Film: Ground Zero
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Lalit Prabhakar, Sai Tamhankar
Directed by: Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar
Duration: 2 hours 14 minutes
Rating: * * 1 / 2
It is impossible to watch this film set in Kashmir without keeping in the mind the tragedy that unfolded in Pahalgam, a couple of days ago. Ground Zero, which draws inspiration from the valour of BSF officer Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, is set within the context of the Kashmir conflict, albeit during a different period. Dubey was among the heroes involved in the operation that neutralised the notorious terrorist Ghazi Baba in 2003.
Directed by Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar (his Marathi film Devmanus also released today), Ground Zero is a decently made film that by and large sticks to the core of the story. There is no jingoism and chest thumping, which could have easily overshadowed the immensely tough work done by the soldiers and officers in the Valley. You do wish though that the storytelling was tighter and steered cleared of emotional songs that are used to punctuate some of the scenes. A more clinical approach, akin to a military operation, would have allowed emotions to
emerge naturally.
Set in 2001, Dubey is a BSF officer stationed in Kashmir, where militants mislead the youth, enticing them with promises of substantial financial rewards to join their ranks and target police and soldiers at close range. Dubey and his team strive to uncover the truth and dismantle the gang, facing considerable challenges. "Aaj risk nahiliya to kal sab keliye risky ho jayega" ('If I don't take a risk today, tomorrow may pose risks for everyone.') he says, more than once.
At one point, the narrative transitions to Delhi, where Dubey, defying the wishes of his superior Mukesh Tiwari, arrives in the capital to investigate connections to terrorism. Concurrently, the Intelligence Bureau chief, portrayed by Rahul Vora, exhibits an overconfident demeanour, believing he knows it all, while his assistant Aadila, played by Zoya Hussain, offers a more compassionate perspective. Dubey, depicted as a devoted family man (with Sai Tamhankar portraying his caring wife), also forms a friendship with a Kashmiri youth named Hussain, who serves as an occasional informant. Although the emotional depth of this storyline is effective, the exploration of the dramatic element lacks dramatic strength. The film appropriately emphasises the importance of winning the trust of the populace, posing the question, "Yeh zameen hamari hain, ya log?" (Does the land belong to us or do the people belong to us?) In a notably dramatic exchange, Dubey's injured colleague asserts, "Yeh zameen hamari hain, aur log bhi hamare hain," (The land is ours, and so are the people)
The latter portion of the film shows real-life events such as the 2001 Parliament attack, followed by the Akshardham? Temple attack the subsequent year. The climax unfolds during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to Kashmir.
In the narrative, Dubey opts to become a solitary operative, later joined by two colleagues, to eliminate Ghazi Baba from his hideout where he resides with other civilians.
Lalit Prabhakar portrays a fellow soldier named Praveen, and the camaraderie among the soldiers is a fitting element of the storyline. However, the supporting characters require further development. Aadila, intended to be a senior strategist for the Intelligence Bureau, is depicted in one scene alongside soldiers on a mission, wearing full gear and all. Emraan Hashmi delivers a commendable performance in the lead role, effectively conveying vulnerability, uncertainty, and confidence in balanced proportions. While Ground Zero does not introduce groundbreaking concepts, it also avoids following a conventional path - it did have the potential for more though.