3.0/5
Ae Watan Mere Watan is predicated on the lifetime of Usha Mehta, who was impressed by Mahatma Gandhi to affix the liberty wrestle. She took lively half within the Quit India Movement in 1942. When many of the senior leaders of Congress had been arrested, she helped run a secret Congress Radio for 3 months, conserving the spirit of the motion alive. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia broadcasted his speeches from the radio and data of different leaders, like Gandhi, Nehru and Maulana Azad had been additionally performed on the radio. She was captured and tortured by the British and even sentenced to 3 years in jail. She had embraced celibacy at a younger age and by no means received concerned in lively politics after India’s Independence. Later, she did doctoral research in Gandhian philosophy and have become a professor at her Wilson College. While she isn’t a luminary, she’s nonetheless counted as an vital freedom fighter.
One would have liked to see the inside lifetime of Usha Mehta being introduced out within the movie. It’s not clear why she was attracted in direction of Gandhiji and what led her in direction of celibacy. She’s proven to have rebelled towards her father, who was a choose in the course of the British period and is seen leaving dwelling to struggle towards the British. But we’re not instructed how she survived on her personal with none cash or assist. One has to take into account that in the course of the Nineteen Forties, folks had been extra conservative and it could have been actually tough for a single woman to outlive on her personal in Bombay. Her development as an unbiased girl, freed from societal norms, would have made an attention-grabbing examine however the writers and the director selected to disregard that time. The inside struggles of the principle, in addition to ancillary characters are absent. Some scenes from the movie remind you of a faculty play. There’s a lot enthusiasm within the proceedings however there’s additionally an absence of finesse. Sara Ali Khan’s confrontation scenes together with her father, performed by Sachin Khedekar, seem like an appearing train.
The movie picks up upon the entry of Emraan Hashmi, who performs Ram Manohar Lohia. He performs Lohia with a sure nuance which is absent from the efficiency of others. You really feel as when you’re truly watching a devoted freedom fighter at work. He’s the very best factor in regards to the movie and one can see that being free from the burden of enjoying the lead has finished wonders for him. The movie rests on the delicate shoulders of Sara Ali Khan and she or he doesn’t discover it simple going. One can see she’s struggling to discover a reference to the character she’s portraying. Her earnestness, her depth can’t be denied nonetheless and she or he gamely ploughs on, regardless of the hurdles.
While it’s a laudable factor to make a movie about lesser-known freedom fighters, extra care ought to have been taken to spherical off the script. The manufacturing design and the VFX mix to present us outdated Bombay. Cinematography by Amalendu Chaudhary can also be first fee. One of Usha Mehta’s nephews is director Ketan Mehta. We marvel why the famous filmmaker wasn’t approached to make a movie on his aunt.
Watch Ae Watan Mere Watan to know somewhat extra a couple of little-known chapter in India’s freedom wrestle.
Trailer : Ae Watan Mere Watan
Abhishek Srivastava, March 21, 2024, 3:48 AM IST
3.0/5
Story: During the peak of Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India motion, a younger woman takes on the problem of uniting freedom fighters by initiating an underground radio station to bridge the communication hole.
Review: ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ sheds gentle on a lesser-known story from India’s wrestle for independence, a story that performed a big position in altering the trajectory of India’s quest for freedom following Mahatma Gandhi’s Quit India motion. This biographical drama engages audiences with its portrayal of the period, boasting wealthy artwork course that vividly captures the temper of the nation throughout that interval. However, at its core, it leans extra in direction of being a thriller, specializing in the protagonist’s endeavour to safeguard the underground radio station whereas evading seize by the British authorities. This premise guarantees a number of heart-pounding moments of thrill, but the filmmakers fall brief in totally capitalizing on this potential. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t delve deeper into this thrilling facet, leaving viewers eager for extra exploration of its gripping parts.
The storyline of ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ is rooted in a real account, revolving across the brave actions of Usha Mehta (Sara Ali Khan), who, at a young age, embraced celibacy and devoted herself to India’s wrestle for independence. The movie commences in 1930 Surat earlier than transitioning to Mumbai in 1942, the place Usha’s father attains the standing of a choose in British India. A scene the place her father showcases the automotive gifted by the Britishers displays Usha’s evident disdain in direction of the British empire. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideologies, Usha and her circle of buddies pledge to contribute to the liberty motion by aligning themselves with the Congress. Upon their affiliation with the Congress, they understand the existence of a communication hole among the many freedom fighters, recognizing its urgency in hastening India’s liberation. With the help of Firdaus Engineer (Anand Tiwari), Usha establishes an underground radio station, bridging the divide among the many freedom fighters. In her quest to assist India’s independence, she receives assist from the likes of Ram Manohar Lohia (Emraan Hashmi). Upon the British authorities’ discovery of their plan, a high-stakes sport of cat and mouse ensues.
Sara Ali Khan’s portrayal of Usha Mehta is honest, however she barely scratches the floor. It’s a difficult character, given its historic significance within the freedom wrestle. There are a number of intense scenes, significantly these that includes Usha’s interactions with Kaushik and her father, however none of them have turned out to be emotionally impactful. Sara’s efficiency within the movie seems restrained, stopping them from totally blossoming. John Lyre (Alexx O’Nell), portrayed because the antagonist, is tasked with apprehending Usha and shutting down the radio station. However, his perpetually grumpy manner does not add a lot depth to the character. Effective communication via physique language and facial expressions is an artwork that not all actors are capable of grasp. Two standout performances within the movie come from Sparsh Srivastav as Fahad and Emraan Hashmi as Ram Manohar Lohia. Sparsh’s intense portrayal is convincing, whereas Emraan Hashmi’s portrayal of Ram Manohar Lohia provides to his already spectacular versatility as an actor.
‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ presents an interesting narrative, but it falls in need of reaching its full potential for thrill. The movie evokes memory of the not too long ago streamed sequence ‘All the Lights We Cannot See,’ starring Mark Ruffalo, Hugh Laurie, and Aria Mia Loberti. Had the movie captured the identical degree of pleasure because the sequence, the viewing expertise would have been tremendously enhanced. This historic drama stays true to its portrayal, avoiding further frills, nevertheless it might have finished extra.