India Classic Arts and Transindia Media’s Azad Bharath (UA) is the story of freedom fighter Neera Arya who joins India’s first women’s army, founded by Subhas Chandra Bose. It highlights untold stories from India’s independence movement and talks of courage and patriotism.
Neera Arya (Roopa Iyer) marries Shrikant Ranjan Das (Priyanshu Chatterjee). While Shrikant works as an informer for the Britishers, Neera loves India and wants to serve the country. Shrikant has been assigned the task of passing on inside information about India to the Britishers as they want to arrest Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. For this reason, Neera and Shrikant are constantly fighting and they ultimately separate. Neera’s father, Chajjuram (Suresh Oberoi), is also a patriot and he, too, wants to serve the country.
After separating from Shrikant, Neera joins Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauj. Ladies have all along abstained from joining Netaji’s Fauj. Neera takes it upon herself to get together like-minded women and she forms a group. Netaji makes Neera the chief of the women’s wing. Since Neera and Shrikant are working for two diametrically opposite purposes, a time comes when Neera kills Shrikant. By the by, Neera is arrested by the British. But Neera refuses to tell the Britishers about Subhas Chandra Bose’s whereabouts. In fact, she prefers to lay down her life rather than spilling the beans on Netaji.
Roopa Iyer and Rajendra Rajan have penned a story and screenplay, which do not have much engagement value. Since it is about a small chapter from the history of pre-Independence India, and also because it is about a chapter so far back in time, it doesn’t have much appeal for the viewers. Even otherwise, the drama fails to entertain the audience. Yes, it does have some scenes in which the viewers’ patriotic feelings are aroused, but for the rest, the drama is too routine. The duo’s dialogues are good at places only.
Roopa Iyer performs well as Neera Arya. Shreyas Talpade does justice to the character of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Priyanshu Chatterjee is okay as Shrikant Ranjan Das. Suresh Oberoi is adequate as Chajjuram. Hitha Chandrashekhar is average as Durga. Indira Tiwari is so-so in the role of Rajmani. Suchendra Prasad, Subhash Chandra and Vyjayanath Biradar pass muster. Others fit the bill.
Roopa Iyer’s direction is routine. Gautam Srivatsa and Sanjay S. Yadav’s music is more functional than anything else. Sameer Anjaan’s lyrics are alright. Sanjay S. Yadav’s background music is okay. Cinematography is fair. Different Danny’s action and stunt scenes are alright. Sri Crazyminds’ editing is quite sharp.
On the whole, Azad Bharath is not much of an entertainer and will go largely unnoticed.
Released on 2-1-’26 at Glamour (daily 1 show) and other cinemas of Bombay thru Zee Studios. Publicity & opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was weak everywhere.