Review : Swatantrya Veer Savarkar : A brutally honest piece of recent history!

In the last few years a name which is tossed around in controversies by couple of major political parties is #VinayakDamodarSavarkar. One is hailing his stand of #Hindutva while the other one is tarnishing his name as the betrayer. In #MaharashtraSavarkar is hailed as an ultimate freedom fighter and he has been known as #SwatantrayVeerSavarkar. He started his freedom struggle against #Britishrule way back in 1903. His brother #GaneshSavarkar too was into freedom struggle and they had started #AbhinavBharatSociety, an underground revolutionary organization to dethrone the ruthless British empire in India. In a recently released film, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, which is directed, co-produced, co-written by Randeep Hooda who has also reprised the role of V D Savarkar. The film may answer a question as to why Indian Congress hates Savarkar.

The film, Swatantrya Veer Savarkar, starts with Savarkar’s childhood and showcases his tumultous journey of freedom fight. He was the most feared revolutionary by the British and they tried to crush his powerful thoughts by torturing his physically. He had studied law in England so that he can use it against Britishers’ viscious misdeeds. He was all for armed revolution and Britishers were vary of this ‘Bomb Golawala’. And that’s the reason he and MK Gandhi never got along. Savarkar was accused of multiple conspiracy theories but he had to be acquitted by the courts, though after a passage of long time, as there were no direct evidences. The film touches many incidents from India’s freedom struggle including involving personalities like, MK Gandhi, Nehru, Bhagat Singh, Babasaheb Ambedkar among others. Savarkar spent almost three decades in the jail, including cellular jail in Andaman which was referred to as Kala Pani. But Savarkar’s grit and determination was always on top despite he was brutally assaulted by the British servants. His Hindutva was accomodative and had nothing to do with religion. He was accused of being a part of Gandhi’s killing and was also imprisoned.

Swatantrya Veer Savarkar brings about the stark realities to the light. The writing is strong but the screenplay tries to cover almost everything at one go which makes the film tedious watch for viewers. It blatantly accuses the Congress and Gandhi’s stand on freedom fight by cooperating with the British. The film’s runtime is almost three hours, which too is a deterrent. It’s Randeep Hooda’s directorial debut, but this subject needed a mature and experienced hand. The production values are passable and the scenes formation depicts pecuniary problems. But the film has a big heart and the authenticity and factual information make one look away from the lacunaes present in the film. Music is passable.

Randeep Hooda has earlier done biopics, like, Sarabjit (Sarabjit), Main Aur Charles (Charles Sobhraj), Rang Rasiya (Raja Ravi Varma). But playing Vinayak Damodar Savarjar in Swatantrya Veer Savarkar looks special. He has excelled the portrayal with impeccable physicality and mentality. He makes viewers believe that he is Savarkar. If he would have avoided directing this movie, the impactness of the role would have gone notches higher. Ankita Lokhande is good as Savarkar’s wife. The authenticity of her look is commendable and she has underplayed the character beautifully despite having limited screen time. Others, including, Rajesh Khera (MK Gandhi), Amit Sial (Ganesh Savarkar), have done a marvelous job.

Swatantrya Veer Savarkar is a brutally honest film and Randeep Hooda shines as Savarkar.

Rating : ***1/2