plot
Ikkis tells his war story in a calm and thoughtful manner. Brigadier Madan Lal Khetarpal (Dharmendra) travels to Lahore, Pakistan for two important reasons. One, meeting his old friends from school and college, because before Partition, he lived in Sargodha, Pakistan, and some places never stop feeling familiar. Two, and more importantly, to understand why his 21-year-old son, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal (Agastya Nanda), refused orders to abandon his tank and save himself during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
In a tragic twist, Brigadier M. L. Khetrapal is hosted by the Pakistani commander Brigadier Jaan Mohammad Nisar (Jaideep Ahlawat), whose actions in the war led to Arun’s martyrdom. Taking place over three days in Lahore, the film quietly explores grief, guilt and unanswered questions, while also showing Arun’s brave tank fight on the battlefield. Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, Twenty One stays away from extreme nationalism and chooses a more humanitarian approach.
what works
Unlike most war films based on heavy dialogue and dramatic moments, Twenty One is calm and controlled. It focuses more on emotions than heroism. The dialogues are simple and effective, the cinematography sets the mood well, and the tank battle scenes, which are rarely shown in Hindi films, feel fresh. The CGI is neatly done and doesn’t overpower the story.
The NDA ball sequence comes across as a pleasant moment, capturing the happiness and innocence of the young officers before war changes everything.
Dharmendra’s presence gives emotional strength to the film. As Brigadier Madan Lal Khetarpal, he bears grief with dignity. Knowing that this is his final film makes it even more special to see him on screen, it’s an emotional and quiet goodbye.
what doesn’t work
The script could have been tighter. A parallel story going on in the film seems weak and breaks the flow at times. The pacing also wanes, especially as the film struggles to balance emotion with storytelling.
The songs are good but mostly forgettable, except Sajda, who manages to leave an impact.
Watch the trailer of Twenty One here:
Exhibition of
Agastya Nanda gives an honest performance as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal; His effort is visible. However, it may have been difficult for his body language to perfectly match the role of a soldier. Still, this is a clear improvement from The Archies and shows growth.
Simar Bhatia as Kiran Kochhar brings warmth to her role.
Jaideep Ahlawat is dependable as always. As Brigadier Jaan Mohammed Nisar, he portrays the internal conflict with ease and composure.
Dharmendra ji does not need any review, his presence alone speaks volumes.
Special mention to Avni Rai as Saba (Nisar’s daughter), who adds emotional tenderness to the story. Ekavalli Khanna gives a good assist as Nisar’s wife, while Vivaan Shah (Captain Vijender Malhotra), Sikandar Kher (Risaldar Sagat Singh), and Rahul Bose (Lieutenant Colonel Hanut Singh) make the most of their screen time.
final call
Look at it as cool storytelling and a respectful tribute to Dharmendra and Asrani.
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