Not often do you come across patriotically driven movies made with pure intentions and honest acts. Mostly, it is about the extremes at both ends and how we succeed against all odds. IB71 is different on that front. It has its heart and soul at the same place from starting to finish.
What impressed me the most was the crisp editing that led to the run time being only 119 minutes. It doesn't drag or head into any sub plots of sorts. It focuses on the main essence of the movie all through the course of its running.
The movie is based on an inspiring story of how India stopped Pakistan and China from aligning to fight with India on the Eastern front in 1971 by blocking the air space.
This is a movie about a triumph that's little but extremely important in the context of the bigger picture. Such stories need to be told and if told in the right way, it marks for a celebration of sorts.
India had only 10 days to go about it all. Going through the available options, rejecting most of them and finally finding the only way possible was a thinking of a level that only a person of the caliber of Intelligence Bureau could come up with.
This was a confidential mission and had to be done in a way that Pakistan would be caught unaware. How a case study from a friend helped in getting the idea, how the personnel involved in that case study eventually laid the foundation of execution, how the hijack was planned, executed, how the espionage was carried out successfully is all what this movie is about.
It's a brilliant story which ought to be told and celebrated. How 30 agents risk their all to enable India towards a possible triumph in a mission that had to be done in 10 days is shown quite briskly.
There have been references, nuances and instances to show how each party tries to outsmart the other. There's suspicion, there's vengeance, there's conviction, there's ways in which both India and Pakistan tend to show the potential that they have through their tactics.
I quite liked the manner of story telling here. This is a movie which wanted to show this, this and this. This is a movie which showed this, this and this only. No extra fuss, no add-ons etc. Editing is excellent, keeping us glued all through to cherish the accomplishment. Sandeep Francis deserves a lot of accolades for it all.
Direction and writing by Sankalp Reddy is quite good. The movie has its heart at the right place. Story is by Aditya Shastri and it makes for a beautiful cinematic viewing. It was a story based on 1971 hijacking and it deserved a mention for sure.
Dialogues have been written by Sahar Quaze and Junaid Wasi. Surely, some of the dialogues as expected land a punch. Also, there's a tad bit of humour too, which really does add to the flavour of the theme of the movie. I've liked the lyrics of Zikr, Uska Hi Banana and Bawra Mann and thus, to see Junaid Wasi write such beautiful dialogues here doesn't come as a surprise to me.
Just the 2nd Hindi movie but the cinematography by the experienced Gnana Shekar V. S. is top notch, especially the scenes in the aeroplane.
The only loophole or a small drawback would be the improper use of technology by the opposing country in the movie. That bit could have been more clinical.
Rest, the call trapping, listening to call recording, call divert, voice modulation, convincing through preaching about religion etc. Has been shown quite well.
Coming to the performances, Vidyut Jammwal as Dev, an IB agent is brilliant. He deserves and warrants a lot more attention. Vishal Jethwa as Qasim is sheer class. He has nailed the role completely. He impresses big time. Anupam Kher is okay in his role as IB Chief. Suvrat Joshi has screen presence and makes for some emotional moments. He has done really well. The get up and look of Dalip Tahil as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is beyond words and outstanding. Hobby Dhaliwal plays his part as Army chief of Pakistan with aplomb.
Coming to others, Niharica Raizada shows so much through her eyes and behaviour. She does a terrific job. Rest of the cast has been okay at best. But yes, the one who impressed me the most was one certain Ashwath Bhatt. What a performance! His appearance, dialogue delivery, portrayal of his character and the way he does it all was so convincing and brilliant.
All in all, IB71 is a story that I'm happy to have seen. I'm also impressed in the manner of showcasing it all on the big screen, keeping the viewers glued all through with a terrific manner of storytelling wherein we're shown only what's there to be shown. I would rate it 4/5.
What impressed me the most was the crisp editing that led to the run time being only 119 minutes. It doesn't drag or head into any sub plots of sorts. It focuses on the main essence of the movie all through the course of its running.
The movie is based on an inspiring story of how India stopped Pakistan and China from aligning to fight with India on the Eastern front in 1971 by blocking the air space.
This is a movie about a triumph that's little but extremely important in the context of the bigger picture. Such stories need to be told and if told in the right way, it marks for a celebration of sorts.
India had only 10 days to go about it all. Going through the available options, rejecting most of them and finally finding the only way possible was a thinking of a level that only a person of the caliber of Intelligence Bureau could come up with.
This was a confidential mission and had to be done in a way that Pakistan would be caught unaware. How a case study from a friend helped in getting the idea, how the personnel involved in that case study eventually laid the foundation of execution, how the hijack was planned, executed, how the espionage was carried out successfully is all what this movie is about.
It's a brilliant story which ought to be told and celebrated. How 30 agents risk their all to enable India towards a possible triumph in a mission that had to be done in 10 days is shown quite briskly.
There have been references, nuances and instances to show how each party tries to outsmart the other. There's suspicion, there's vengeance, there's conviction, there's ways in which both India and Pakistan tend to show the potential that they have through their tactics.
I quite liked the manner of story telling here. This is a movie which wanted to show this, this and this. This is a movie which showed this, this and this only. No extra fuss, no add-ons etc. Editing is excellent, keeping us glued all through to cherish the accomplishment. Sandeep Francis deserves a lot of accolades for it all.
Direction and writing by Sankalp Reddy is quite good. The movie has its heart at the right place. Story is by Aditya Shastri and it makes for a beautiful cinematic viewing. It was a story based on 1971 hijacking and it deserved a mention for sure.
Dialogues have been written by Sahar Quaze and Junaid Wasi. Surely, some of the dialogues as expected land a punch. Also, there's a tad bit of humour too, which really does add to the flavour of the theme of the movie. I've liked the lyrics of Zikr, Uska Hi Banana and Bawra Mann and thus, to see Junaid Wasi write such beautiful dialogues here doesn't come as a surprise to me.
Just the 2nd Hindi movie but the cinematography by the experienced Gnana Shekar V. S. is top notch, especially the scenes in the aeroplane.
The only loophole or a small drawback would be the improper use of technology by the opposing country in the movie. That bit could have been more clinical.
Rest, the call trapping, listening to call recording, call divert, voice modulation, convincing through preaching about religion etc. Has been shown quite well.
Coming to the performances, Vidyut Jammwal as Dev, an IB agent is brilliant. He deserves and warrants a lot more attention. Vishal Jethwa as Qasim is sheer class. He has nailed the role completely. He impresses big time. Anupam Kher is okay in his role as IB Chief. Suvrat Joshi has screen presence and makes for some emotional moments. He has done really well. The get up and look of Dalip Tahil as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is beyond words and outstanding. Hobby Dhaliwal plays his part as Army chief of Pakistan with aplomb.
Coming to others, Niharica Raizada shows so much through her eyes and behaviour. She does a terrific job. Rest of the cast has been okay at best. But yes, the one who impressed me the most was one certain Ashwath Bhatt. What a performance! His appearance, dialogue delivery, portrayal of his character and the way he does it all was so convincing and brilliant.
All in all, IB71 is a story that I'm happy to have seen. I'm also impressed in the manner of showcasing it all on the big screen, keeping the viewers glued all through with a terrific manner of storytelling wherein we're shown only what's there to be shown. I would rate it 4/5.