BORDER

Starring:
Sunny Deol .... Major Kuldeep Singh
Sudesh Berry
Pooja Bhatt
Raakhi Gulzar
Puneet Issar
Akshaye Khanna
Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Sunil Shetty
Jackie Shroff
Tabu


Music : Anu Malik
Sound Department : Vinod Potdar
Stunts : Bhiku Verma
Action : Tinnu Verma
Singer : Alka Yagnik, Sonu Nigam, Roop Kumar Rathod
SFX : Crest Communications
Art Direction : Nitin Desai
Dialogue : O.P.Datta

RATING:
*****

There has not been an extraordinary war film since "Haqeeqat", three decades ago. However J P Dutta's Border, released in 97, resurrects the glory of "Haqeeqat" in this chunk of pure entertainment. This big budget extravaganza and was one of the biggest hits of that year, yet also the most controversial film of that year.

Border is a fictionalised and dramatized adaptation of the 1971 Indo-Pak Longewala war. Yet Border is much more than a war movie. Border explores the lives, conditions, problems and aspirations of the soldiers of the armed forces and pits their bonds to their loved ones against their bonds to their soil.

Major Kuldeep Singh (Sunny Deol) is the commander in chief of the 23rd Punjab regiment that comprises of 120 soldiers. Intelligence reports an invasive attack is imminent; however, the Indian headquarters have singled out that the Pakistani forces will enter from the Longewala post. On December 3, 1971, the Pakistani air force attacks Indian air fields; The subsequent day, Pakistani artillery units across the Border begin to bombard the Longewala post, while Pakistan's full tank regiment, accompanied with thousands infantry, approach Longewala hidden in the sounds of the artillery fire. On the Indian side, there are 120 men. While on the Pakistani side, there are 50 tanks and thousands of infantry! The Indian headquarters have advised the 120 men to retreat, but the men stand firm and ready to oppose the incoming Pakistani forces!

Border is one of the most complete definitions I have seen of a war epic; It exploits the mind-sets, backgrounds of the soldiers that fight in war and pits their loved ones up against their duty to the nation. Such as when the nation needs the armed forces; they need to leave immediately, even if that be the day of their engagement or the first night of their wedding or perhaps at a crucial time a loved one may need them; With that leave, they leave a promise; A promise that they will return. Will they really return?

J P Dutta has written and directed this movie flawlessly, with the utter most perfection. The movie unfolds like a timeless epic. Contrary to controversy; Border although patriotic, does not downplay the Pakistani element. In fact J P Dutta has intelligently incorporated scenes in the film that equalises Indian and Pakistani people and questions the point of fighting; There is one very touching dialogue in the film that depicts this; a child asks his father in a letter, "My teacher says, on the other side of the border, there are people that look like us, eat the same food we do, even talk like us -- then why are we fighting them?" Even more so, it shows the Pakistani soldiers in a completely human light, showing that they too have loved ones, and they too are fighting for their country. So although Border is indeed patriotic, the sensitivities of the genre have been handled aptly.
Border expands a complete spectrum of emotions; successfully tugging at the hearts strings with the heart softening scenes, tickling the funny bone with its humorous scenes, saddening with the emotional scenes and startling with its intense realism. Watching Border is more than watching a regular a film, it's losing oneself completely into this well crafted world of reality; experiencing the emotions at face value. In Border, nothing is left to the imagination, everything is in your face -- from love to hate; From embracing to killing…

Anu Malik's score is melodious and charming, and interwoven seamlessly into the narrative, each song with a motive and meaningfulness; penned with poetic justice by Javed Akhtar's lyrics.
One most noteworthy song is the final song; the war is fought, the desert is reduced to a smouldering graveyard of corpses; the victor celebrates, but of course celebrations are temporary, as we now begin to realise the devastation and the impact on those loved ones, some which are still waiting for them to arrive.

Iswar, the Director of photography, has captured the desert of Rajasthan like never seen before, with his enthralling and graceful, but mobile cinematography. Tinnu Verma and Bhiku Verma's action is nothing short of mind-blowing; as soon as the war scenes click in, one becomes completely gripped and startled. Nitin Desai's art direction is superb; sound and background scores are excellent, transporting the viewer into the scene of action; visual effects by Crest communications are up to the mark.

Performances are superb from the main leads to the entire supporting cast. Sunny Deol is fierce as the dictating Major Kuldip Singh; Akshaye Khanna is likable as Dharamveer and Sunil Shetty has given a memorable performance. The cameo appearance by Pooja Bhatt is heart warming, Pooja charms with her sweet and tender presence. Jackie Shroff's guest role is valiant; Tabu has a miniscule but meaningful role.

In totality, Border is a highly satisfying, powerful and uplifting chunk of pure entertainment of epic proportions. If you have not seen Border as of yet, then make plans to see it now.

Also recommended:

Haqeeqat
Sarforash
Refugee

Filmfare Awards

Best Action
Bhiku Verma
Tinnu Verma

Best Director
J.P. Dutta

Best Lyricist
Javed Akhtar

For the song "Sandese aate hain".

Best Newcomer - Male
Akshaye Khanna

Best Sound Recording
Vinod Potdar

YEAR OF RELEASE: 1997