“Pippa,” featuring Ishaan Khatter and Priyanshu Painyuli, ventures into the tale of two brothers, Major Ram Mehta (Priyanshu Painyuli) and Captain Balram Singh Mehta (Ishaan Khatter), set against the backdrop of the 1971 war that led to the liberation of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. While the film manages to assemble a compelling premise, the execution falters, leaving the audience yearning for a more nuanced exploration of the characters and their relationships.
The narrative opens with the introduction of the Mehta family, a military clan deeply dedicated to serving the country. The elder brother, Major Ram, embodies strictness, while the younger, Captain Balram, is portrayed as the mischievous one. The initial act, dedicated to character introduction, stretches a bit too long without adding substantial details. However, as the brothers are summoned for the 1971 war, the plot gains momentum, setting the stage for the crux of the story.
Script Analysis: Adapting Captain Balram Singh Mehta’s war memoir, “The Burning Chaffees,” the script by Ravinder Randhawa, Tanmay Mohann, and Raja Krishna Menon attempts to blend two distinct films into one. Unfortunately, only one of these narrative threads proves to be engaging. The emotional connections between the characters are half-baked, and the war-focused storyline serves as a redeeming factor, though not entirely.
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The script seems to have merged significant events from Captain Balram Singh Mehta’s story with another based on actual events from the 1971 war. While mixing stories isn’t inherently problematic, the execution falls short of being intriguing. The lack of chemistry between the brothers makes it challenging for the audience to empathize with their journey, ultimately affecting the emotional resonance of the film.
The choice of the title, “Pippa,” may perplex viewers, and the film fails to provide a satisfactory explanation or significance to the tank named ‘Pippa.’ Despite featuring fight sequences involving the tank, the lazy action choreography undermines the potential thrills that could have accompanied such scenes.
Star Performances: Ishaan Khatter, a talented actor, delivers a performance that, while commendable, falls into monotony. As Captain Balram Singh Mehta, his portrayal lacks the overall finesse needed to bring the character to life. While the phase of Balram’s life portrayed in the film may justify the underplayed performance, there’s a sense that something is missing in Khatter’s portrayal.
In contrast, Priyanshu Painyuli excels as Major Ram Mehta. His mature and nuanced portrayal of the elder brother stands out, showcasing Painyuli’s incredible acting prowess. The potential emotional depth between the two brothers is overshadowed by a script that fails to explore their relationship beyond surface-level conflicts and revelations.
Mrunal Thakur’s portrayal of Radha, the sister, lacks depth and a compelling backstory. The character, seemingly thrown into the narrative without much development, leaves the audience questioning the relevance of her role. Soni Razdan, in the role of the emotional mother, fails to evoke the desired sympathy from the viewers.
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Supporting actors Chandrachoor Rai and Anuj Singh Duhan, playing Balli’s friends and seniors, manage to infuse authenticity into their roles, portraying typical army men effectively. However, a brief sequence featuring Kamal Sadanah as Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Flora David Jacob as Indira Gandhi lacks the impact it could have had with better writing and performances.
“Pippa” presents a promising premise that struggles to reach its full potential due to script deficiencies. While Ishaan Khatter and Priyanshu Painyuli’s performances hold moments of brilliance, the film falls short in exploring the complexities of their characters and their intertwined relationships. The dual narrative, attempting to merge emotional storytelling with war drama, results in an uneven cinematic experience. Despite its shortcomings, “Pippa” may find an audience among those intrigued by historical war dramas, but it leaves a lingering sense of missed opportunities in its execution.
