mouthpiece of the regime, instead becoming a voice for an unheralded strata of society.

Turns out that we did. Despite its mouthful of a title, which is more a paean to the performative patriotism encouraged by the current regime than anything else, and the familiarity of the main events, which have been well documented, this latest film, written and directed by Manoj Tapadia, stands out. It takes into account the bravery of the Cama nurses in the face of tremendous odds, making it an ode to an unsung section of our society. And even more importantly, it lauds their actions, while showing us the casual and constant cruelty of the two men on a killing spree in a space dedicated to saving lives, without demonising a minority.