Film: Tejas
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ashish Vidyarthi, Varun Mitra
Director: Sarvesh Mewara
Rating: 3.5 Moons

"Bharat ko Chhedoge toh Chhodenge Nahin," roars Kangana Ranaut in her latest release, Tejas. The aviation drama is directed by Sarvesh Mewara and releases in theatres globally today. It stars Kangana in the titular role.

Tejas focuses on the story of a young Air Force pilot named Tejas Gill (Kangana Ranaut), who is an expert at conducting risky rescue operations. Her primary goal is to safeguard her country, India, and take it to greater heights during her aviation career. When an Indian spy is taken hostage in Pakistan and is on the verge of being murdered, Tejas and her colleague Aafiya devise a plan to rescue their countryman. Will they succeed in doing so? Tejas shall answer in 118 minutes.

The core theme of Tejas is patriotism. From the first frame to the last, that patriotic touch can be felt prominently. The film follows a non-linear pattern. Scenes from the past blend seamlessly with the sequences of the present time. The entire journey of Tejas from being a brilliant student to flying the multirole combat aircraft ‘Tejas’ has been explored interestingly. Director Sarvesh builds an atmosphere of tension and intrigue in the second half of Tejas. It keeps you glued to the screen.

Kangana gives her heart and soul to Tejas. She owns the character and delivers a nuanced performance. The actress, who is effortless on camera, shines in the action and aviation sequences. Showing her tough side, Kangana leads the film in the right direction.

The ensemble cast including Ashish Vidyarthi and Varun Mitra do a great job as well. Neena Kulkarni has a brief role but an impactful one. Tejas brings out the patriotism hidden within you. Without getting into the zone of jingoism, the film balances on the thread of entertainment and content-driven cinema.

Tejas has rousing music which makes it a better experience. The film is crisp and short. However, it would have been better if the film had a longer run giving it more space to explore the story. It is perfectly suited for family viewing.