“Ae Watan Mere Watan” aims to go into a watershed moment in Indian history, the Quit India campaign of 1942. The film follows Usha Mehta, played by Sara Ali Khan, as she navigates the tumultuous waters of opposition to British control. Despite its appealing idea, the film fails to deliver on several fronts.
Plot and Characters
The film follows Usha Mehta, the daughter of a barrister who opposes her participation in the independence struggle. Usha, along with her pals Kaushik and Fahad (Abhay Verma and Sparsh Srivastav), goes on a journey to fight British oppression by using radio as an instrument of rebellion. While the plot has the ability to attract spectators, it falls short because to its uninspired character development and lacked writing.
Missed opportunities
One of the fundamental flaws of “Ae Watan Mere Watan” is its inability to bring to life an important time of Indian history. Despite the multitude of cinematic adaptations from this era, the film fails to provide anything new or intriguing. From the dialogue to the overall presentation, the film feels like a retread of known cliches, leaving viewers wanting more substance.
Performance
Sara Ali Khan’s portrayal of Usha Mehta falls flat, with her performance overshadowed by a mediocre storyline and uninteresting character development. The outfit and look choices for her character appear to dominate her presence on screen, detracting from any possible depth she may have brought to the role. In contrast, Sparsh Srivastav impresses as Fahad, giving a compelling performance that elevates the film despite its flaws. His portrayal of a polio-infected revolutionary strikes a chord with viewers, demonstrating a quiet but heartfelt patriotism that stands out among the film’s mediocrity.
Supporting Cast
The supporting cast contains outstanding actors like Emraan Hashmi and Anand Tiwari, their roles feel underdeveloped and lack depth. Hashmi’s portrayal of Ram Manohar Lohia has promise, but it ultimately falls short due to ambiguous characterization and limited screen time. Similarly, Tiwari’s part as a radio engineer fails to demonstrate his entire range as an actor, limiting him to little more than a prop in the story.
Direction & Cinematography
Director Kanan Iyer’s idea for “Ae Watan Mere Watan” fails to translate successfully to the screen, resulting in a disorganized and uninteresting viewing experience. The film’s cinematography fails to convey the essence of the era, instead focusing on generic pictures that do little to engage viewers in the tale. Furthermore, the film’s pacing is uneven, with some sequences dragging on while others lack depth and emotional resonance.
Film Details:
Title: Ae Watan Mere Watan
Director: Kanan Iyer
Cast: Sara Ali Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Sparsh Srivastav, Abhay Verma, Sachin Khedekar, Anand Tiwari, Alexx O’Nell
Rating: 1.5/5
-Nithika