Paltan Review – This film isn’t what you would expect.

Paltan is based on the Nathu La military clashes of 1967 which took place along the Sikkim border. The Goal of this film was to showcase an untold story of the Indian forces facing off in an intense battle to ward off a Chinese infiltration. Considering that, what one expects is intense drama, action, thrills and an adrenaline rush. True stories are usually filled with interesting characters and situation. I’m sure that the actual incident was worth telling via celluloid, but sadly, the film is flawed at many levels.

For one, the writing is very predictable, and repetitive. Through the back stories and certain emotional moments, we can predict who will live and who will die. We can sense the outcome by the way in which the emotional arcs are played out, since most of the moments have a very “Been there, done that” vibe. If one has seen a JP Dutta film before, then they would already know what to expect while watching this film, however this film lacks in intensity. The dialogues can also be quite filmi at times, and it doesn’t seem like the characters are talking to each other. It seems choreographed. Visually, this film is very simple. The entire film seems to take place in one outdoor location, which can limit the scope and visual diversity. It’s a much smaller film compared to other war films that we have seen.

In a JP Dutta film, the music usually stands out, but even that is a letdown.  Now to the acting. Arjun Rampal and Sonu Sood stand out. The rest are just ok.

Overall, this film misses the mark.

Rating: 2.5 stars