What Is the Story About?
Set in the early 2000s in Kashmir, Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey tracks down Ghazi Baba, the mastermind behind the attacks at the Indian Parliament and Akshardham temple. Despite setbacks, internal politics, and the psychological toll owing to work, Dubey, with the help of informants, leads a high-stakes operation to neutralise the terrorist threat and eliminate Ghazi Baba.
Performances?
Emraan Hashmi, like most of his recent choices, continues to surprise with Ground Zero and does complete justice to the portrayal of Narendra Nath Dubey, exploring him as a human being beyond the image of a national hero. Sai Tamhankar, within her brief screen time as Dubey’s wife, is impressive, capturing what it takes to hold a family together in a climate constantly plagued by fear.
Zoya Hussain, playing Aadila, is a smart casting choice. Mukesh Tiwari, Deepak Paramesh, Lalit Prabhakar, Hanun Bawra, and Mir Mehrooz form a solid supporting cast, not trying too hard to impress, but portraying their parts with authenticity.
Analysis
It’s quite rare for a biopic, especially one about an army man and centred on a high-profile security operation, to stick to its source material. Ground Zero resists the temptation to manipulate or exaggerate the narrative to fit the day’s politics. It steers clear of jingoism and presents the everyday reality of its protagonist in all his complexity. It attempts to address the Kashmir ‘problem’ from the perspective of an insider without resorting to easy solutions.
Narendra Nath Dhar Dubey, the real-life figure on whom the story is based, isn’t portrayed as a hero simply for doing his duty. He is shown as any other professional, swift and sharp at work, not chasing glory at the cost of human life, often at odds with his superior, and protective of his family (though not in the stereotypical ‘macho’ sense). What makes him stand out is the sheer scale of the challenge he faces: tracing the roots of a terrorist organisation.
Most of the themes Ground Zero explores, while rooted in reality, aren’t entirely new: youngsters falling prey to terrorism due to poverty, BSF jawans collaborating with intelligence units to uphold security, an outsider attempting to solve an internal issue without grasping its deeper implications, the precarious lives of army families, and a mission to eliminate a global threat. Yet, the film’s treatment of these elements is neat, focused, and engaging.
Ground Zero focuses on a terrorist group that eliminates army men in Kashmir selectively at public spots, when they’re likely to be vulnerable, luring young men with easy money under the garb of religion. It explores the everyday fear in the social climate in the region and how Dubey nearly captures the heart of the issue, chasing the mastermind behind the group and even fails a couple of times, misreading their intent.
One of the crucial sequences in the film that captures its earnestness is Dubey’s effort to change the path of Hussain, a youngster with links to a terror group, who later turns informer. The film highlights Dubey’s sincere attempt to earn his trust, not merely using him as a pawn in the operation, but treating him as one of his own. Even in the aftermath of a tragedy, where Dubey could’ve easily brushed him aside, his integrity shows through in the way he stands by the boy.
At no point does the film chase passive heroism, where Dubey is flattered by peers or superiors. It emphasises that the team is just as integral to the mission as he is. Unlike most army films, where protagonists are stiff, dispassionate figures, Ground Zero goes beyond surface-level portrayal; one can sense its effort to bring systemic issues into focus. However, like several plot-driven films, Ground Zero at times gets caught in the web of its own morbidity, where one event unfolds after another in autopilot mode. Though it does take moments to pause and reflect, the tension in the storytelling is missing at a few junctures. From a cinematic perspective, one wishes it did more to move you. This is probably the price you pay when you choose not to mainstream-ise a story.
Ground Zero is a gritty, engaging retelling of a real-life event, dramatising facts only when necessary and tells it in a way that’s sincere and accessible.
Music and Other Departments?
Despite the nature of the story not offering vast scope for music, Ground Zero features a fine album that integrates seamlessly with its soul. Cinematographer Kamaljeet Negi gives equal importance to the protagonist’s toll and the film’s larger events, bringing a touch of class to the execution.
The screenplay, though it briefly meanders, remains sharp overall, and the edits preserve the emotional quotient effectively. The dialogues are precise and situational, while the action choreography is grounded and believable.
Highlights?
Good performances
Focused screenplay
Emotional connect, technical appeal
Drawbacks?
Loses its way in the middle briefly
Slight monotony in storytelling
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Certainly
Ground Zero OTT Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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