Tejas Movie Review
Tejas Gill (Kangana Ranaut), whose father is an aeronautical engineer, has been named after the indigenous fighter plane developed by our armed forces. She had grown up idolising the bravehearts who fly our fighter planes and years to be a combat pilot herself. The film begins with her rescuing a fellow pilot lost at sea, countermanding a direct order of non-interference, she, along with fellow officer Afiya (Anshul Chauhan), do a commendable job but are slated to be court-martialed for insubordination. Before their trial, however, they come to know that their fellow cadet at the academy (Vishak Nair), has been caught as a spy in Pakistan. They ask for a chance to rescue him and are granted permission. Tejas comes up with a plan involving a Norwegian cargo plane and using stealth technology, she smuggles two fighter planes in Pakistan. While in Pakistan, Afiya and Tejas come to know that plans are afoot to bomb the recently inaugurated Ram temple in Ayodhya. The timely relay of facts helps our commandos foil that dastardly scheme.
The narration of the film goes back and forth in time. We get to meet Tejas’ romantic interest Ekveer (Varun Mitra), a singer who gets killed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks. We also get to hear an impassioned essay by Tejas about what it means to be a soldier. It's a homage to the bravery of our soldiers and Kangana’s rendition is quite passionate and believable.
The film is high on ambition but low on execution. The core of flying action films is the accurate portal of aerial combat. The aerial choreography in the present film leaves much to be desired. Whether it is the scenes involving choppers or fighter jets, you don't get the same kind of thrills that you see in Hollywood films. The manner in which Tejas and Afiya are able to fool Pakistani personnel is hilarious indeed. It feels like they're dealing with kindergarten kids, rather than hardened soldiers. In the climax, Indian flyers are seen fighting Pakistani pilots over Pakistan airspace. That's tantamount to an act of war. But no diplomatic furore takes place. The CGI is strictly functional. It doesn’t give you the feel of watching something extraordinary.
There’s distinct camaraderie between Kangana and Anshul Thakur. She gets some comic scenes and has her moment in the sun during combat sequences as well. Varun Mitra has been given an eye candy role and embraces it gracefully. The film is a Kangana Ranaut vehicle. She’s a committed actress who is known to give her all to the role and does so here as well. She comes across as a plucky, resourceful combat pilot and does all that’s required of her with panache. But lack of a coherent screenplay stymies her efforts.
Summing up, while Tejas is a valiant attempt towards championing inclusion of women in combat roles, the half-baked nature of the film cushions the impact of its message.
Trailer : Tejas
Dhaval Roy, October 27, 2023, 2:41 PM IST
Story: An Indian Air Force fighter pilot is on a daring mission to rescue a hostage from terrorists. The kidnap is also related to an impending attack on India. Will the protagonist and her co-pilot save the nation?
Review: The thriller draws inspiration from the milestone decision of 2016 when the Indian Air Force welcomed women into combat positions. The movie’s protagonist, Tejas Gill (Kangana Ranaut), is one such pilot who storms the male bastion, eager to fly a fighter plane and serve the nation. Sharp and brave, she persuades her seniors to send her on a mission to rescue a hostage, along with her co-pilot Afia (Anshul Chauhan). The film is about Tejas’s derring-do, love for the country, and whether she succeeds in her effort.
Seeing two women in the thick of things instead of traditional roles is refreshing. Their brains and bravery are their weapons; seeing them in action will convince you they can pull off this feat. Writer-director Sarvesh Mewara has turned the tables as men have only supporting roles as the love interest or dudes in distress whom Tejas rescues. While a welcome change, the narrative, and Tejas’s bravura go overboard. Instances like the tug-of-war with a male pilot, bashing up a goon, and being attacked by Aboriginal tribals seem forced and excessive.
Keeping track of the timelines gets challenging as the narrative switches between the past and the present. As the story builds up, sequences seem abrupt, and one wishes for a more cohesive screenplay. That being said, things turn thrilling once the main rescue operation begins, and the movie offers some high-octane action scenes. However, a parallel track of an impending terrorist attack proves to be distracting.
Director of Photography Hari K Vedantam presents a visually appealing fare and efficiently captures the airstrikes, flights, and fight sequences in the deserts. The movie scores high in the action department, which Kangana Ranaut pulls off with elan. The actress looks every bit like a fighter pilot and performs action as effortlessly as emotional scenes. Anshul Chauhan, as her loud but supportive and loyal co-pilot, is impressive. Shashwat Sachdev’s music is a highlight, especially Jaan Da rendered by Arijit Singh, the energetic Ranjhana, and the victory anthem, Aag Udi.
Tejas may appeal to fans of patriotic movies and defence dramas. But a better story and a tighter screenplay would have made the movie more impactful.
