By ApunKaChoice Bureau Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com
The story of Bhagat Singh has been presented on celluloid before too, but what makes Santoshi’s film special is the way the martyr’s life is depicted on the big screen.
The film begins with the scene in which three bodies (of Bahagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru) are being secretly taken out of the prison. The movie then goes in flashback and relates the chronology of events that led to Bhagat Singh’s transition from a callow youth to the legendary freedom fighter. The story concludes with his martyrdom.
“The legend of Bhagat Singh” relate the events in Bhagat Singh’s life with simplicity without taking cinematic liberty and distorting the facts. It shows Bhagat Singh as a man who stood against any aggression.
Santoshi
convincingly creates the pre-independence ambience by capturing the minutest detail on the camera. Particularly moving are the sequences of Jallianwala Bagh massacre and the courtroom scenes (after Bhagat Singh is arrested) in the second half.
Bhagat Singh’s courtroom dialogues show that he was not just an ordinary freedom fighter but a well-educated man, who had a fluent command over English.
The climax of the film is quite emotional and even brings tears to the viewer’s eye.