Watch Paltan

Paltan is a 2018 Indian war drama film, directed and written by J.P. Dutta. The movie is based on the Indian army's 1967 Nathu La and Cho La clashes with China on the Sikkim border. The film features an ensemble cast including Jackie Shroff, Arjun Rampal, Sonu Sood, Gurmeet Choudhary, Harshvardhan Rane, Siddhanth Kapoor, Luv Sinha, and Esha Gupta.

The movie begins with the Indian army's preparation for the clash with China at Nathu La in the late 1960s. Major General Sagat Singh (Jackie Shroff) leads the charge and trains his Paltan, a company comprising of three platoons, to be ready for the toughest battle of their lives. The battalion includes Lt. Col. Rai Singh Yadav (Arjun Rampal), Maj. Bishen Singh (Sonu Sood), Capt. Prithvi Singh Dagar (Gurmeet Choudhary), Capt. Harbhajan Singh (Harshvardhan Rane), and Lt. Attar Singh (Siddhanth Kapoor).

The first half of the movie is solely dedicated to building the characters and the plot. The scenes showcasing the training of the Paltan and their bonding, both at a personal and professional level, are well-drafted. J.P. Dutta has tried to make the audience connect with each soldier by giving them ample screen time and a personal backstory. Be it Maj. Bishen Singh, who lost his father during the Indo-Pak war or Lt. Attar Singh, who is new to the battalion and is trying to prove his worth; every character has a distinct personality.

The second half of the movie starts with the Chinese army's first attack on the Sikkim border. The war sequences are well choreographed, and the cinematography captures the tension and the chaos of the battlefield perfectly. The movie showcases the bravery of the Indian army soldiers who fought for their nation's sovereignty despite all the odds they faced. The patriotism and the emotional value of the movie are well-established. The film also highlights the sacrifices made by the Indian soldiers and their families.

The climax of the movie is the highlight with the Nathu La War leading to the Indian Army's successful mission. The music by Anu Malik and the background score by Sanjoy Chowdhury adds to the tension and emotion of the scenes.

The performances by the lead cast are commendable. Jackie Shroff, as always, has done justice to his role of Major General Sagat Singh. Arjun Rampal fits the bill of Lt. Col. Yadav; his stony and authoritative demeanor are impressive. Sonu Sood is remarkable in his portrayal of Maj. Bishen Singh. Harshvardhan Rane as Capt. Harbhajan Singh and Siddhanth Kapoor as Lt. Attar Singh have provided depth to their respective characters.

However, the movie has a few shortcomings as well. The pace of the movie is a bit slow in the first half, and the movie feels a bit too long. The female actors, Esha Gupta and Dipika Kakar, have nothing much to offer in their short appearance, and their roles seem forced.

In conclusion, Paltan is a must-watch for all those who are interested in war movies and love to see the valiance of the Indian army. Though the movie may not be as impactful as J.P. Dutta's previous war dramas like Border and LOC Kargil, it still manages to capture the essence of the battle and the emotions of the soldiers. The lead performances and the war sequences make it an engaging watch.

Paltan is a 2018 war movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 34 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.2.