There are two types of movies on Indian History: the first type goes all in to immerse you into how things panned out, the selfless contributions, and what that incident means for the nation. And then there are films that are basically fancy dress and retro set design competitions. Films that hardly care about the story cuz it’s just the looks for them. You don’t even have to watch the movie, to conclude that “Ae Watan Mere Watan” falls in the second group. The trailer is enough to tell you that. Kannan Iyer’s patriotic drama is nothing more than a wasted opportunity to depict the story of one of the most impactful, yet unknown personalities who contributed with all her heart to India’s freedom struggle, Usha Patel. She doesn’t deserve this biopic, and we don’t deserve to sit through it either. I can’t even express how bummed out I am rn :///
Plot
So, picture this – it’s 1942, and we’re precisely in the middle of India’s struggle for independence. While India is divided between Gandhi and Bose, our protagonist, Usha Mehta, already confined in her room by her advocate father, decides she’s had enough of both him and the British rule and takes matters into her own hands, in her own unique way. With the help of her friends Fahad and Kaushik, she sets up a secret radio station, the Congress Radio. She has just one aim: to spread the message of unity against the British, and ultimately fuel the Quit India Movement. But itna hi nahi, during the journey, their encounter with Ram Manohar Lohia (Emraan Hashmi) gives a new direction to their revolution. Cue the drama, the dilemmas, and of course, the unnecessary romance. Ngl, I’d have bought this plot, but the sheer subpar execution of what could’ve been a goosebumps-inducing story really disappoints.
Performances
Okay, I’ll say it straight-up without beating around the bush: Sara Ali Khan as Usha Mehta is just not the right casting choice!!!! She clearly lacks the emotional depth to play such a complex character. Her dialogue delivery is all over the place, her expressions do not match w what she’s saying… it’s like the makers wanted a known face to lead the movie so they got her. I can only imagine someone like a Radhika Apte doing the role. Emraan Hashmi, though, surprises everyone and steals the show as Ram Manohar Lohia. I was worried if he could bring that seriousness and depth to the role, but sometimes it’s just good to be on the wrong side, isn’t it? Alsooo, shoutout to Sparsh Srivastav for his portrayal of Fahad – the literal definition of ‘small role, big impact’. But God, the casting choices for the Britishers are just horrible. It’s like they took them for face value cuz literally none of them feel like the monsters they were. Pretty fckin disappointing!
Direction and Writing
Kannan Iyer’s direction is all about visual authenticity – from the architecture to the costumes, he nails the pre-Independence vibe. But what about the authenticity of the writing? Why does the narrative feel so random and disjointed? When the film talks about how the British government controlled the big media and how the radio spread lies, it does a good job. But what about building the tension in the movie, especially the climax? The entire movie felt like it was covering different aspects of the story as a 5-mark NCERT book answer instead of actually combining all the aspects to make something that left you in awe.
Screenplay and Cinematography
The cinematography does a decent job of transporting us away to the 1940s, with its clever use of black-and-white and sepia tones. But the problem is — it’s all style, no substance. The chase between the British officials and the young guns hardly pumps adrenaline into the screenplay. It feels like we’re simply walking through some of the most important incidents of history, when in fact we should feel like we’re a part of it. You get my point, right? It’s like they just checked off showing important events ka boxes instead of actually making us move w the story. And don’t even get me started on the pacing – it’s like a slow burn that never ever fckin ignites. What a snoozefest honestly.
All in all, “Ae Watan Mere Watan” is a very disappointing attempt at shedding light on a forgotten hero of India’s independence struggle. Expected so much better from a Karan Johar production, but it is what it is. While it’s got its heart in the right place, the execution is simply too childish. So, should you watch it? Sure, if you can handle Sara Ali Khan’s dialogue delivery and a plot that doesn’t do justice to the personality of Usha Ji. The movie simply screams ‘mediocrity’ through the radio.
