Pippa Review: Ishaan Khatter starrer is a fresh take on mundane war genre

Ishaan Khatter starrer Pippa is a breath of fresh air as it steers clear of stereotypical treatment of a war film and instead focuses on delivering a heartwarming tale of camaraderie between brothers in arms and simultaneously manages to evoke sympathy for war-displaced refugees.

Even though the narrative of the film is not as fluid as it could have been and there are pacing issues, Pippa has its heart in the right place and makes for a rewarding watch as it offers a glimpse into the history of India and how the country took a stand in a war for the liberation of another country and redefine what it means to be a hero.

Hot Take

Pippa is a retelling of the 1971 Indo-Pak war. It recounts a landmark moment in history, the Battle of Garibpur which was pivotal in Bangladesh’s struggle for Independence and how Indian soldiers foiled attempts of West Pakistan to perpetrate atrocities on Bengali Muslims. On the backdrop of it all is a family of three siblings-- Captain Balram Mehta (Ishaan Khatter), Captain Ram Mehta (Priyanshu Painyuli) and Radha Mehta (Mrunal Thakur) who went to war for the country.

The toll that war takes on lives is the aspect that Pippa focusses on and succeeds in putting across. In the opening scene, uniformed men enter a protest area and open fire on those gathered. This sets the bleak tone that the narrative takes on. Director Raja Krishna Menon goes off the beaten track and chooses to explore the emotional quotient of army men instead of bravado of those on the war lines. This helps viewers immerse themselves in the story and invest in it more than on a surface level. In ways, it succeeds where Sidharth Malhotra fronted Shershaah did.  

Does Pippa live up to the hype?

Pippa was originally set for a theatrical release but premiered on OTT instead. In many ways, it has the elements of a big-screen release. The cinematography of the film is very ambitious and the camera captures the vistas of the battlefield effectively. The CGI of blast sequences is also laudworthy and never appears as shoddy. It could also explain the time it took for the team to deliver the final product, which is seamless and worthy of a theatrical experience, even though it landed on streaming.

The real hero of the film is its emotions and its core idea, that of choosing humanity over war. The essence of this is wrapped in the film's protagonist Captain Balram Mehta, who aims to live and die for his battalion. The jingoism associated with war films is kept aside and brotherhood becomes the focal point. At first, Balram is a misfit in his battalion and at home and is viewed by all as a rebel. A part of his "don't care" attitude stems from the constant disapproval and derision he faces within his family. However, he undergoes a transformative journey throughout the film's runtime and emerges from an underdog to a war hero.

Ishaan's realistic portrayal of an army personnel who battles self-doubt and conflicting opinions on war efforts is noteworthy. His views are also in line with anti-war and pro-peace narrative, which also breaks away from war films in the past. The character is grounded in reality and Ishaan does a good of bringing his dilemma and eventual affirmation to the forefront.

As opposed to Ishaan, the screentime of Priyanshu Painyuli and Mrunal Thakur is limited but they fit the bill and carry forward the narrative without hiccups. AR Rahman's music is soothing in parts but the soundscape is mostly diegetic to emphasize realism.

Stream it or skip it?  

Pippa is a must-watch war film. Not only does it make a sincere effort to highlight the futility of war, but also manages to deliver the message home. While a war tale, Pippa also moonlights as a coming-of-age story for Ishaan Khatter's character. There's more to the film than the bloodshed on the battlefield. While it fails to build the tempo and tension that accompany a high-stakes narrative like this, it does justice to its efforts.  

Bottomline

Pippa's freshness is its biggest plus. While most of the side characters fade into the backdrop, it does deliver a viewing experience that is worth witnessing with your family.

Stars: 3.5/5 stars