276. Sajjan Singh Rangroot; movie review

SAJJAN SINGH RANGROOT
Cert 12A
138 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate battle violence, injury detail

There is no doubt that the bravery of Sikh soldiers during the First World War deserves recognition but there should be no cutting corners with such an important subject.
Pankaj Batra's Sajjan Singh Rangroot has entirely laudable aims but unnecessarily plays fast and loose with history.
Indeed, its opening half hour is so sloppy I could not understand which war was its focus.
The befuddlement was heightened by the movie's trailer which refers to Neville Chamberlain announcing war (his statement was in 1939 not 1914 which turns out to be the subject here).
Fortunately, by the time the film reaches its finale, its makers have their ducks in a row so the spotlight is firmly on the action rather than distractions.
Punjabi screen hero Diljit Dosanjh plays the title role of a spirited young man who joins the Indian British army despite being angry at the manner in which his country is being governed.
He and his colleagues are forced to endure racism as they train for action alongside their British counterparts.
I fully accept such taunts would have taken place but I cannot understand why the British are portrayed in such a hackneyed way, so typical of Indian cinema.
Studios should employ British consultants who can advise them when history goes off-beam or when British accents or acting are astray.
Instead we are left with stilted nonsense being delivered by actors who look as if they must have had tuition in being shop window mannequins.
I digress.
Sajjan Singh Rangroot really grabs when it turns to the Western front and the Sikhs show their mettle on the frontline.
Yograj Singh stars as the leader of the Lahore division who fight with great honour despite their disaffection for the British.
They show people from the Punjab as fierce but loyal - particularly to each other.
Theirs is a story worth telling and the cast portray it with passion but it is a pity that their film didn't have the finesse which it deserves.

Reasons to watch: Highlights the fighting spirit of Sikhs
Reasons to avoid: Plays a bit loose with history and its awful English acting

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 6/10

The big question - Why do Indian film studios care so little about the quality of British actors?

Share this post