ib 71 movie review

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IB 71 movie review: Vidyut Jammwal steps out of his comfort zone only to leave us confused

Ib 71 movie review: vidyut jammwal breaks out of his action hero shell to play a spy in this sankalp reddy film..

An espionage thriller, IB 71 chronicles India’s top-secret mission that is said to have aided India’s victory in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Starring Vidyut Jammwal and Anupam Kher in pivotal roles, the film starts off on a high note, but soon goes off track. With visuals, voice over, text captions and flashbacks, there’s a lot happening for one to understand the exact timeline of the film. Until the interval, I genuinely couldn’t figure what the film was trying to show or say. Directed by Sankalp Reddy, IB 71 in the first half, seemed nothing but an attempt to take us on a ride, play some riddles and leave us all confused without any answers. But thankfully, the second half picks up, pieces of puzzles start to come together and it all made some sense. Was it too little, too late? Somewhat, yes.

IB 71 starts with Pakistan preparing for yet another war after being defeated in 1948 and 1965, and this time from the Eastern front in alliance with China. Upon receiving vital information about this impending attack, Intelligence Bureau Chief Avasti (Kher), along with his top agent Dev (Jammwal), comes up with a plan to save the nation without firing a single bullet or letting the neighbouring country get the slightest hint about it. As mobilizing the army at a short notice appears to be a tough task, they suggest blocking of the air space to prevent Pakistan and China from attacking India. Dev is assigned this task and how he accomplishes this confidential mission in the next 10 days, along with 30 other undercover agents is what the film shows in the second half.

Crisp editing makes for an easier watch

With a runtime of a little less than two hours, the film is tightly edited and that length, perhaps, is the only good part about it. The story doesn’t seem drag, stays to the point and ends before it turns into a snooze fest. Reddy, who has earlier helmed Ghazi Attack, has the intent right behind telling this untold story based on true events, but somewhere he loses focus and goes all over the place.

Aditya Shastri’s story is intriguing and holds a lot of potential to keep you hooked. What doesn’t really work is the screenplay for which six people are credited -- Sankalp Reddy, Arjun Varma, E. Vasudeva Reddy, Arun Bhimavarapu, Gargee Singh and Abhimanyu Srivastava. For the longest time, they looked like disjoined and scattered pieces of a puzzle. Even when the story is picking pace, there is very little or no connect with how it unfolds for audiences to understand. The background music gets a bit too loud at places, though cinematography in certain scenes elevates the whole experience, especially the ones involving the plane.

What left me utterly surprised, and somewhat impressed, is that despite being based on such a sensitive and serious subject, there is quite a lot of subtle humour peppered across the film. I mean, it’s not common to see people laughing out loud while watching spy thrillers, but some one-liners and punches make it hard to control that laughter. Full credit goes to dialogues by Junaid Wasi and Sahar Quaze.

Vidyut Jammwal leaves you confused

Jammwal delivers a decent performance and he looks quite unlike his earlier big screen outings. You are used to seeing an actor do high-octane and gravity-defying action on screen, and suddenly he underplays all that and turns into a one-dimensional character that has nothing larger-than-life about himself, it can leave many confused. As an IB agent, his body language and mannerisms are on-point and he aces the few hand combat scenes that are there in the film. Kher delivers a restrained performance where he steps back and let the story be in forefront. As the chief of intelligence bureau, he commands authority and a strong screen presence, and that very well comes out in the scenes we see him in. Yes, it’s for very limited time Kher appears in the film, but then the story is more about the mission and less about the people behind it. Vishal Jethwa as Qasim Qureshi, a brainwashed youth, is in his element. He may not be as impressive as he was in his debut outing Mardaani 2, or as convincing as his last, Salaam Venky, yet he manages to make his presence felt, and trigger a few laughs with the way his character has been written.

Watch IB 71 in theatres to witness yet another untold story of heroes who seldom get spoken or written about in history books. It may not give you an adrenaline rush but will give some goosebumps towards the climax that is high on patriotic flavour.

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IB71 Review: Vidyut Jammwal's Middling Spy Drama Is Not Without Its Moments

Ib71 review: vidyut jammwal's hunky presence is determined to shore up the film when it tends to flounder despite its unwavering adherence to the plot and its eschewal of cheap thrills.

Vidyut Jammwal shared this image. (courtesy: mevidyutjammwal )

Cast : Anupam Kher, Vidyut Jammwal, Dev, Dalip Tahil

Director : Sankalp Reddy

Rating : Two and a half (out of 5)

A war film that is more an espionage thriller than a battlefield drama, IB71 , directed and co-written by Sankalp Reddy (who made The Ghazi Attack six years ago), presents an account of “true events” masterminded by an Indian intelligence agent to scuttle a planned Pakistani operation against India on the eastern front during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.

Fronted by Vidyut Jammwal, who is also one of the producers of the film, IB71 is sparing in its dependence on action sequences, preferring a relatively sedate approach to the exploits of an intrepid IB operative, Dev, who hatches a daring hijack plot in order to land in Pakistan with a band of Indian secret agents.

The Ghazi Attack was an underwater action film that revolved around a submarine that mysteriously sank in the Bay of Bengal during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Parts of IB71 play out on a decommissioned airplane that is ready for a specific spy mission days ahead of the same military conflict.

Secret agent Dev's plan is to give India a pretext to block its airspace and thwart enemy plans to ferry men and ammunition to East Pakistan with Chinese assistance. The man is single-minded in his focus on the job at hand. He has no time for romance or other distractions.

IB71 is a two-hour film has no lip-synched songs. But it takes its own sweet time to get off the ground. The first hour is a veritable jigsaw puzzle – confounding and unconvincing. A great deal happens on the screen in this part of the film – Jammwal's steely spy sneaks into a Pakistani airfield with an assumed identity, gathers crucial intelligence and discovers that India is in danger of being attacked in ten days.

In a race against time, Dev heads to Kashmir with a fellow-spy, enlists two young Kashmiri liberation warriors, including a 17-year-old boy Qasim

(Vishal Jethwa). It is, however, hard to figure what on earth he is exactly up to. We do at best have a fuzzy notion of the exact nature of the spy operation. The stunning images of the slow-clad Valley help the audience keep itself occupied until some degree of clarity begins to dawn.

It is only in the second half, when Dev and his team are airborne with the two young Kashmiri radicals on their rickety passenger machine, that IB71 begins to gather something that feels like momentum. Less talk and more action are always the best policy when a film flies into a haze.

That is not to say that IB71 has no redeeming features at all. It definitely does. By far the best thing about the film is its surprisingly uncluttered storytelling in the second half. Like the aircraft, the film is low on fuel but it manages to stay afloat till such time that it can contemplate a safe landing

The screenplay stays firmly fixed on the drama that unfolds in constricted spaces – on the plane, inside the cockpit and finally in a hotel and its compound. The action that takes place outdoors has an appreciably different timbre given the stunning beauty of the landscape.

Part of the fault for the marked difference between the two halves of the film lies partly with the script, and partly with the editing. But the final moments of IB71 , no matter how facile they may seem, serve to somewhat offset the incoherence that mars the first half.

The breathtakingly lovely Kashmir Valley vistas are captured in all their wintry, snow-covered glory by director of photography Gnana Sekhar V.S. The lush visuals create an ambience that provides a contrast to a thin and unflashy storyline.

Jammwal's hunky presence is mined to shore up the film when it tends to flounder despite its unwavering adherence to the plot and its eschewal (for the most part) of cheap thrills and other convenient concessions. While the lead actor steers clear of the excesses that his action hero persona often triggers, he cashes in on every opportunity to peddle his on-screen invincibility.

A boat chase on the Dal Lake and a group fight involving him and his IB mates pitted against Pakistani security men – there isn't too much else in the film by way of explicit action – Jammwal does what he is there for – take the lead when danger looms, fight his way out, and emerge largely unscathed.

Anupam Kher, cast as the Intelligence Bureau chief from whom the hero takes orders, has a few scenes that allow him to make his presence felt. But once these are out of the way, he is reduced to pacing up and down in his office, reacting to news streaming in from many, many miles away of Dev's daredevilry.

The strangest treatment is reserved for Dalip Tahil. He plays Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto but is given no lines to speak. If the idea is to convey the insignificance of the Pakistan head of state in the larger scheme of things that has been set in motion by a gutsy Indian secret agent, it definitely isn't a good one. It not only amounts to sidelining a veteran actor, but also to frittering away the opportunity to whip up some drama.

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The Pakistani officials in IB71 are, as one would expect, etched out with very broad strokes although it must be said that the film does not take recourse to overt jingoism. Hobby Dhaliwal. playing a highly stressed-out high-up in the Pakistani military establishment, and Ashwath Bhatt in the role of the ISI chief occasionally rise above the limitations of a screenplay that yields a serviceable spy thriller that is surprisingly shorn of massy elements.

IB71 leaves one with the nagging feeling that it could have been a much better film has the writing been a less of the by-the-numbers kind. But even as a middling spy drama, it is not without its moments.

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IB 71 Reviews

Even by low standards of how ridiculous action movies can be, IB 71 mishandles its depiction of real-life espionage events in 1971. If you believe this movie, then you have to believe one IB agent has a superhero level of fight skills and defense plans.

Full Review | May 23, 2023

Better execution would have turned it into a cracking spy thriller but in its present avatar, IB 71 feels like an opportunity gone to waste…

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | May 23, 2023

Reddy’s staging skills abandons him when it comes to getting his characters to sound credible.

Jammwal steps out of his comfort zone only to leave us confused.

This Vidyut Jammwal film claims to have been cobbled together from actual events, but the execution is both simplistic-comic-book and convoluted.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | May 23, 2023

If you have an affinity for period action thrillers, this film successfully checks the boxes.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | May 23, 2023

Vidyut Jammwal's hunky presence is determined to shore up the film when it tends to flounder despite its unwavering adherence to the plot and its eschewal of cheap thrills.

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IB 71 Movie Review: Vidyut Jammwal's film lands despite rough weather, Vishal Jethwa steals the show

Vidyut jammwal's ib 71, which is based on true events, is an account of what happened during the indo-pak war of 1971. with a sluggish first half, followed by a thrilling second half, the film is a decent thriller, says our review..

Listen to Story

• Vidyut Jammwal turns spy for IB 71.
• He has also produced the film.
• It releases in theatres on May 12.

Cast & Crew

Vidyut Jamwal

Release Date: 12 May, 2023

Vidyut Jammwal is out there to prove his mettle. While he does not want to completely do away with his action hero image, he wants to also show his acting prowess. All his recent releases - be it Khuda Hafeez or Sanak or the latest IB 71, he does have action sequences but those are not the scene-stealers. This time, Vidyut not just acted but also bankrolled the project . But, is this spy-thriller just as taut as it promised to be, or does it falter? Let’s find out.

Dev (Vidyut Jammwal) is introduced as the flawless spy at the very onset of the film. He has a critical mission and while his face gives away fear, he oozes confidence in front of the enemy, thereby succeeding in it smoothly! However, the information revealed is frightening - Pakistan is planning an attack in 10 days and something drastic has to be done to prepare everyone for the war. This can’t be done in such short time, so he and Anupam Kher’s character have to devise a plan. They do have one, but it is extremely risky. A failure would not just mean over 30 lives being risked, but an impending war and bad image for the nation. Will Dev succeed in yet another critical mission where the stakes are so high? If he does, how will he achieve the feat? That’s the crux of the story.

The major fault in IB 71 is the slow first half, coupled with cringe dialogues. One that stayed with me is ‘ meri biwi pet se hai par khayal mere pet ka rakhti hai ’ (my wife is pregnant but takes care of what I eat). The spying continues for too long, breaking the pace. It gets painstakingly slow at points and even when Vidyut is out to fight, one might not feel a similar thrill like they always do.

See the trailer here :

However, it is the second half that redeems everything. It gets interesting and keeps us hooked. It is the second half where the action really begins, not literally. And by the end, thanks to the chest-thumping music meant to rouse your nationalism, you would not feel that bad.

Vidyut Jammwal is good with his performance. There are several sequences where he could have been better, but the character demands that he shows minimal emotions. When there is Vidyut, you expect action and he will give the audience just enough without overdoing it. Vidyut shoulders the film alone and takes up the entire screen time.

However, the show-stealer here is Vishal Jethwa. He might have limited screen space, but he simply excels in whatever he has been asked to do. Despite the over orange lipstick and cheek tint he is often given, he nails his role. From showing anger, fear or determination - he is good at all of it. He is severely underutilised and we hope we get to see him more.

Anupam Kher has what can be called an extended cameo . There is not much that he has to do and he does it effortlessly.

Director Sankalp, who had earlier worked in The Ghazi Attack, often loses control of the screenplay. His script could have been tauter and smoother. His hold on the reign is loose in the first half, which drowns the overall effect.

IB 71 (2023)

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IB 71 Review: Vidyut Jammwal Impresses In Clutter-Breaking Film With Crisp Narrative

Reported By : Titas Chowdhury

Edited By: Shrishti Negi

Last Updated: May 12, 2023, 10:41 IST

Mumbai, India

• 12 May 2023 | Hindi
• 1 hrs 57 mins | Action, Thriller
• Starring: Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher, Dalip Tahil, Vishal Jethwa
• Director: Sankalp Reddy
• Music: Amit Trivedi

IB 71 Review: Kudos to Vidyut Jammwal for recognising a story like this and breaking the clutter with a rare conviction and belief!

Bollywood can’t get enough of its favourite theme, patriotism. Over the decades, films based on India and Pakistan’s complicated political ties have been made galore. Now, their template may be extremely formulaic but weaving a story that makes a point without any kind of preaching and excessive chest-thumping is no cakewalk.

In 2017, Sankalp Reddy, who mononymously goes by Sankalp, made his directorial debut with the bilingual film, The Ghazi Attack. The submarine warfare film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu in 2018. It was an underwater tale of the courage and patriotism of the men aboard the Indian Submarine INS Karanj and was inspired by true events from the mysterious sinking of PNS Ghazi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Six years later, Sankalp returns to Bollywood with IB 71, a spy drama, inspired by true events, which is again set against a similar backdrop. Interestingly, he once again manages to achieve what very few filmmakers can – make a patriotic film without the slightest ounce of melodramatic patriotism.

IB 71 is based on the Ganga Hijack, infamously called ‘the hijack that never happened’ and uncovers India’s top secret mission conducted by the Intelligence Bureau that made us win the 1971 war. It revolves around Dev, an IB officer, who single-handedly prevents Pakistan from joining hands with China and attacking India and gaining control over its north-eastern frontier. He takes on the critical operation of carrying out a hijack by two young but ambitious Kashmiri boys from POK (Pak Occupied Kashmir) by risking the lives of about 30 Indian civilians aboard an aircraft and safely bringing them back to their homeland, thus manoeuvring a mission that gives out a message that Pakistan has initiated a terror act on India. He successfully does so within a span of just ten days.

Most of the film takes place in Kashmir and kudos to cinematographer Gnana Shekar VS – who has shot National Award winning films like Vedam (2010) and Kanche (2015) – for capturing the beauty of the state with aplomb. The pristine snow-covered lands and the misty Dal Lake are the beds for most of the action and they render an element of authenticity to the story. The use of greys, mundane browns and cloudy blues convey the mood and tone of IB 71 rather perfectly. Despite a trained martial artist like Vidyut at the centre of the narrative, the stunts are far and few and extremely realistic, and never do you feel that these sequences are forced just to glorify the life of a spy.

A crisp narrative further helps the film. Sankalp wastes no time and dives straight into the story right from the first frame. We aren’t given any sneak peek into Dev’s life and his back story and interestingly, it causes no deterrence in establishing his character and his sharp acumen. Much like The Ghazi Attack, there are no frills here. There are no song and dance sequences and definitely, no love story involved, which, needless to say, makes for a gush of fresh air. Sankalp defies every stereotype and formula and creates a narrative that is impressive and will hopefully, set a precedent for all the patriotic films that are in the making.

There’s no dearth of spy thrillers in Bollywood and more and more of them continue to be made. However, more often than not, these good-looking films have crossed the line of realism to make their protagonists appear larger-than-life. This is also where IB 71 stands out. It gives us a glimpse into the life of a regular spy, who isn’t afraid to revel in grime and grit to protect their motherland. And their job is everything else but glamorous and glitzy.

Vidyut plays Dev in the film, which we are told is dedicated to ‘all the Jammwalions’, with a lot of restraint and grit. For a film that’s bankrolled by him, he lets his co-stars take centre stage where needed without him taking over every frame and that deserves applause. Having said that, Dev might have made for an excellent character and story on paper but it doesn’t provide much scope for a performance. Having belted out a slew of slick actioners over the years, Vidyut turned over a new leaf with Khuda Haafiz: Chapter 2 – Agni Pariksha last year, which surprised many as it offered him the opportunity to put his acting chops on display. If you’ve expected him to carry on that streak, you might be disappointed. But brownie points to him for recognising a story like this and breaking the clutter with a rare conviction and belief!

Vishal Jethwa’s antagonist act in Mardaani 2 (2019) left many impressed. With IB 71, he returns to don the hat of the bad guy yet again. He plays Qasim Qureshi here, a madly driven Kashmiri obsessed with hijacking an airplane and putting the lives of many Indians civilians at risk only so that his imprisoned brothers can be released by the Indian government. His Qasim is unpredictable, erratic and volatile. It seems like an extension of his character from Mardaani 2 but we aren’t complaining because he, once again proves, his mettle with a choice that is out of the ordinary and extremely risky. Some of his scenes with Vidyut’s Dev are pure gold and even in an atmosphere of simmering political tension, you end up cracking up. Kudos to the writing for that!

Anupam Kher as IB Chief NS Awasthi and Dalip Tahil as Zulfikar Ali Bhutto don’t have much to do and hence, don’t leave an impact. Once again like The Ghazi Attack, the narrative is largely led by men with hardly any women in the picture, literally and metaphorically. There are a total of just four women, all of who appear in the background. But if realistic spy dramas fascinate you, go for IB 71. The makers might not have had the chance to make lofty promises through the promos but this is a little gem that might just surprise and impress you. It goes on to prove that a story told with honesty and conviction with no flash and froth will definitely leave a mark and an indelible one at that.

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IB71 movie review: A Vidyut Jammwal film where he doesn’t get to physically pummel the enemy

Ib71 movie review: this vidyut jammwal film claims to have been cobbled together from actual events, but the execution is both simplistic-comic-book and convoluted..

Wars are won not just by the valour of those who fight the ground, but also by crafty intelligence agents. It is 1971, and the Indo-Pak war is looming. How best to stymie the dastards in Pakistan who are busy reaching out to their counterparts in China? Simple, declares superspy Dev (Vidyut Jammwal), just block the Indian airspace, and promptly gets down to doing just that.

IB71 claims to have been cobbled together from actual events, but the execution is both simplistic-comic-book and convoluted. Two Kashmir sympathisers, played by Vishal Jethwa and Ashwath Bhatt, are steered towards a clunky hijacking: an old plane is given a lick of paint, a bunch of primed spooks, led by the doughty Dev, are on it, and our two thickly-accented Kashmiri gents are given a chance to wave a pistol and demand that the pilots land in Rawalpindi. No can do, low on fuel, the pilots say, so Lahore it is.

Watch IB71 trailer:

Back in the war-room, senior intelligence officer Awasthi ( Anupam Kher ) and his team is working in tandem with our brave spies, who not only get to have a splendid Lahori meal, and given bunks in a stately hotel, but also manage to trump the Pakistani establishment good and proper. Just to keep things going, President Bhutto (Dilip Tahil) shows up, makes a few comments, and disappears. Rolling your eyes seems to be the only acceptable response.

Jammwal, who does oversee a couple of high-speed chases down the Dal, doesn’t get to physically pulp the enemy. What’s the point of a Jammwal flick then? I protest.

IB71 movie cast: Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher, Vishal Jethwa, Faizan Khan, Ashwath Bhatt, Dalip Tahil IB71 movie director: Sankalp Reddy IB71 movie rating: 1.5 stars

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IB 71 Movie Review

IB 71 Devesh Sharma , May 12, 2023, 19:52 IST

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• What is the release date of 'IB 71'? Release date of Vidyut Jammwal and Anupam Kher starrer 'IB 71' is 2023-05-12.
• Who are the actors in 'IB 71'? 'IB 71' star cast includes Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher, Dalip Tahil and Niharica Raizada.
• Who is the director of 'IB 71'? 'IB 71' is directed by Sankalp Reddy.
• Who is the producer of 'IB 71'? 'IB 71' is produced by Bhushan Kumar,Krishan Kumar,Vidyut Jammwal.
• What is Genre of 'IB 71'? 'IB 71' belongs to 'Thriller,Action' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'IB 71' releasing? 'IB 71' is releasing in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil.

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Release date: 12 May, 2023 -->

Ib 71 movie.

T-Series, Reliance Entertainment and Action Hero Films’ IB 71 is based on true events that transpired in 1971, when Pakistan was all set to wage a war against India. Indian Intelligence did not have an inkling of the preparations of Pakistan until the last moment. With only a few days ...  left, it fell upon IB officer Dev (Vidyut Jammwal) to come up with a plan to sabotage Pakistan’s evil designs.

Photos (13)

Vidyut Jammwal

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'IB 71' Movie Review: Slightly pakau Pak pic, phir se!

Updated on: 12 May,2023 10:30 PM IST  |  Mumbai Mayank Shekhar | [email protected]

• Text  

Absolutely the only aspect that works for the film then is the storyline. Which, as per claims, is based on true events. Since that involves the country’s spy agency — there is no way for us to verify any of it

A still from the movie 'IB 71' (Pic courtesy: Twitter)

Film: IB 71

Cast: vidyut jammwal, anupam kher, vishal jethwa.

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Director: Sankalp Reddy

Rating: 2/5.

One of the film’s opening slates, if I read right, is a dedication/tribute to all ‘Jammwalians’, who aren’t some kind of aliens from another galaxy.  I’m guessing they’re a vast network of fans of the lead actor, Vidyut Jammwal , who’s also produced this picture for theatrical release. In the hope that his admirers suitably turn up, and pay up!

His production company is called Action Hero. Which is the genre of movies, he has perennially starred in — namely, Commando I, II, III, etc. In its very bread, butter plus cheesy form, it’s not the film I’d particularly go gaga over.

But this movie, that is, IB 71 — IB for Intelligence Bureau, and not Imperial Blue, in case you’re a low-deck drinker — isn’t the sort of actioner made for so-called Jammwalians either.

What’s the payback they’ll look for? Basically, He-Man ripping his shirt off, to lift a motorbike on his head, which is my only surviving memory from Jammwal’s debut, Force (2010) — or was it the lead, John Abraham, who did that?

Wrought iron Jammwal, 42, is anyway Bravo John of his generation — the latter, in turn, has similarly veered towards thrillers that don’t require him to trouble his muscles that much; the likes of Madras Café, Parmanu, etc.

IB 71 is an attempt to scope out something similar. Meaning, a mix of hostage drama and espionage thriller, where Jammwal isn’t James Bond — he plays a sarkari agent still, who can wallop a fellow or two, when no one’s looking.

This then, sadly, requires all the more humanising elements — wit, charm, even humour, if you may — to keep audiences adequately engaged, once you’ve drawn them in. God knows, Akshay Kumar has championed this space for a while (Airlift, Baby, etc). The hero here has little to show for. The writers haven’t bothered enough either.

Absolutely the only aspect that works for the film then is the storyline. Which, as per claims, is based on true events. Since that involves the country’s spy agency — there is no way for us to verify any of it. Besides, what we do know — as any Google search will reveal — is an Indian Airlines passenger plane, Ganga, that was hijacked in January 1971.

This is recorded as the first such hijacking case. The original target was meant to be the Indian Prime Minister’s son, Rajiv Gandhi, an IA pilot then. That didn’t occur. But the plane that landed in Lahore, instead of Jammu, from Srinagar, had hijackers demanding the release of 36 terrorists, linked to Kashmir, lodged in Indian jails. The main guy was a 16-year-old. Bizarrely, the weapon used was a frickin’ toy gun!

What’s the catch? Again, basic Internet scrolling suggests this entire drama was staged by RAW — not IB (headed here by an all-powerful Anupam Kher’s character). Net result: India could legally close down its air-spaces, preventing any aerial attack by Pakistan.

What you see in the film is a Chinese-Pakistani operation to fly fighter planes across the Indian mainland to wrest control of the North-East. Only an expert or eye-witness can vet the facts. But that’s not why we watch fictionalised films, anyway.

Or why I did. Oh, why did I? Chiefly for the film’s young director from Hyderabad, Sankalp, the guy to watch out for, ever since his debut, Ghazi Attack (2017; starring Rana Daggubati, Kay Kay Menon). That was literally an immersive experience, inside submarines — surveying a blind battle, between Indian and Pakistani ships, similarly set in the 1971 War.

IB 71, in terms of a wholly outdoor canvas, mostly Kashmir, is the opposite of Ghazi Attack. To be fair, there are a few filmmaking flourishes. Consider the motor-boat chase sequence in what’s likely to be Dal Lake. Or scenes involving the little, hijacker boy — Vishal Jethwa; from Mardaani 2, looks a bit like a young Uday Chopra — visiting a local cinema to exchange notes with his militant partners.

At the other end are, of course, the Pakistani Army blokes with zero backstory — introduced to us as slight nincompoops, going “khush khabri”, because “according to one report”, India is incapable of resisting Pak attack.

Also Read: 'Afwaah' movie review: Waah AF!

Frankly, when the enemy seems so dumb, what’s the pleasure to derive from defeating it! Meghna Gulzar’s Raazi (2018) is a case in point for a picture, where you suitably feel something for the other side as well.

Mercifully, they don’t seem as dumb (in the movie), by the end of it. Even as everything takes place before their eyes, and they’re literally groping in the dark, what with the lights that conveniently go off, when they must.

Eventually, the film descends into the usual Indo-Pak movie, from India, with shots of mosques for Pakistan, where men go, “Janab, Janab, Janab…” There is the sepia tone to suggest a period pic. And planes landing, and taking off.

So, what do you even say? How do you tell one from the other? Let’s see: IB 71 > bozo-like Bhuj (2021). Hardly as entertaining as Bell Bottom (2021). Basically, ‘dekhi hui hai’; as the French write, déjà vu. Better still — slightly pakau Pak pic, phir se, in Hinglish. 

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