Writer/Director: John Matthew Matthan
Starring: Aamir Khan, Naseeruddin Shah and Sonai Bendre
Few actors in Bollywood are as celebrated today as Aamir Khan. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Khan has proven to be one of the greatest actors in Bollywood. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers, terrorists in danger or professional wrestlers, Khan has suggested he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s strength as an actor is his bravery. Khan has never been afraid to take risks in his career through tackling subjects that prove controversial. Through abilities to play characters which are compelling, Khan has established a legacy which has proven to be compelling. Despite reaching the age of retirement, Khan has never lost his strong passion for producing iconic entertainment. An iconic legend in India, Khan has become a celebrated legend in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a groundbreaking career, Khan has created several strong movies that are worth watching.
I’m a big fan of Khan and adore all the films which he has made in his career. However, “Sarfarosh” stands out as being his most underrated work. Released in 1999, John Matthew Matthan’s film offered a powerful portrait of terrorism. Packed with stunning production, engaging storytelling and bold acting, it’s a terrific terrorism drama. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Aamir Khan, who portrays a courageous cop facing tension. Although “Sarfarosh” is a terrific terrorism drama, it isn’t an entirely flawless movie. It builds to a heavy-handed ending without resolutions. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment which would satisfy fans of Aamir Khan.
“Sarfarosh” tells the story of a vengeful cop that seeks to battle terrorism in a city which faces disaster. Aamir Khan plays ACP Ajay Singh Rathore, a dedicated cop with strong devotions towards his profession. Ajay has always excelled at resolving the crime in his city which comes with a painful price to pay. However, Ajay’s life forever changes when he is tasked to track down a terrorist leader. Gulfam Hassan (Naseeruddin Shah) is an evil terrorist that is driven to destroy a city facing destruction. As all the odds become stacked against his favour, Ajay questions his abilities to become a successful police officer.
John Matthew Mathan is a newcomer to the stories of terrorism. Before he has directed “Sarfarosh”, Mathan had never made a film about terrorism in his career. It marked the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture lives of terrorists facing adversity but he succeeded tremendously. Using bold cinematography, Mathan captures a cop embarking upon a journey to solve terrorism in his doomed city. Evoking Yash Chopra’s “Deewaar”, Mathan effectively uses montages to capture cops seeking to solve crimes with a high bar. For instance, montages enhance the terrorism fight scene. During this memorable scene, Ajay investigates a case of terrorism in his doomed city causing tension. Using strong montages, Mathan created a portrayal of terrorism that’s compelling. Montages are complex techniques to employ in movies. As Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai” claimed, montages elevate Bollywood movies about friendships. Nevertheless, it works extremely in this film. Using stunning visuals, Mathan captures the hardships which terrorists are facing.
Another strong aspect of “Sarfarosh” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the finest Bollywood movies you will ever see. Evoking John McTiernan’s “Die Hard”, Mathan uses cross-cutting to construct action which is engaging. For instance, the cross-cutting enhances the terrorism fight scene. During this intense scene, Ajay has a confrontation with menacing terrorists that cause tension. Using cross-cutting, Mathan creates action sequences that are engaging. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing a heavy burden which cops battling terrorists bear. Using strong production, Mathan captures cops on a mission.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Sarfarosh” is a Bollywood film that’s fully engrossing. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture the tensions that hunted terrorists experience. For instance, silence elevates the terrorist conviction scene. During this intense scene, Ajay witnesses terrorists being caught for crimes in a state of silence. Through use of silence, Mathan crafts a portrait of terrorism which audiences can relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Aamir Khan’s “Taare Zameen Par” demonstrated, silence enhances movies about intellectual disability. Nevertheless, it works well in this film. Through a strong screenplay, Mathan captures terrorists in India that experience a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Aamir Khan delivers one of his best career performances as Ajay. Khan earned praise for portraying romantic heroes in Bollywood movies. With “Sarfarosh”, however, he took upon his most complex role. It isn’t simple to portray a cop seeking to battle terrorists in a doomed city, but he succeeds immensely. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and utterly emotional in his most complex role. Through meaningful expressions, he captures angst, bravery and grief of a cop embarking upon missions. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most celebrated actors working in Bollywood today.
While the film is mainly a strong showcase for Aamir Khan, the supporting cast is also amazing and worthy of recognition. Sonali Bendre is spectacular, capturing the fierce personality of a woman that’s determined to solve crime in her city. Naseeruddin Shah is superb, capturing charisma of a terrorist on a mission to commit bombings which cause trauma. Lastly, Mukesh Rishi merits praise. As a determined cop, he is unforgettable.
Although “Sarfarosh” is a riveting terrorism drama, it isn’t a flawless movie. If there is a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks an engaging ending. It’s an ambiguous ending without a satisfying resolutions that fails to bring the film to a conclusion. Whereas this political conclusion elevated Kunal Kohli’s “Fanaa”, it clashes with the tone of this film. At worst, it perpetuates stereotypes about terrorism that aren’t entirely true to reality. Therefore, “Sarfarosh” can’t quite capture cops audiences adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Aamir Khan will enjoy “Sarfarosh” and so would audiences which seek meaningful entertainment. A stunning Bollywood crime drama, it honours an actor with charisma.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about a cop with wisdom on a mission to eradicate terrorism, it’s a riveting reminder about an actor that has created memorable movies throughout his career which have achieved immense stardom.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 