Swatantra Veer Savarkar is a commendable work of art that sheds light on an important, yet largely neglected, chapter of India's historic struggle for Independence from British Raj says SAKSHI PRIYA

The film Swatantra Veer Savarkar, directed by Randeep Hooda, who is also the eponymous protagonist of the narrative, tells the untold story of the freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, portraying his journey from heroism to imprisonment. The movie depicts Savarkar's evolution from a hero to a prisoner and highlights his strong ideology and the challenges he faced in the Kaala Paani jail in the Anadamans.

Randeep Hooda has clearly excelled himself in portraying Savarkar, taking his acting skills a notch higher. The movie masterfully depicts the jail scenes where Savarkar's struggles are laid bare to a generation that may be unfamiliar with India's tirelessly and selflessly fought freedom struggle.

The attention to detail sets Veer Savarkar apart in a league of its own. Hooda's unbelievable physical transformation (the actor is supposed to have lost 30 kgs to fit into his character), enhances the overall authenticity of the portrayal. Hooda's exceptional acting notwithstanding, the film does suffer from some directorial shortcomings, but they seem too minor given the audience's reaction to the film. Ankita Lokhande's portrayal of Yamma Bai is impactful despite her short screen time. Overall, the film underlines Randeep Hooda's tremendous potential as an artist.

Swatantra Veer Savarkar explores different aspects of the freedom fighter, both from his own standpoint as well as that of Mahatma Gandhi's. While the film has been hailed for its historical authenticity, some feel it is rather slow-paced and that better directorial intervention would have curtailed the shortcomings. For a film that stretches for three full hours, it could have done a bit more to break the monotony. That pace and drama was missing. Also, there is a general view that the film did not really delve deep enough into Savarkar's history because most of it has been either ignored or erased.

Swatantra Veer Savarkar in the final analysis is a commendable effort and a work of art that sheds light on an important yet largely neglected chapter of India's historic struggle for Independence from British Raj. It is a must-watch for anyone interested not just in the life of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar but also the inexplicable mystery that surrounds this historical figure.