Star-Studded Drama Fails to Connect Emotionally. Despite Promising Premise, Film Struggles to Deliver Impact
July 25, 2025: Jio Hotstar released the highly anticipated film ‘Sarzameen‘ directed by Kayoze Irani. The film stars Kajol, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Boman Irani, and Jitendra Joshi. The movie has a good idea, but early reviews say it doesn’t live up to its potential and doesn’t have the emotional impact it wants to have.
A Story About Family and Duty That Misses the Mark
“Sarzameen” is about Vijay Menon (Prithviraj Sukumaran), an Indian Army commander in Kashmir who has to make a difficult choice: he puts his national duty ahead of his kidnapped son, Harman (Ibrahim Ali Khan). Harman comes back eight years later, but he is a broken and transformed young man. The movie tries to deal with deep issues like sacrifice, family pain, and the tough decisions people have to make in war zones.
Critics mostly agree, nevertheless, that the execution feels “flat” and “distant,” even though the subject matter is heavy. People say that the emotional depth that such a story needs doesn’t happen, with surprises feeling unjustified and the climax seeming quick and perplexing instead of powerful.
Kajol plays Meher, the mother stuck between her husband and kid, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays Vijay, the troubled army commander. Both actors get a lot of praise for their powerful performances, which are often called “shining” in a “unsteady film.” Their representations of anguish, obligation, and quiet strength are some of the best parts.
However, it seems that the main area of disagreement is Ibrahim Ali Khan’s performance as Harman. Critics say he has a hard time showing how deeply his character is hurt and how much he changes, which makes his performance “stiff and distant” and ultimately hurts the film’s core. People can really feel how disconnected he is from his emotions, especially when he’s acting with experienced actors like Kajol and Prithviraj.
People say that director Kayoze Irani’s work is “too clean, too safe” and doesn’t have the “rawness” and “mess” that a story set in Kashmir and dealing with such heavy issues needed. People say the movie is too melodramatic and not emotional enough. They also say the songs are out of place and the action scenes aren’t realistic, such the “silly” bomb defusal scene at the end.
People say that “Sarzameen” had a “strong heart” since it had a good story, but it “didn’t know how to express it,” which meant it missed out on a chance. The movie brings up important issues like patriotism, love, and parental sacrifice, but it doesn’t go deep enough, so audiences aren’t touched.