PEN Studios, Manikarnika Films, Paramhans Creations, Eunoia Films LLP and Floating Rocks Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.’s Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata (UA) is about the terrorist attacks on Bombay city on 26th November, 2008. The film deals with only the terrorist attack on Cama Hospital in Bombay. It is the story of the staff of Cama Hospital and their bravery and sense of duty and commitment, which saved lives on the fateful night.
Manoj Tapadia has written a story which offers no novelty whatsoever because one has read the stories of bravehearts who saved lives on 26/11, seen such stories on television news channels and also in films and TV serials. What is more, this story deals with only what transpired at Cama Hospital to almost the complete exclusion of how other locations in Bombay city were targeted. As if that were not enough, even in Cama Hospital, the story concentrates on a few patients who needed immediate medical attention even while terrorists were in the hospital premises. Manoj Tapadia’s screenplay is not half as exciting and thrilling as it should’ve been. For one, the drama takes too long to come to the point. Before the actual terrorist drama unfolds, a lot of time has been devoted to establishing how genuine, sincere and duty-conscious the nurses of Cama are — something which could’ve been done in two or three minutes. Even once the terrorist drama unfolds, the emotional angle takes a back-seat so that the pain and anguish don’t come to the fore. A couple of light moments in the midst of the tension-ridden drama don’t serve any purpose. Probably, the biggest drawback of the screenplay is that quite unwittingly, the drama reduces the enormity and seriousness of the havoc-wreaking episode by concentrating so heavily on just one location (the hospital). Manoj Tapadia’s dialogues are not very impressive.
Kangana Ranaut is alright as nurse Gita. There’s nothing in her performance which stands out as extraordinary. Since she has delivered such noteworthy performances in the past, this performance will not gladden people’s hearts. Suhita Thatte is endearing as the matron. Asha Shelar makes her mark as the medical superintendent. Girija Oak Godbole (as Sheetal), Smita Tambe Dwivedi (as Trupti), Priya Berde (as Harshada), Rasika Agashe (as Mohini) and Esha Dey (as Babita) perform well but none of the characters stand out. Sayajirao Shinde leaves a mark in a special appearance as police inspector Kamble. Prasad Oak is supremely natural as Gita’s husband. Sushama Deshpande performs ably in the role of Gita’s mother. Dheerendra R.K. Dwivedi (as Trupti’s husband), Sunil Paliwal (as ACP Dayanand Sathe), N.K. Pant (as Nandu mama), Vitthal Nagnath Kale (as Subhash mama), Vijay Gokhale (as security officer Babbanrao Zambre), Hitesh Dave (as Ishwar mama), Yashodhan Malvankar (as security officer Anand Pauskar), Vivek Kumar Singh (as security officer Babu Dhumal), Vikas Laxman Pawar (as security officer Dhananjay Dhokchule), Jayshree Mehta (as Ganga maushi), Pratibha Suhas (as Kanta maushi), Asha Rani Singh (as Sona maushi), Yogesh Markande (as Vispute mama), Ganesh Prabhakar Mayekar (as security officer Prakash Dhode), Vikrant Kolape (as liftman Khade), Aditya Mishra (as Abu Ismail), Zahid (as Ajmal Kasab), Rajesh Bhosale (as Mohini’s husband), Suresh Dutt (as the matron’s husband), Sufiyaan (as Mohini’s son), K. Raghav Kumar (as the old Ishwar mama), Makarand Navghare (as Sheetal’s husband), and the others lend average support.
Manoj Tapadia’s direction is ordinary. His narration doesn’t really move the audience emotionally, partly because it is lopsided and partly because it fails to create the right atmosphere. Music (by Aman Pant and Krsna) is alright. Manoj Tapadia’s lyrics go well with the film’s mood. Aman Pant’s background music is fairly nice. Ayan Sil’s camerawork is very good. Sunil Burman Rodrigues’ action and stunt scenes afford thrill. Vikrant Shah and Mayur Mulam’s production designing is okay. Dev Rao Jadhav’s editing should’ve been sharper.
On the whole, Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata fails to touch the heart and will, therefore, flop at the ticket windows.
Released on 12-6-’26 at Inox (daily 3 shows) and other cinemas of Bombay by PEN Marudhar Cine Entertainment. Publicity: so-so. Opening: poor. …….Also released all over. Opening was dull everywhere.