Sam Bahadur (film)

Sam Bahadur (stylised as SAMबहादुर ; ) is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language biographical war drama film based on the life of India's first field marshal, Sam Manekshaw. It is directed by Meghna Gulzar who co wrote with Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Srivastava. Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, under the banner of RSVP Movies. It stars Vicky Kaushal in the title role, alongside Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Neeraj Kabi, Edward Sonnenblick and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub.

The film was released on 1 December 2023 and it earned inr 1281699999.9999998 worldwide. At the 69th Filmfare Awards, the film received eight nominations, including Best Film (Critics), Best Actor and Best Actor (Critics) (both for Kaushal).

Plot
In 1934, Cadet Sam Manekshaw is amongst the first batch of gentleman cadets to be trained at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun; amongst his batchmates is his junior-rival, Tikka Khan. Graduating from the academy that year, he is posted as a second lieutenant to the 12th Frontier Force Regiment, Ferozpur. Soon after his appointment, he meets Siloo Bode, whom he later marries. In 1942, during the Second World War, Manekshaw, promoted to the acting rank of major, is sent with the regiment to participate in the Burma campaign. During the Battle of Sittang Bridge, he is wounded in action but survives and is awarded the Military Cross for gallantry.

In 1947, amidst the partition of the British Indian Army, Major Manekshaw is approached to join the Pakistan Army by his colleague, Yahya Khan; he chooses the Indian Army instead. Upon independence, discord emanates between the two countries over the sovereignty of Kashmir. In October 1947, Pakistan launches its military campaign to capture the region. In response, Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and home minister Vallabhbhai Patel dispatch Manekshaw and V. P. Menon to Kashmir; they succeed in securing the accession of Kashmir to India. India counter-attacks, but the war concludes in a stalemate.

In 1959, Manekshaw, now a major general and Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, is approached by defence minister V. K. Krishna Menon and Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Brij Mohan Kaul of his opinion on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. K. S. Thimayya. Manekshaw, interpreting their actions as political interference, rebuffs them. However, Kaul conspires to stop Manekshaw's upcoming promotion by orchestrating a court-martial on the basis of impropriety; nevertheless, but Manekshaw is exonerated by his superiors.

In 1962, the Sino-Indian War erupts, leading to the army being trounced by the Chinese; Kaul resigns while Nehru dismisses Menon. On the advice of Indira Gandhi, Nehru has Manekshaw promoted to lieutenant-general and assigns him as commanding officer of the IV Corps, Tezpur. He proposes an advance, but Nehru, forlorn from defeat, refuses; Indira intercedes in Manekshaw's favour. By 1963, Manekshaw manages to re-rally his troops in the North-East Frontier Agency. In 1964, Nehru dies, and Manekshaw is promoted as general commanding officer of the Eastern Command; two years later, Indira is appointed prime minister. Between 1965 and 1967, Manekshaw involves himself in the anti-insurgency operations against the Mizo National Front, for which he earns the Padma Bhushan.

In 1969, with discord amongst the Bengalis in East Pakistan rising, Yahya, now a general, is made Pakistan's president; elsewhere, Manekshaw is appointed as the Indian Army's next COAS and promoted to general as well. In 1970, the East Pakistan-based Awami League sweep Pakistan's general elections, however Yahya refuses to cede power to them, resulting in anti-government protests across Pakistan. In response, Yahya authorises Tikka, now a lieutenant-general, to initiate Operation Searchlight – a massive anti-Bengali pogrom, which he executes with ruthless efficiency. Considering the situation, Indira favours war, but Manekshaw opposes it, highlighting the army's hindrances; she agrees to wait. The U.S. warns Indira against war, but she rebuffs them. The army is mobilised and begins training the Mukti Bahini.

On 3 December 1971, Pakistan strikes first, launching pre-emptive attacks on Indian territory. India immediately responds with counter-attacks in Pakistan's western and eastern sectors. The opposing armies witness profound clashes, with Pakistan bearing numerous casualties on land, sea and air in both sectors. By 16 December, the Pakistani troops in the east, overwhelmed, surrender to the Eastern Command – ending the war. The conclusion cedes a political triumph to Indira while Yahya resigns from the humiliation of defeat. With Manekshaw's retirement approaching, Indira has him to be promoted to the rank of field-marshal in recognition of his wartime leadership; he proudly retires in January 1973.

Development
In 2017 Meghna Gulzar narrated the story of the biopic on Sam Manekshaw to Kaushal at the sets of Raazi which she planned to make her next film. Kaushal impressed by the idea decided that he would play the character. She then went for years of extensive research and writing collaborating with Bhavani Iyer and Shantanu Srivastava, also meeting with family members of Sam Manekshaw. The film marks the second collaboration between Gulzar and Kaushal. In 2021, the film was announced by RSVP Movies on the 107th birth anniversary of late Sam Manekshaw.

Sam Bahadur was filmed with real Indian army soldiers.

Casting
In December 2021, Shaikh and Malhotra joined the cast, marking their second collaboration after their debut film, Dangal. Kabi joined the cast in September 2022 to portray the role of Jawaharlal Nehru marking his second collaboration with Gulzar after Talvar. Kaushal has gone through extensive training in the army under the guidance of the Indian Army's 6 Sikh Regiment in preparing for his role. Kaushal in an interview with Film Companion revealed that the character would be his toughest onscreen role to date. The film will not have junior artists and instead real-life army personnel and people from the Defence Force have been cast.

Filming
The Principal photography commenced on 8 August 2022. The film was shot over two years in 13 locations in India covering four decades of the life of Sam Manekshaw. Filming took place in Mumbai, Pune, Jodhpur, Pataudi, Chandigarh, Ooty, Dehradun, Kolkata, Patiala, Srinagar, Pahalgam, and Delhi. The team wrapped on 14 March 2023.

Music
The music of the film was composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy while the lyrics are written by Gulzar. Background score is composed by Ketan Sodha. The first single titled "Badhte Chalo" was released on 13 November 2023. The second single titled "Banda" released on 22 November 2023.

Theatrical
The film was theatrically released on 1 December 2023, clashing with Ranbir Kapoor's Animal.

Home media
The film premiered on ZEE5 on 26 January 2024.

Critical reception
Sam Bahadur received mixed reviews from critics.

Catherine Bray of The Guardian rated the film 3 stars and stated "It's a perennial problem for biopics; how to give events the momentum of fiction when the underlying narrative is fact."

Subhash K. Jha of Times Now rated 3.5 stars out of 5, critisied "I am afraid Vicky Kaushal, a reasonably talented actor, is not equal to the task. ... But mimicking the original doesn’t quite amount to a comprehensive character creation." Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave a rating 2.5/5 and wrote "It's hard to play a character so closely without becoming a caricature, but Kaushal becomes Sam Bahadur." Sukanya Verma of Rediff.com gave a rating of 2.5/5 and wrote, "Nothing that the movie tells isn't already available in the public domain." Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day expressed "Vicky Kaushal is the last person I’d imagine as playing Manekshaw." Shekhar gave 3 stars to the movie and wrote "The trivia that follows is the film. Messing with no known facts, one bit. Only detailing them as they’re widely known." Anuj Kumar of The Hindu stated "The film critiques the relationship between the politicians and the military." Reviewing for Hindustan Times, Prannay Pathak spotted the music of the movie is underperforming. Pathak wrote "The film’s music is loud, distracting and unmelodious (the war anthem Badhte Chalo is unbelievably insipid and inelegant), which is surprising considering Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s obvious musical prowess and the trio’s last fabulous collaboration with Gulzar, Raazi." Anusha Sundar for The New Indian Express reviewed and wrote "Sam Bahadur is unfortunately apathetic to both its protagonist and the audience." Devesh Sharma of Filmfare rated the movie 3.5/5 stars and observed "Vicky Kaushal channels his inner Dev Anand to play the title character."

Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in observed "The greatest hits approach leans on recorded history rather than compelling fiction for dramatic momentum." Pratikshya Mishra of The Quint commented "Sam Bahadur is relegated to the ranks of a simple biography." Tatsam Mukherjee of The Wire stated "Sam Bahadur is a painfully ‘safe’ film that is in much awe of its protagonist..."

Writing a review for Rediff.com, Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain praised Meghna Gulzar's effort and stated "You have to grant it to Meghna's research team and those sourcing military hardware for the film." Filmmaker Karan Johar also wrote his review praising Meghna Gulzar,"My dearest Meghna Gulzar is on top of her game and committed to telling the story with researched precision and ultimate conviction! Biggest hug to her!My love to the entire cast and crew."

Box office
The film was released alongside Animal on 1 December 2023. On its first day, the film collected ₹6.25 crore, the second day ₹9 crore and the third day ₹10.30 crore. The film has earned inr 1106900000 in India and inr 174800000 in overseas for a worldwide gross collection of inr 1281699999.9999998.