A Nation’s Story, A Man’s Journey – and a Bit Too Long
Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bharat is a sprawling, ambitious saga that tries to capture seven decades of one man’s life alongside the story of a nation. It could easily have crumbled under its own weight, but thanks to strong performances and heartfelt direction, it ends up as a very good film – even if not the great one it had the potential to be.
Salman Khan delivers one of his more restrained and effective performances, convincingly portraying Bharat from youth to old age. Katrina Kaif brings warmth and strength as Kumud, their dynamic among the film’s best assets. Sunil Grover deserves a special mention for being both funny and touching, while the supporting cast – Tabu, Jackie Shroff, Disha Patani – all have memorable moments.
Where Bharat falters is in its length. At almost three hours, the narrative sags, weighed down by songs and detours that dilute the emotional intensity. A tighter edit and fewer unnecessary tracks could have elevated this to something truly timeless.
Still, with powerful performances, glossy production, and heart in the right place, I rate it 7.5/10: ambitious, heartfelt, and engaging despite its excess.
PS – who are these people with 1* reviews – how much do they get paid?
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