Producer:Sahara One Motion Pictures
Director:Shyam Benegal
Cast:Sachin Khedekar, Rajit Kapur, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Alan Thomson, Nicholas Chagrin, Udo Schenk
Music:A.R.Rehman, Javed Akhtar

The master filmmaker Shyam Benegal enlivens the enigma of the patriotic freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose the heroic leader of India’s freedom struggle on the celluloid with ‘Bose: The Forgotten Hero’.

The film is a true epic representation enlivening the life and revolution led by the great patriotic hero Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Projecting his bravery and patriotic zeal, the film also brings to the forefront many incidents and facet not known to many. Set on the backdrop of India’s fight for independence against the British, it showcases the last five years of the life of the upright leader Subhash Chandra Bose.

The sequences are divided into three phases - the great escape from Bengal to Kabul, a summit with the Russians, Germans, Italians and Japanese and the protest and revolts against the Britishers.

The film reels with the Tripura Congress meeting in 1939 when Bose resigns from the post of Congress president on the basis of non-violence against the Britishers. He is arrested and kept under house arrest. Finding a chance he flees to Afghanistan to make way for Russia with the intention to seek Communist help. Affronted, he comes to Italy, Germany and Japan. He takes captive in Berlin and meets Hitler. His marriage with Emilie Schenkl takes place then and there. He escorts the Indian prisoners of war held captive by Hitler and gives them shelter under Germany.

The devastation of Pearl Harbour gives him the opportunity to travel in a German submarine and he arrives in Indonesia. The voyage continues to Tokyo with the Japanese supporting him for his cause, to fight the Britishers. Here he establishes the base of INA in Singapore. The army enters India through Manipur. But Japan’s loss in the Second World War shuts the fate of the association.

The extensive research that the filmmaker has made is by far and large evident in the film. The film is built on a huge canvas. It is a true representation of the hero presented in a dramatic manner and has the touch and the feel to keep the audience engrossed.

Sachin Khedekar in the lead role of Netaji is immense. Nobody else could have done this role better than him. He excels in look and acting. Others characters like Kulbhushan Kharbanda in the role of Uttamchand Malhotra who gives Netaji shelter in Kabul, his wife, Rajit Kapoor in the role of Abid Hasan have given power house performance too.

The film feels realistic and the emotions are cultivated to outclass such moments. Though it’s a piece of history, the onscreen drama hardly makes you feel so. The appeal of the film is outstanding. A.R. Rahman’s music stands out for its sheer brilliance.