Shaurya

''Shaurya'' (English: ''Gallantry'') is a 2008 courtroom drama film directed by Samar Khan, starring Kay Kay Menon, Rahul Bose, Javed Jaffrey, Deepak Dobriyal and Minissha Lamba. The film is inspired by the Hindi play '' Court Martial '' by Swadesh Deepak and is loosely based on the 1992 courtroom drama ''A Few Good Men''.

Plot

Set in the context of the Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, The film presents a fictional storyline which revolves around the court-martial of an Indian Army officer Javed Khan for shooting dead his superior officer. During the court-martial, the circumstances leading up to the fratricidal murder are gradually revealed.

The film opens with a sequence where a group of Indian Army Soldiers cordons off a Village; as a part of Counter-Insurgency Operation; in the Punj Area of Pulwama Dist in Kashmir Valley. After numerous chase sequences, the shot ends with an army officer being shot by his colleague. The offending officer instead of escaping promptly surrenders and is then taken into custody by his colleagues.

The film then shifts to New Delhi, where we are introduced to best friends and Army Lawyers Major Siddhant Chaudhary and Major Akash Kapoor. While best friends, they both have contrasting personalities, with Akash being a dedicated Army Lawyer and Sidharth being an immature and care-free Army Officer. Siddhant (fondly called Sid), being the son of a highly decorated army officer, often feels compelled to live up to his father's legacy and therefore he reluctantly chooses to join the army. However, he himself has no plans for an army career and is therefore on the lookout for any chance to quit the army for an adventurous life.

In the present day, Akash is marrying his fiancée Nandini, with Sid as his best man. Post-wedding, Akash informs Sid that their postings are now due; with Akash himself expecting to get posted in Srinagar. A rather excited Siddhant asks Akash to swing his posting too so that they both could be posted together. Akash, despite his misgivings, agrees to Sid's demands and thus makes an official request to the Army HQ, thus ensuring the same posting for Siddhant.

A week prior to departure, Siddhant becomes aware of him being appointed as a defence lawyer and Akash being appointed the prosecuting lawyer, in a murder case involving two army officers, both belonging to the elite Rashtriya Rifles. On being aware about the nature of his new posting, Siddhant, who had the hopes of a tension-free tenure; throws a childish fit, but ends up getting shut up by an annoyed Akash.

Meanwhile, a young aspiring Srinagar-based journalist Kavya Shastri, in the hopes of a big story; chances upon the murder case involving two Army Officers. On further research, Kavya gathers that their names were Capt. Javed Khan and Major Virendra Singh Rathore; who, when deployed for a CI operation; got into an argument, which ended with Javed fatally shooting Rathore. An army inquiry deems Javed guilty of insubordination and murder and is then to be subjected to a General Court Martial after a show trial.

An enthusiastic Kavya attempts to approach Javed, to get his side of story, but her efforts fail as the army authorities flatly refuse her request. Meanwhile, both Akash and Sid arrive in Srinagar, post which the duo get briefed by their CO, about the case. After the briefing, Siddhant heads out to meet Javed, for a better understanding of the case.

Javed and Sid meet at the Barracks, where Sid makes a poor attempt at interrogation. Javed, unimpressed with Siddhant's immaturity, refuses to acknowledge him and continues maintaining a stoic silence. Javed's behavior angers and frustrates Siddhant, who ends up leaving in a huff.

Sid later confides his fears and doubts about the case to Akash; who is understanding of Sid's dilemma. Akash advises Sid to just plead guilty on Javed's behalf, while he promises to take care of all the prosecution work. To cheer up Sid, Akash points out the absurdity of the case, terming it open and shut. According to Akash, Javed is the guilty party and the case itself is unsubstantiated, thus making prosecution a cakewalk.

Meanwhile, Kavya, on hearing about the trial, tries to reach out to Siddhant. Sid, on meeting Kavya, gets attracted to her and relentlessly tries to flirt with her. He even attempts to bluff his way through the case; despite not having any idea himself; just to impress her.

His efforts however miserably fail as the unimpressed Kavya calls out Sid and exposes his lies about the case. She further points out that as the defence lawyer it's Sid's responsibility to properly analyze the case and present the facts. Before leaving she further tries to make Sid realize the consequences of his decisions and their impact on his life. However while flirting, Sid accidentally mentions a senior army officer Brig Pratap; who happens to be Javed's and Rathore's commanding officer. Kavya gets intrigued and presses for more information but Siddhant hastily covers up, thus prompting a disappointed Kavya to leave.

After the meeting, however, Kavya heads to her office where she writes and later publishes a slanderous article about Brigadier Pratap in a local daily; with naming Siddhant as the source of information. The article spreads like wildfire and ends up causing huge embarrassment to the Army, thus leading Siddhant to get hauled up by his superiors.

A furious Siddhant later confronts Kavya and accuses her of betrayal and cheap sensationalism, at the cost of his reputation. Kavya instead hits back and accuses Siddhant of negligence and immaturity. She further tells him to focus on his job rather than worrying about a silly article.

Siddhant's superiors reprimand him for his actions as Brigadier Pratap is later revealed to be a highly decorated officer with a spotless reputation. Siddhant wishes for a meeting with Brigadier Pratap so as to apologize to him in person. The authorities grant him the permission and Sid heads out to meet Pratap, who is deployed at a forward area near the LOC.

Sid, on meeting Pratap, gets intimidated. He profusely apologizes for his actions but Pratap simply brushes the incident away. Seeing Pratap's jovial mood, Sid tries to press Pratap for more information regarding the Rathore murder case; but a dismissive Pratap coldly rebuffs him. Sid then tries to get access to the scene of the crime and to his relief Pratap accepts his request. Siddhant analyzes the scene of the crime and suspects something amiss. He tries to reach out to the local populace but he encounters their distrust towards army personnel. Vowing to get to the bottom of the case, Sid heads back to Srinagar. He then meets up with Javed, informing him of his meeting with Brigadier Pratap. Javed, for the first time, speaks; and asks Sid whether he thinks Javed is innocent or guilty. A baffled Sid tells Javed that he will inform his decision to the court along with presenting all the necessary facts.

Later in the evening Siddhant and Kavya run into each other. Despite a rocky start Sid becomes warm towards Kavya, who herself starts appreciating Sid's honesty and commitment. Kavya informs Sid about a major cover-up regarding the Rathore murder case, involving Brigadier Pratap and cautions him to be careful. Sid privately agrees and tells her about his meeting with Pratap, with Kavya promising to help Siddhant in every way possible. She later hands him several documents crucial for the case. A grateful Sid thanks her and heads back to further analyze the case. After spending the whole night studying the case, Sid concludes that Javed may actually be innocent and instead be a victim of a cover-up.

A now-matured Siddhant decides to take the case head-on. On the day of the prosecution, Siddhant blatantly goes against Akash's advice and to the surprise of many (including Javed himself), declares Javed as not guilty. His actions earn Akash's ire who calls him irresponsible. Sid however maintains his decision and vows to prove Javed's innocence. This causes a frosty relationship between the two best friends; which lasts for some time.

Meanwhile, Javed, after witnessing Siddhant's genuine efforts, decides to completely open up. He not only answers all of Siddhant's questions but also provides him with documents that prove Javed's innocence; thus helping him prepare a strong defence. Kavya, meanwhile, pays a visit to Javed's ancestral village, where she meets Javed's mother. Kavya gathers the necessary information and heads back to Srinagar. She then meets up with Siddhant and the duo chalk out a plan to prove Javed's innocence.

On the day of the trial, Sid presents a credible defense that effectively counters Akash's narrative. While questioning the witnesses who were present at the time of the incident, Sid finds one witness, Capt R.P. Singh, to be suspiciously evasive. However, before he could probe any further, the session ends in a stalemate. Sid later meets up with Kavya and informs her about the day's trial.

Kavya then suggests paying Maj. Rathore's family a visit. The next day both Sid and Kavya visit Rathore's home and meet his widow Neerja and her son Kshitij. Kavya attempts to press Neerja for valuable information, while Sid snoops around the house for clues, but both end up empty-handed. Sid remarks that it was indeed odd that both Neerja and Kshitij failed to turn up for Maj. Rathore's funeral; but Kavya reveals that their marriage was an abusive one and Rathore's death seems to have sort of liberated her from some sort of bondage. While heading back, Sid comes to startling conclusion that not only proves Javed's innocence all along but also proves Maj Rathore's guilt.

Kavya comes across evidence of the Indian Army's human rights violations. She, on further analysis, concludes that both Brigadier Pratap and Maj. Rathore; who were known to be very close; also have numerous complaints of human rights abuses against them. Kavya sends the necessary proofs to Siddhant but is arrested for trespassing on army area and trying to access sensitive information without due authorization. Sid tries to bail out Kavya but fails. Kavya conveys her suspicions to Sid and tells him to focus completely on the case.

One night Javed's mother pays Siddhant a visit. She pleads Sid to fairly judge her son; whereupon Siddhant promises a fair trial for Javed. Meanwhile, Neerja post several documents to Siddhant, after getting his address in his own sent gift to Neerja's son, that were important for the case. Sid on further probing finds a strong connection of the murder case with Brigadier Pratap. He then meets Pratap at his official residence. Pratap reveals that he was friends with Brigadier Shashank Chaudhary, Siddhant's father, for a long time. He further tells Siddhant not to spoil Brigadier Chaudhary's legacy. It's there when Sid becomes aware of his father's valor.

However, Siddhant's troubles increase when an important witness, Capt. R.P. Singh mysteriously vanishes without a trace. Sid concludes that R.P. Singh is a prime witness as he was the one to arrest Javed, thus it was important that R.P. Singh be found. A few days later, Sid gets carjacked by a masked individual, who later reveals himself to be R.P. Singh. He informs Sid that it was actually Maj. Rathore who was the guilty one while Javed was actually innocent. On further coaxing, R.P. Singh reveals the actual sequence of events of that night of the operation.

According to R.P. Singh, during the operation, Maj. Rathore brutalized several villagers and charged them of supporting Pakistan and being terrorist sympathizers. He further tortured a young boy in falsely accepting the charge of hoarding weapons. The sadistic Rathore, still not satisfied, shot the boy in cold blood, terrifying the villagers and horrifying the soldiers. Javed, on witnessing the killing, tries to appease an enraged Rathore, who instead accuses Javed of treason and tries to brutalize a young girl. A fed-up Javed promptly shoots down Rathore; thus saving the girl and the villagers. Here, R.P. Singh points out that despite a golden chance of escaping undetected and fully evading capture, Javed instead chose to surrender and accept his punishment.

Sid, satisfied with R.P. Singh's explanation, asks him to give his confession in the court, but to his great dismay, R.P. Singh refuses and instead runs into hiding, where he then kills himself. Thus with no credible witnesses available, Sid decides to take Brigadier Pratap to court. His decision shocks Akash and Kavya, both of whom caution Sid about the consequences of his actions.

Sid stands by his decision and on the day of the trial, Pratap makes an entry and heads towards the witness box. The trial begins poorly with Sid fumbling and Pratap getting the upper hand. A frustrated Siddhant decides to beat Pratap at his own game.

In the guise of a memory quiz, Sid reveals to everybody attending the trial that Brigadier Pratap's eight-year-old daughter and his wife were raped and murdered and his elderly mother burnt alive by their Muslim servant during a communal riot and coaxes Pratap into revealing his involvement in the Rathore murder case. Siddhant calls Pratap a coward and provokes him into launching into a fiery tirade that inadvertently exposes his anger towards Muslims and hatred for democracy.

Pratap justifies his actions in the name of nationalism and patriotism, but Sid calls out his bluff thus exposing Pratap's lie. In the end the Army Court declares Javed innocent, clearing him of all charges and restoring his rank and honours. They simultaneously order an inquiry against Brigadier Pratap.

In the final conclusion, a grateful Javed finally acknowledges Siddhant as an officer. Akash and Sid finally make peace and Siddhant later goes to meet Kavya.

Cast

* Kay Kay Menon as Brigadier Rudra Pratap Singh
* Minissha Lamba as Journalist Kavya Shastri
* Rahul Bose as Major Siddhant "Sid" Chaudhary
* Deepak Dobriyal as Captain Javed Khan
* Seema Biswas as Mrs Khan
* Pavan Malhotra as Army officer
* Aditya Lakhia as Capt R. P Singh
* Ravi Gossain as Capt. Passbola
* Javed Jaffrey as Major Akash Kapoor
* Jeneva Talwar as Nandini Kapoor, Akash's fiancé turned wife
* Denzil Smith as Brigadier P. P. V. Nair
* Subrat Dutta as Col Malhotra
* Pankaj Tripathi as Major Virendra Singh Rathore
* Bikramjeet Kanwarpal as Colonel Inyat Khan
* Amrita Rao as Nirja Rathore (Major Rathore's widow)
*Amar Talwar as Brig Saxena
* Shah Rukh Khan as voiceover during end-credits

Soundtrack

* "Dheere Dheere"
* "Ghabra Ke Dar Dar Ke"
* "Jaane Kyun Jaane Maan"
* "Dosti Kya Hai" - Udit Narayan, Abhijeet Bhattacharya
* "Ghabra Ke Dar Dar Ke"
* "Shaurya" - Kunal Ganjawala
* "Rome Total War" ome of the music was copied from the Rome: Total War Game

Reception

The film was criticized for its simplistic handling of propaganda against Indian army,security issues. However, most critics praised the performances of the lead actors, in particular Rahul Bose and Kay Kay Menon, and acknowledged the film's noble intentions. The film did only average business at the box-office.

See also

* Shaurya missile
* Melvilasom

References

External links

*
* {{rotten-tomatoes, Shaurya, Shaurya

2008 films
Military courtroom films
Indian war films
2000s Hindi-language films
Indian crime drama films
Legal thriller films
2008 crime drama films
Indian Army in films
Films scored by Surinder Sodhi
Films set in Jammu and Kashmir
Indian courtroom films