"Pippa" Review: Despite Sincerity, Ishaan Khatter-Starrer Falls Short
The film "Pippa," starring Ishaan Khatter, attempts to capture the intensity of war but ends up being a frustrating experience. While a good war film immerses you in the chaos of battle, making you flinch at the impact of bullets, this film falls short, presenting menace as more of a caricature.
Balram Singh Mehta (Ishaan Khatter) is portrayed as a spoiled, brash, and insolent younger sibling from an army family. Set against the 1971 conflict that led to the creation of a free Bangladesh, "Pippa" follows Balram's journey amidst the war. Directed by Raja Krishna Menon and based on the book "The Burning Chaffees" by Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta, the film struggles to suspend disbelief, with action sequences feeling staged and lacking authenticity.
The film fares slightly better as a coming-of-age story for Balram, depicting his evolution from a headstrong youth to discovering the man within. Ishaan Khatter's portrayal is more convincing in these moments than when he is leading troops on the battlefield. The writing is inconsistent, with abrupt transitions and instances where character motivations seem unclear.
In one instance, Balram is disciplined by a senior officer, and in the next, he professes his love for Pippa. The film's attempt to showcase Balram's impulsive actions as daring and his subsequent transformation into a valiant soldier lacks depth. While the intention to bring the audience close to the harsh realities of war is clear, the execution falls short.
The capture and torture of Balram's brother, Ram (played by Priyanshu Painyuli), lacks the intended menace, coming off more as a caricature. Despite Painyuli's strong performance, the film struggles to evoke the emotional impact necessary for a war drama. Supporting characters, such as Mrunal Thakur's code-breaking sister and Soni Razdan, feel generic and underutilized.
In essence, "Pippa" is a film marked by sincere intentions but hindered by its inability to deliver a truly immersive war experience and maintain consistency in storytelling.
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