Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Review: Randeep Hooda serves up a concocted and glorified yet dull version of alternate history

MUMBAI : To say that Savarkar was the most polarizing figure in India's history of its freedom struggle would actually be a misappropriation of facts. The evidence is splattered far and wide for anyone bothered to look into real history and why there's a glaring question mark both over his credentials as a freedom fighter as also his moniker, preceding his name. To say that Randeep Hooda's debut directorial is bothered about such peripheral things as real history and facts would actually be a misappropriation of his debut directorial, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar.

Leaving such matters concerned with facts and history aside, Hooda has just made an interminably dull and soporific film. If the first half leaves you scratching your scalp in confusion over what's happening, with multiple jump cuts, a highly uneven narrative, and the most abrupt editing in recent memory; then the second half takes forever to reach its denouement, plagued by long-drawn-out monologues and repetitive plot elements, which aim to remould both its eponymous subject and our sleep pattern.

It's not like the film shines in other technical or creative aspects, too, with the camerawork, lighting, background score, and production design all being lackluster while the acting, headed by Randeep Hooda himself, appearing caricaturish, concerned more with playing to the gallery rather than imbuing life into the characters.

The only one who does justice to her part is Ankita Lokhande, leaving a mark despite a small and under-cooked role. Other than her, the makeup and costumes merit mention as do two to three scenes that hit you with relevance. If only the rest of everything that's been assembled was in the least bothered with that little thing called relevance. Heck, forget Savarkar, even Gandhi and Bose have had to bear the brunt of Hooda's wild imagination.

There's no two ways of putting it: If you enjoy your history diluted or would rather get swayed in propaganda then Veer Savarkar is the movie for you. Otherwise, stay far away.

1.5/5 stars