Gadar (2001) - Movie Review


GADAR: EK PREM KATHA


Release Date: 15th June 2001

Starring: Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patil, Amrish Puri

Box Office: 700 million


Following is a personal review, and largely opinion-driven. I am not a professional reviewer and this is my first time reviewing a movie, let me know your advice in the comments.


Gadar: Ek Prem Katha is one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time, and it deserves to be. The story follows Tara Singh (played by Sunny Deol) who falls in love with Sakeena (played by Ameesha Patel). Tara belongs to the Sikh community from rural Punjab whereas Sakeena is a daughter from a wealthy Muslim family. It is set during the time of partition, and the story beautifully narrates how love happens irrespective of caste, creed, and religion, and the boundaries it could push a person to. It's the true definition of love that's been put forward in the form of a movie, and the representation is flawless!


Gadar has to be one of my favorite romantic films of all time, and that is really saying something. It could evoke a feeling of true love in a person who hasn't ever experienced it before, and that's where it wins our hearts. It explores the dark side of the partition, and the lengths true love can drag you to. It accurately represents the era of partition, rural Punjab as well as the stereotypical wealthy family. It leaves us with a life lesson that needs to be cherished. What I love the most about this movie, is that it doesn't favor Pakistan but doesn't totally humiliate them either. As a nationalist who is himself anti-Pakistan, it was a satisfying combination for me to digest.



Sunny Deol plays the role of a Sardar perfectly. His character is depicted as a shy man who can get lethal if provoked beyond the breaking point. As Tara Singh, he is very appreciable and his principles make me salute the character. A man who is peace-loving, but can raise a sword to protect his family. I can't help but admire the representation of Punjab. And the above picture is my favorite! Just look at it, so many emotions being expressed through one single picture. "I love her, and I'll go to any extent to protect her. Be it slicing entire Pakistan in half" and "I love him, and I'm always by his side no matter what stand he takes" are clearly read in those eyes.


The soundtrack of this movie is extremely beautiful. I'm a person who isn't a fan of Bollywood music, but this movie has to be an exception. Every song was enjoyable, and some of them were extremely relatable to my own personal experiences in the past. Udit Narayan does a fantastic job as usual. That being said, the movie does have its flaws. Although they're negligible because they don't interfere with the strong message that's intended to be conveyed in the movie. For example, certain action scenes are extremely exaggerated. But again, it's a Sunny Deol film and that was an era where such action sequences attracted the audience.


Each character's actions are totally justified. I've watched each scene more than once. That's how amazingly it was presented, the acting and delivery were spots on and everybody has given a decent performance. Various messages are conveyed in this movie. Love sees no boundaries, but a person in love can cross all boundaries. Unlike other cringe films where romance is just an element of entertainment, this masterpiece connects you with itself. You don't just enjoy the movie, you understand it and relate to the same emotions. This masterpiece should be untouched and its legacy shall be remembered for the years to come.


"Yeh koi college ki love story nahi, ek prem katha hai..."



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