Sardar Ka Grandson Arjun Kapoor tribute to Salman and Sunny

Sardar Ka Grandson movie review

In a scene Kumud Mishra who plays a Pakistani diplomat comments, “ khud ko kya samjtahai, Sunny Deol ne pump ukhda tha, yeh pura ka pura ghar uthake le jaana chhata hai” (rough translation – god knows what he thinks of himself, Sunny Deol uprooted a water pump, he wants to uproot a whole house and take it away). Obviously, the talented actor is referringto the infamous water pump scene by Sunny Deol in the Bollywood’s 2001 record breaking, historic, ground-breaking action romance Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. So, add a quirk to that action romance based on India Pakistan partition, fill it with the emotions of Salman Khan’s BajrangiBhaijaan and add the mixture to the dough of a joint Punjabi Sikh family from Amritsar and cook it in Bollywood tandoor. Your Sardar Ka Grandson is ready.

Writer – director Kaashvi Nair in her debut as a feature film director along with her team of writers Anuja Chauhan and Amitosh Nagpal (dialogue) stick to the tried and trusted Bollywood family package revolving around an upper middle class/rich Punjabi family. It’s calculated and manipulated well to please the target audience.

Yes, there is a good sense of sincerity and warm in this manipulation, a fairy tale approach which works due to its moments that pulls the heartstrings.

The camaraderie between the grandson Arjun Kapoor and Sardar (grandmother) played by Neena Gupta is enjoyable and emotional.

Arjun also shares a good chemistry with Rakul Preet Singh.

Performance Flaws and Final Words

Performance

Neena Gupta as Sardar is exceptional. She is the heart of this family entertainer.

Arjun Kapoor is the body and this will be rated as amongst one of his best.

Rakul Preet Singh is fantastic and has her moments.

Kanwaljit Singh leaves his mark.

John Abraham as the young grandfather is fabulous.

Aditi Rao Hydari as the young Sardar is marvellous.

Kumud Mishra as the rigid Pakistani mayor is brilliant.

Good support comes from SoniRazdan, Divya Seth, Akashdeep Sabir, Rajiv Kachroo and Masood Akhtar.

Flaws

Sardar Ka Grandson pulls the heartstrings but fails to capture the bigger picture. Its mostly moves in one direction and its damn predictable. Needless to add the movie lacks the much-needed surprise moment and that sweeping emotional feeling.

Final words

At times when we are forced to stay at home due to the Covid – 19 pandemic which is threatening with its supposed third wave. This feel good and emotional family fairy tale is coming your home to offer some relief and joy as we wait our home coming (read normalcy).