Uri - Viewpoint of an Army Brat!

My first blog post of 2019, and I’m writing it with High Josh (enthusiasm). Just got back from the theater after watching much awaited film – Uri, and boy, does it hit the right notes in your body or what? I left the theater with additional pride, spine a bit more erect and chest out. Not only because I am a proud Indian Army kid, but because I am proud of the decision to conduct surgical strikes across LoC in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. There have been multiple cowardly attacks on India by terrorists infiltrated into our borders via Pakistan, but this one particularly hit me very hard. Our soldiers were asleep for God’s sake. At least show the courage to have a face off with them. I remember crying under my pillow for days after Uri attack. There was a need to send a response back to Pakistan, and the message went out loud and clear.

The portrayal of Vicky Kaushal as an Army officer is spot on. I can say that because I saw glimpses of my dad in him. That built, that uniform, the heaviness in his voice, his relationship with his family, emoting vulnerability, and strength. It’s as close to reality as it can get.

The movie has no heavy-duty loud mouthing of dialogues just because it’s a war movie. Neither does it have any unnecessary drama. There is not a single shot of Tiranga (India's National Flag) through the movie, and yet the nationalistic pride and patriotism is all over it. There are many goosebumps moments in the movie and some highly emotional scenes bound to bring involuntary tears to the eyes. Paired with heavy background music, amazing VFX, smart action sequences, brilliant direction, and the requisite of some fist pumping dialogues, this movie will leave you with a high dose of adrenal, love for your country and ultimate respect for Indian Army.

My particularly favorite scene was the dinner party hosted for Vihaan at his sister’s house. It wasn’t a very relevant scene, but it was beautifully shot. You could tell that the makers of the movie have done their homework. All the officers looking dapper in their suits, cufflinks, lapel pins, a perfectly folded handkerchief in their suit pocket, holding a glass of whisky and laughing loudly. Ladies with gracefully draped sarees, brooch pin, a glass of drink in one hand and a clutch in the other, looking as sharp as their better halves. This particular scene brought back so many memories to me. Army parties like these were a weekly affair for us. All the ‘Army brats’ of the cantonment would get together, feast on tasty snacks (mostly roasted peanuts or cheese with pineapple on a toothpick), play games, watch TV and stealthily sneak into the kitchen to get a peek of the desert.

I’m not sure why we were called Army brats, but we would take immense pride in being called that. I think it refers to any child who has grown up with a parent in the army, has never lived in a place more than 3 years, made new friends with every posting & stayed connected with most of them, lived in cantonments, and would know atleast a few people who have served in the highest battleground on earth, Siachen (In our case, it was our dad and his troops). We are that breed of kids who are raised in and transferred from one cantonment to another. Our upbringing in a unique way differentiates us from other kids. This is also the reason it is easy for one army brat to recognize another one easily. For us, home is the army and everything it stands for. We are raised with immense pride, fearlessness and courage; imbibed in us by our lioness moms (mostly because our dads were barely around). That is the reason why you saw Col MN Rai’s brave and proud daughter shouting his regiments war cry at his funeral, then raised her hand to salute him for the last time as she burst out in tears. That moment is beautifully recreated in Uri, and is bound to choke you up. The movie hits a bull’s eye.

You might like the movie for different reasons, but one thing’s for sure. Next time anyone asks you “How’s the josh?”, you’ll involuntary end up saying “High Sir!”