Sarhad Paar Review {1/5} & Review Rating
Too late! That's your instant reaction when you watch SARHAD PAAR.
Everything comes with an expiry date. Perhaps, SARHAD PAAR may've worked had it released a few years ago. Perhaps, SARHAD PAAR may've struck a chord with the junta when the Indo-Pak wave was at its peak. But SARHAD PAAR makes a late entry to movieplexes and its release timing is also inappropriate.
What's the verdict then? SARHAD PAAR won't work eis paar [India] or sarhad paar [Overseas].
Army man Ranjit Singh [Sanjay Dutt] returns home after a long time. Declared missing in action after he inadvertently crossed the border, Ranjit went through trauma and torment as a prisoner across the border.
Amongst the faces to greet Ranjit on his return is that of his wife Pammi [Tabu] and sister Simran [Mahima Chaudhary]. They are happy that their loved one is back, but are shocked to see his condition.
In the Army Hospital, Ranjit is trying to recuperate from the horrifying experiences he has gone through. He sees a face every time he shuts his eyes, only to reopen them in a state of confusion. He has lost his memory, but can only remember this face.
Meanwhile, Pammi and Simran try to help Ranjit to get back to normal life, but in vain. Disappointed, Pammi begins giving up hope when Simran vows to bring Ranjit back to his normal self. How she will do this, no one knows, but she has the support of Ravi [Chandrachur Singh], a folk singer whom she is engaged to.
Simran's efforts pay off and Ranjit discovers the root cause of his pathetic condition. His tormentor was Bhaktavar [Rahul Dev], a mercenary terrorist associated with traitors in India.
While Ranjit tries to fight the enemy within and Pammi tries to recapture the glorious moments with her husband, Simran is caught in the emotional dilemma between supporting her brother in his fight against his oppressor and fulfilling her marital commitment to the man she has tied the knot for life.
You get a strong feeling that you're watching a dated product once the reels unfold. That's not the only problem with SARHAD PAAR. It also looks like a disjointed effort, with certain pieces in the narrative giving you the feeling that it was hurriedly packed up, with some loose ends still remaining.
Also, SARHAD PAAR seems like one confused product. Portions of the film give an impression that it's a realistic, hard-hitting film, but there are times when you feel that the film suddenly tries to play to the gallery [overdose of songs, including a forced item song].
Any redeeming aspects? Difficult to find! In fact, the drama loses pace as it progresses. Director Raman Kumar has handled a few sequences well, but a few skillfully executed sequences don't camouflage the shortcomings. Music [Anand Raaj Anand] is strictly okay. Cinematography is inconsistent, but you can't blame the D.O.P. for it. The delay in the making is bound to tell!
Sanjay Dutt runs through his part mechanically. Tabu is natural. Mahima Chaudhary is efficient. Chandrachur Singh wears a blank look most of the times. Rahul Dev is loud. Akash Khurana leaves a mark.
On the whole, SARHAD PAAR has nothing going in its favor. At the box-office, it's a loser!
