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Major (2022) Review: The Biopic Of A Commando

“I won’t die in an accident or die of any disease. I will go down in glory”. The life of Indian commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan signifies this quote. The Telugu film industry has come out with a biographical-action drama titled “ Major ” which is based on the life of this daredevil hero who sacrificed himself for the nation while countering the 2008 terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. Major has been directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka , co-produced by Mahesh Babu , and its story and screenplay have been written by Adivi Sesh who himself stars in it as Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan . The film released on June 3, 2022 in both Telugu and Hindi languages all across theaters in India.

Starring Adivi Sesh as Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

Major showcases the life of Indian commando Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan from his childhood days to his becoming the commanding officer of the Operation Black Tornado. Operation Black Tornado was an Indian military operation which was led by Major Sandeep for countering the terrorist attacks which occurred on November 26, 2008 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai. The story goes on to reveal the risks taken by Major Sandeep and his commando team to counter the terrorists, and save the lives of many hostages at the hotel before he got killed during the counter terrorism operation.

Major (2022) Official Trailer (Hindi):

Appreciable Concept By Adivi Sesh

The story of Major has been written by Adivi Sesh himself who starts as Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in the film. His decision to bring out such a tragic life story of a brave Indian commando before the audiences is praiseworthy. Previously two or three films have been made in India which are based on the 2008 terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.

Saiee Manjrekar and Adivi Sesh in a scene from Major

However, the story of Major is different from those films, and is unique, interesting, and engrossing as well. This film entirely focuses on the life and contributions of this braveheart commando apart from showcasing the 2008 terrorist attacks. This beautiful story focuses on Major Sandeep’s childhood, youth, love life, and his efforts to become a commando in the Indian Army. The story of Major aptly picturizes the helpful nature of Major Sandeep who was always ready to help any person in need or distress.

Fantastic Screenplay

I must say, the screenplay of Major is fantastic. The first half of the movie is lightly entertaining. The first half focuses on Major Sandeep’s early life, and his efforts to become a commando by joining the Indian Army. The first half won’t bore you, and instead will make you curious about what’s coming next. You will be engrossed with light comedy, and Major Sandeep’s love life along with a few romantic tracks.

Prakash Raj as Major Sandeep’s father, and Revathi as his mother in Major

When the second half comes, it is time for some intense action! Here you will see how Major Sandeep and his commando team barges into the terrorist-occupied hotel to directly face them. You will witness intense gun fights, hand-to-hand combats, and scenes showing the rescue of hostages inside the hotel. The creativity involved in the recreation of the 26/11 terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel is praiseworthy. The tense moments shown inside the terrorist-occupied Taj Mahal Palace hotel are thrilling, and will keep you engrossed till the end. The action choreography, the action scenes, and stunts are powerful and exciting. You will get to see the real drama unfold right before your eyes where Indian commandos take on terrorists, as it happened on November 26, 2008 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

Heart-Touching Dialogues

Though Major is originally a Telugu film , the dialogues for its Hindi version have been written by Akshat Ajay Sharma. After hearing these dialogues, you will become familiar with the efforts of the Indian Army in protecting our territory. These dialogues are impactful enough to arise patriotic emotions within you, and you will feel your sentiments getting driven towards the soldiers and our motherland.

Saiee Manjrakar and Adivi Sesh in a romantic track from Major

Outstanding Performances

Adivi Sesh has given a fantastic performance as he looks very enduring as an Indian Army commando. He is in great shape, and seems to be in his top form for this role. The action scenes he performed, and his dialogue delivery are such as if he was born to play the role of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnnan. No doubt, after watching this movie I understand how this idea of making a film on the life of Major Sandeep, and choosing to star himself as the daredevil commando occurred to him. He probably knew that that this role was meant for him only!

Adivi Sesh as Sandeep Unnikrishnan, and Saiee Manjrekar as Isha Agarwal in a scene form Major which portrays their their school days

Saiee Manjrekar has a small role as Major Sandeep’s love interest Isha Agarwal in Major. However, she carried out her role diligently, and seemed to have great chemistry with Adivi Sesh.

Prakash Raj is an outstanding character actor and as Major Sandeep’s father in this movie, he delivers a powerful performance to make you emotional, and even make you cry in certain scenes. In one scene, as Sandeep forgets his appointment letter for the Indian Army and leaves from his house in an autorickshaw, his father can be seeing running behind the autorickshaw to hand over the appointment letter to him . This scene will surely make you emotional. In another scene, Prakash Raj as Sandeep’s father can be seen watching the terrorist attack live on television while his son was fighting the terrorists. In that scene if you watch his expressions, you will surely opine that he is one of the top-class actors in the industry. Revathi as Major Sandeep’s mother too gave an excellent performance in this film.

Appealing Cinematography

The camerawork by Vamsi Patchipulusu was extraordinary, and appealing. The wide angle indoor and outdoor camera shots in the movie were enticing. The best thing about the camerawork is that it precisely captured the expressions of each and every character which will in turn get you attached to these characters while you watch the movie.

This great cinematography was coupled by a sharp and crisp editing done by Vinay Kumar Srigineedi and Kodati Pavan Kalyan which kept the scenes compact, and informative. The scene placements were accurate which kept the movie’s flow steady till the end.

A Masterwork By Sashi Kiran Tikka

I must say, the filming has been very maturely handled by director Sashi Kiran Tikka . Major is a very well made family movie with a free-flowing narrative. It is entertaining for all age groups of audiences, and you surely won’t get bored watching it irrespective of your age. In fact, it is a unique 26/11 story on one commando’s life. This makes the plot interesting, and engrossing as compared to any other 26/11 movie.

The Watchability

The 26/11 terrorist attacks on the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai was a very sad incident in the Indian history, and due to the emotions attached many people might not want to rewatch Major. Even some Indians may not like to re-live those disastrous memories and worse, they may even choose to not watch Major at all, in spite of it be being an amazing biographical action-thriller. Thus, even with a great plot and screenplay, this movie may fail in terms of watchability as well as rewatchability. However, I personally feel that this is a movie worth the watch.

The Verdict:

While deciding on this biopic, the producers had registered two titles for the film, “Major” and “Major Sandeep”. After entering into talks with Major Sandeep’s family for obtaining the rights for making this movie on the soldier’s life, the title of the movie was finally decided as “Major”.

The real Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan based on whose life and contributions this biopic has been made

The songs in this movie are average, and have been recorded in Hindi, Telugu, and Malayalam versions. Major is basically from the Telugu film industry but was shot simultaneously in Hindi language as well. This was done for promoting this film as a “Pan-India” film as its story is set in North India where people speak mostly Hindi. The film was shot within a total of 120 days across 75 locations.

Overall, Major is a classic film version of a true story which deserves to be showcased on the big screens. I believe that this film is an effective homage to a 26/11 hero apart from being a relentlessly entertaining biopic. This movie is sure to move you with empathy, and patriotism. If you want to witness the 26/11 terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, and the efforts of the Indian Army commandos to counter the attacks and save the hostages, just go for Major !

• Acting - 9.8/10 9.8/10
• Cinematography/Visual Effects - 9.5/10 9.5/10
• Plot/Screenplay - 9.8/10 9.8/10
• Setting/Theme - 9.5/10 9.5/10
• Watchability - 8.5/10 8.5/10
• Rewatchability - 7/10 7/10

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Major Movie Review

Major Devesh Sharma , Jun 4, 2022, 00:22 IST

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'Major' review: A touching tribute to the 26/11 hero

Action sequences well-choreographed, but screenplay falters

When audience step into theatres to watch Major, they have a fair idea or at least an inkling about the 26/11 terrorist attack and the role of soldiers like Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in it. Even with the absence of surprise elements, the biopic comfortably accomplishes what it sets out to do in two aspects. First, the supreme sacrifice of the Major gets registered and so does the suffering and turbulence his family undergoes while he is loyally serving the nation. While the movie does stretch a bit when it comes to creative freedom, it props up an important question- can biopics be tweaked to do justice to the subject? If yes, then what should be the holy yardstick that would prevent the movie from falling into the bracket of fiction.

Major is not your regular commando movie. It is high on emotional drama and is centred around Major Unnikrishnan and his humane side. The movie opens with the scene featuring a bloodied Major Unnikrishnan, played by Adivi Sesh, in a black cat suit at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai. The flashback kicks in and we are introduced to his childhood. Prakash Raj and Revathi, play his parents. As a child, Sandeep is fascinated by uniforms and dreams of becoming a soldier while his family has other plans. As a teen, Sandeep is mischievous yet caring.

The first half of the movie is dedicated to the romantic track between the lead actor and his love interest Esha (Saiee Manjrekar) who he meets in high school. Though the romantic scenes are innocent and appealing, they also slow down the pace of the movie. The couple grow fond of each other but Sandeep’s burning desire to be a soldier drives a wedge between the two. Sandeep gets rejected by the Navy but succeeds in cracking the Army and goes to the NDA. How he wins back his love, turns into a National Security Guard (NSG) commando and lands up in Taj Hotel Mumbai on the ill-fated day forms the rest of the story. Whether it is a revelation or an exaggeration, Sandeep’s character is shown to be dodging bullets of terrorists at a time when his marriage hits rock bottom, which further elevates his character. The second half is completely dedicated to action sequences inside the hotel. Shobhita Dhulipala has a special role and plays her part sincerely.

For a movie dedicated to an army officer, a major letdown in Major is overlooking military aesthetics. The way Adivi Sesh and his team move, confront or defend themselves is more cinematic than professional. Not once in the movie does Adivi Sesh sport a military cut and also does not wear the mandatory NSG helmet at Taj while the rest of his team does. Towards the end, one realises that there is a great mismatch between the actual accounts reported and what has been shown in the movie. Adivi Sesh as Major Unnikrishnan is charming and convincing. His screenplay could have been better.

Action sequences have been choreographed well. Saiee Manjrekar fits well in her role. Revathi and Prakash Raj are at their best, as usual. Director Sashi Kiran Tikka might have passed the test, thanks to the hyper-nationalistic wave prevailing in the country and also because of the image that late Major Unnikrishnan carries. The movie probably should be judged less for its cinematic performance and more as a tribute to a fallen hero and a son of the soil.

Film: Major

Cast: Adivi Sesh, Saiee Manjrekar, Prakash Raj, Revathi, Shobita Dhulipala

Director: Sashi Kiran Tikka

Rating: 3.5/5

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‘Major’ review: Adivi Sesh ably steers courage-under-fire saga

Sashi kiran tikka’s biopic of major sandeep unnikrishnan has been released in telugu and hindi..

The 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008 are indelibly inked in the city’s memories. Among the people who showed extraordinary courage, a few stand out. The list includes Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who led a National Security Guard unit into the besieged Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to tackle well-prepared terrorists and saved hostages at the cost of his own life.

A problem with making films about real-life heroes is that they may not have led very interesting lives. If the mythologising is to work, a large dollop of fiction, or at least some embellishment, has to be added to the narrative.

However, heroes are not all born that way. Circumstances make them shed their ordinariness and perform superhuman feats, digging into reserves of valour they may not even be aware of – that’s what makes their stories great.

Major has been directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka in Hindi and Telugu and written by leading man Adivi Sesh (the Hindi dialogue is by Akshat Ajay Sharma). The film actually takes off well into its running time, when Sandeep insists on going to Mumbai with his team, when, as a training officer, he isn’t expected to.

Before that, there are scenes of his happy childhood with his parents (Revathi-Prakash Raj) and sister and his fascination for the uniform. In college he falls in love with Isha (Saiee Manjrekar), goes against the wishes of his parents to join the Army and excels at it. Some conflict is induced when a jealous fellow cadet tries to trip up his romance, but that is quickly resolved.

These are place-holding sequences to pad the script, but give no real insight into the man’s personality. For instance, a basic internet search reveals that Sandeep’s father worked at ISRO, Sandeep was in the college choir and was fond of films – minor points, but some more research might have shaded the soldier’s portrait better.

Once the action shifts to the terror attacks in Mumbai, the attention moves from Sandeep to the carnage at various spots in the city and eventually to the Taj, where terrorists start shooting the guests.

The Taj hotel set is grand (production design by Kolla Avinash), and the action sequences (by Naba) are well choreographed and shot (Vamsi Patchipulusu. But again, there are needless distractions, such as a businesswoman (Sobhita Dhulipala) protecting a foreign girl. Perhaps a little time could have been spared for the hotel employees who went beyond the call of duty to help guests.

There are scenes of a ravenous media foolishly providing intel to the terrorists, which has already been analysed and criticised. There is hardly any interaction between Sandeep and his men, though the commanding officer (Murali Sharma) gets some footage.

There were more unpredictable action set pieces needed, like the one at the hotel pool, because there is not much visual variety in guns blasting and grenades going off. The right emotional and patriotic buttons are pushed (accompanied by Sricharan Pakala’s loud background score).

Who would not sympathise with Isha, feeling neglected and lonely, or the anguished parents, who learn about their son’s death from television reports? Their grief gives the film its lump-in-the throat moments. Adivi Sesh looks the part and plays the soldier with sincerity. Revathi and Prakash Raj imbue their scenes with warmth.

Films that remind audiences of the tough tests thrown at a city and its people are required from time to time and the right heroes placed on pedestals (as opposed to gangsters and other low-lifes). It would help if these films were not so formulaic, and if attempts were also made to better understand the psyche of those who risk their lives for others, instead of getting by with sloganeering short-cuts. The audience applauds in the end, if not for the film’s strengths, then for those heroes, who, for a while, made them feel invincible and proud by proxy.

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‘Major’ movie review: An emotional tribute that works

Director sashi kiran tikka and actor-writer adivi sesh’s tribute to major sandeep unnikrishnan is all heart.

June 03, 2022 03:01 pm | Updated 05:43 pm IST

Adivi Sesh, Saiee Manjrekar, Revathy, Prakash Raj and Sobhita Dhulipala in the film

There are different ways to approach a biopic of a soldier who was killed on a mission. One would be a clinical approach that delineates the soldier’s mettle, culminating in a nail-biting finish that is replete with minute details of the risky operation. The other would be through an emotional lens, attempting to capture the man behind the hero. Director Sashi Kiran Tikka and actor Adivi Sesh who has written the story and screenplay of Major , inspired by the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan who was killed in the 26/11 attacks of 2008, choose the latter method. Their attempt is not perfect, but effective enough to leave viewers moved and thinking of soldiers who stake everything for the nation. And thankfully, there are no jingoistic overtones.

During pre-release interviews, Sashi mentioned how Sandeep’s parents recalled memories of their son, in a non-chronological manner, with the stronger memories popping up first. In the film, K Unnikrishnan (Prakash Raj) recalls Sandeep’s (Adivi Sesh) memories in a similar, non-linear manner. We all know how Sandeep’s story would end during the 26/11 attacks. But Major is not only about him fighting till his last breath, saving hostages at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, from the terrorists. It is about Sandeep, the person, whose loyalty to the nation came above his responsibility towards his parents, sister and spouse. 

Cast: Adivi Sesh, Saiee Manjrekar, Sobhita Dhulipala

Direction: sashi kiran tikka, music: sricharan pakala, languages: telugu and hindi.

Certain portions feel airbrushed, like the childhood scenes that try to establish Sandeep’s fascination for the uniform. And later, when he intervenes in a domestic abuse incident, unmindful of the risk. We get that Sandeep put others’ safety above him, but maybe these segments could have been written and depicted more effectively. The Army training montages are picturised beautifully but do not show Sandeep’s transformation. Did he fail, face setbacks and learn from them? We do not get enough of that learning curve. He is earnest, determined and aces nearly everything.

But these are minor misgivings in the larger picture. As a plot device, narrating Sandeep’s story through his parents Unnikrishnan and Dhanalakshmi helps to give the emotional gravitas. There’s a delicate, sensitive manner in which the relationship between Sandeep and Isha (Saiee Manjrekar) is portrayed, with its breezy romance, warts and all. At one point, when Isha laments that no one would know the sacrifices made by a commando’s family, it hits the right spot. 

A deeply moving segment also involves Isha, and later Sandeep, telling each other at crucial moments, ‘It is better you do not know’. Abburi Ravi’s dialogues convey a lot without melodrama.

A large portion of the film unfolds within The Taj Mahal Palace hotel where the Mumbai police and the elite NSG commandos need to make sense of the maze ahead of them. The terrorists have the blueprint of the hotel and the access cards, while the protecting forces only have their courage, apart from their rifles. There are several wow moments during the operation, almost like a mainstream action thriller. But it is done without diluting the battle that is on. There is also a terrific segment where Sandeep manipulates the media which is live telecasting, unmindful of the harm it is doing to the hostages.

Vamsi Patchipulusu’s cinematography is an asset, moving from the cosy, warm portrayal of Sandeep’s early life and then shifting to the action mode. Sricharan Pakala’s music befits the breezy romance and family drama. 

One can either mull over how much cinematic liberty and dramatisation was required to make this tribute or soak in the narrative that touches the right emotional chords. What makes this tribute work is also the performances all around. Adivi Sesh is effective in showing young Sandeep’s innocence and later as the soldier who tells his peers, ‘don’t come up, I’ll handle them’. This is an internalised performance and his career best. Anish Kuruvilla as the hotel manager and Sobhita Dhulipala as businesswoman Pramoda Reddy are good in their brief, pivotal parts. Saiee Manjrekar is good as Isha. Murali Sharma is effective as always. A word of praise for Prakash Raj and Revathy. Their emotions in the closing moments of the film might move you to tears.

Major lives up to its promise of paying a befitting tribute to Sandeep Unnikrishnan. Do watch out for the end credits to catch snapshots of Sandeep’s life.

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Major movie review: Adivi Sesh’s homage to the 26/11 hero is flawed but effective

Major review: major is far from being perfect. nevertheless, it's an effective homage to the hero of 26/11..

Actor-filmmaker Adivi Sesh has been fascinated by the courage and the story of late 26/11 hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan since he first saw the latter’s passport size photo on a news channel in San Francisco in 2008. Adivi has been a fan of Sandeep since and has collected every news clipping he could find on the braveheart. And the admiration for the real-life hero culminated in a three-hour-long action drama Major.

26/11 is not like the wars that play out at the edges of our land, whose ground conditions fall beyond our grasp of understanding. It was a war that took place right at the heart of our country. It had turned Mumbai into a war zone. And India’s elite force NSG (National Security Guard) was called in to lead the urban warfare. Sandeep and his hit team were put in alien terrain. They didn’t know where the terrorists are hiding. How many terrorists are in the building? What’s their plan? All they knew was they were duty-bound to protect the country against an unimaginable threat.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan was just 31 when he died fighting terrorists at the Taj Hotel in 2008. A chapter in the book Black Tornado: The Three Sieges of Mumbai 26/11 has a detailed account of the last-minute decisions of Sandeep and how he single-handedly charged at the terrorists, pushing them into a corner and achieving a breakthrough in a deadly siege that had rattled the Indian security forces. In the process, he lost his own life, thus becoming the first NSG commander to die in action.

The siege itself provides such an explosive background to whip up an edge-of-the-seat movie. In an interview, Adivi Sesh had told me that the events of 26/11 were just a chapter in Sandeep’s life. And Major was not a film about how he died. But, it was an account of the colourful life he lived.

And Adivi Sesh gets most of it right. Major is not an authentic war movie. It’s very far from realism. Instead, Adivi, who has also written the movie, adds a liberal dose of familiar romanticism that’s typical of such movies made in India. The themes of this film are cliche. Director Sashi Kiran Tikka and editors Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi and Kodati Pavan Kalyan, however, weave the familiar themes into a non-linear narrative, which ebbs and flows.

Major is a very subjective narrative. Adivi has taken immense creative freedom tracing Sandeep’s evolution into an elite soldier from a gentle and kind young man. The film may just work for you if you just focus on the emotional component of it. The training montage of Sandeep feels rather inadequate in its staging as it doesn’t give us a sense of the towering power structure of the Indian army. The boot camp scenes would have benefited from a rather better production value and research. Instead, what we get is a frugally staged training camp, where our hero rarely runs out of breath, breaks into a sweat, has messy hair or loses the glow on his face. In every scene, Adivi looks as if he just got out of a saloon.

The narrative switches into thriller mode, when the story shifts to the Taj Hotel. Again, the staging is carried out without any regard for the rigid pecking order of the army. There are moments when the commanding officer takes command from the subordinate. Some consequential decisions in the military operation are taken based on emotions, rather than objective and strategic cues. A little authenticity would not harm the drama, no?

Prakash Raj and Revathy get to us with their performance as the parents of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan. And the romantic story between Sandeep and Isha, played by Saiee Manjrekar, also strikes a chord, thanks to the youthful exuberance. The camera explores Adivi’s face from different angles. And the camera has been put to use with the sole purpose of showing how good he looks in the movie.

Major is far from being perfect. Nevertheless, it’s an effective homage to the hero of 26/11.

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Review: ‘major’ is a befitting & moving tribute to sandeep unnikrishnan, major is based on the life of sandeep unnikrishnan, who was martyred during the terrorist attacks in mumbai..

“How many more men do I have to lose?”, asks a superior, and Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan gestures, ‘one’. Major is about this one person who loses his life while saving many.

Major , directed by Sashi Kiran Tikka , is based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008. The film is a tribute to him, but it’s a lot more than that.

'Major' doesn’t just talk about the valour and sacrifice the Major makes, but also recognises the sacrifices his wife and parents have to make while he is out protecting the country.

The film not only honours Major Unnikrishnan , the martyr, but also focuses on Sandeep– the person. It’s a film that will leave a lasting, heart wrenching impression on you.

A still from Major.

Unnikrishnan, played by Adivi Sesh, is fascinated with the ‘uniform.’ The glimmer in his eyes is evident and his yearning to save people, without thinking of the consequences, has been established right in the beginning.

Adivi essays the role of a Major almost effortlessly– be it an action or emotional scene, Adivi makes you believe.

Playing Adivi’s childhood sweetheart and wife is Saiee Manjrekar (filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar’s daughter) – a well-sketched and strong character that she plays with minimal flaws as her inexperience reflects in the acting.

Prakash Raj and Revathi play Sandeep’s parents and, as always, bring the characters to life with every dialogue. As grieving parents, the duo has given a performance that will make you cry with them as they mourn the loss of their son. Prakash Raj’s speech in the films will win hearts and drive you to tears.

Sobhita Dhulipala plays a businesswoman, Pramoda, who checks into the Taj on the day of the attack. Her character, though introduced later, is an important one and carries the mantle effortlessly.

The first half of the film is about Major Unnikrishnan the person – the son, his dreams, his friends and his love, both for the uniform and Isha. It’s the second half of the film that explores Unnikrishnan’s life further as the Major of the National Security Guard (NSG). As Unnikrishnan finds himself struggling to be present as a husband and asks for a leave, he is unfortunately called in the same day as tragedy hits the city.

As a trainer of the NSG, Major Unnikrishnan is not supposed to be a part of the rescue mission facing the terrorists– but he challenges that decision and joins the team.

We all know how the 26/11 attacks played out, but director Sashi Kiran Tikka and writer Adivi Sesh have told the story, of course taking cinematic liberties, with comfort. The screenplay and direction work for the film. This 2 hours 10 minutes action-drama is not preachy, and the film does not lead with a patriotic tone.

The action sequences in this film are directed and choreographed beautifully by Naba and Sunil Rodrigues and do justice to the film.

The cinematography by Patchipulusu Vamsi will leave you in awe. The most heart-wrenching shot in the film is towards the end, when Unnikrishnan saves the lives of hundreds and is there by himself, doing what he knows best – protecting.

The background score feels unnecessary in most parts. it’s loud and used in places just for the sake of it. Silence can be a more powerful tool and wish they had used it more in the film.

As someone who has covered the 26/11 attacks, like many other journalists, I felt uneasy and found myself choking up the minute Major Unnikrishnan got off the bus and stood in front of Taj.

It’s a film that will stay with me, make me think of not just of Major Unnikrishnan, his family and many others who lost their lives but also about all the other men in uniform who continue to serve and protect, and their families.

“What is a soldier?”, Unnikrishnan is asked by his superior while training. It’s a question he asks himself even as he braves terrorists in Mumbai on 26/11. Watch this one as he answers the question for you.

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Major Movie Review : A heart-touching tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan and his family

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Major - Official Trailer (Telugu)

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Major | Hindi Song - Saathiya

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Major | Malayalam Song - Oh Isha

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Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Chaitanya Singh Rawat 99 206 days ago

A masterpiece which will move you from within and make you proud and humble for the lives we live.

sa 388 days ago

Rishitborra 12 436 days ago.

Soldier who fight beyond all his limits to save his country from terrorists. And even it made me emotional at its climax part..

User Subrahmanyam 45 450 days ago

A great movie quite inspiring that threatened the best of best Hollywood war movies.Great direction and superb action by adivi sesh.other departments and especially musik are exceptionally made.kudos to maheshbabu;the produçer and tikka the director who made Telugu cinema proud.

deepu rockzz 5 503 days ago

Action packed

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Major movie review

Film: Major Cast: Sesh Adivi, Saiee Manjrekar, Shobita Dhulipala, Prakash Raj Director: Sashikiran Tikka

Story: Sandeep Unnikrishnan is a do-gooder with the potential to be a hero. No wonder the Army was his natural choice. He became a trainer in the National Security Guards, the elite force that was called into action when Mumbai came under a deadly attack by terrorists on November 26, 2008. The film is about how Sandeep tries to save as many lives as he can during the attack.

Analysis: It’s the story of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a brave soldier who sacrificed his life for the nation; but it also depicts the 26/11 attacks. And director Sashi Kiran Tikka submits to the vision of the story told by screenplay writer Adivi Sesh.

The narration is through the eyes of the protagonist's father (Prakash Raj). The makers have used a back-and-forth style to showcase Sandeep’s life and sacrifice – it covers his childhood, college life, romance with his to-be wife, and then the anti-terror operation.

The film delivers what it promises – a portrait of a brave-heart.

Major is Sesh's one-man show for the most part. He wants to tell the story sincerely. And he does it with conviction. And this is undoubtedly Sesh’s career best performance. He has managed to capture the true essence of Sandeep’s life and his heroic efforts impressively in the latter half of the movie.

The action choreography is engrossing in the second half. The terrorists have been shown as ruthless but not in a cliched way. This is where Major shines — it doesn't make the villainy in-your-face. Its focus is firmly on the hero, his bravery and exceptional thinking.

The film’s emotional appeal, particularly towards the end, leaves everyone with moist eyes.

Vamsi Patchipulusu's cinematography and Sricharan Pakala's music are stand-out technical features. Saiee Manjrekar as Sandeep's girlfriend gets as much voice as the hero's parents.

However, the film is not without flaws. Perhaps the pace in the first half could have been steadier. Also, the director took his own time to establish the characters.

It has been many years since the Mumbai Attacks took place. Major is the first attempt to tell a biographical story of that incident. This is not about the terrorists, their ideology, their hatred. This is about Sandeep, his parents, his patriotism, and his poignant moments. The film is also about the daredevil action in the middle of a spine-chilling terror attack.

On the whole, Major movie is a fitting tribute to Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan - it’s a classic film version of a story that deserves to be told!

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Major Review: A Well-Made Biopic

Movie: Major Rating: 3/5 Banner: Sony Pictures International and GMB Cast: Adivi Sesh, Saiee Manjrekar, Sobhita Dhulipala, Revathi, Prakash Raj and others Music: Sricharan Pakala Director of Photography: Vamsi Patchipulusu Editor: Vinay Kumar, Pavan Kalyan Action: Sunil Rodrigues  Production design: Avinash Kolla Producer: Mahesh Babu, Anurag Reddy, Sarat Chandra Written and directed by: Sashi Kiran Tikka Release Date: June 03, 2022

As a child, Sandeep Unnikrishnan (Adivi Sesh) has only one dream: to wear a uniform (Navy or army). Initially, his parents (Prakash Raj and Revathi) are disappointed by his career plans, but they allow him to pursue this dream when they realize that he is serious about serving the nation.

After joining the army, he quickly becomes NSG commander and gets promoted to the trainer of commandos. He also gets married to his childhood buddy Isha (Saiee Manjrekar).

When terrorists attack Mumbai in 2008, Sandeep comes forward to lead the mission despite the fact that trainers don’t involve in operations. The rest of the film is his brave act.

Artistes’ Performances: As Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Adivi Sesh delivers a fine performance. He shows a huge improvement in emotional sequences. His physique and body language fit well. Sesh holds the film entirely. Without a doubt, it is his best act.

Prakash Raj and Revathi are terrific again. Prakash Raj’s emotional speech is the highlight of the film, while Revathi’s breakdown towards the end is heartwrenching. Saiee Manjrekar gets her due finally. She was miscast in Varun Tej’s ‘Ghani’, but makes her presence felt here. Sobhita Dhulipala and Murali Sharma are effective in their short roles.

Technical Excellence: Backed by big production houses like Sony and superstar Mahesh Babu, the team of “Major” spent money liberally to get a rich and superior look.

The production design and the cinematography are first class. In fact, they are a major strength. Sricharan Pakala’s background score is perfect. Abburi Ravi’s dialogues in the climax portion are superb.

Highlights: The patriotic feel Emotional penultimate sequences Slick action, technical output Adivi Sesh as Major Sandeep Cinematography and BGM

Drawback: Regular traits of biopic Some cinematic liberties

Analysis “Major” follows the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an Indian army officer. Sandeep was killed in the 2008, when a terrorist organization carried out bombings and shootings in Mumbai on 26th November in Mumbai.

A couple of films including Ram Gopal Varma’s Bollywood film and web dramas have dealt with the subject of the 26/11 attacks. But “Major” deals with the same topic differently by equally focusing on the life and progression of Sandeep’s career and his actual bravery during the 26/11 operation. 

The makers (directed by Sashi Kiran Thikka with the script by Adivi Sesh) have divided the film into two parts – his life from childhood to his army career forms one part. The first half of the film is all about this. The later part of the movie is devoted to the Mumbai operation. The writer and directors have linked every incident in his life to his decisions as a soldier. Small incidents in his childhood and his teenage life had shaped his thinking.

At one stage of his life, Sandeep faces a question – What is it meant to be a soldier? He doesn’t have the right answer. Sandeep promises the commander that he’d live his life as an answer to his question. This scene reverberates in the line of battle when he leads the Mumbai operation. The two halves of the film are structured in that way.

The story has limitations as it entirely focuses on one man with a larger mission. Thus, the makers have tried dramatizing romantic episodes, and his early life for commercial reasons. But somehow, the first half of the film is not that effective, while the final portions are highly emotional and compelling.

As said, the film gets its mojo in the penultimate portions, and the drama heightens further towards the end. The final 20 minutes are terrific and riveting. You don’t leave the theatre without welling up with emotions.

The action, the performances, the dialogues, the patriotism feel…everything is synched well. Director Sashi Kiran Tikka shows finesse in handling the subject.

The action blocks in the final moments are terrific as well. The speech that Prakash Raj delivers is the icing on the cake. Unlike other movies, it is not preachy. “Sandeep should be not be remembered how he died, but how he lived,” Prakash Raj says. The film, no doubt, focuses on that part – his life.

Coming to its shortcomings, the focus on early life has slowed the proceedings. The predictable scenes between the wife and husband are stretched beyond a point. Some portions remind us of commercial movie traits. The episode of Shobita is not entirely convincing but added some value to drama. Also, the film paints the Mumbai mission as a one-man show, like a typical commercial movie.

All in all, “Major” is a perfect tribute to the brave heart - Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The film is all heart. Adivi Sesh and his team have pulled off an engaging biopic that rouses a patriotic feel.

Bottom line: Watch it

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Major Movie Review: MAJOR is embellished with an engaging second half and bravura performance.

Embellished with an engaging second half and bravura performance by adivi sesh, major pays a fine tribute to the fearless hero of the 26/11 terror attacks, major review {3.0/5} & review rating.

MAJOR is the story of a brave soldier. The year is 1995. Sandeep Unnikrishnan ( Adivi Sesh ) resides in Bengaluru with his father (Prakash Raj), his mother (Revathy) and sister Sandhya. Sandeep is a student and has already made plan to join the defence forces. He gets rejected in the Navy and then tries to enlist in the Army. He succeeds and turns out to be a brave as well as a kind soldier. He marries his childhood sweetheart Isha ( Saiee M Manjrekar ). By the time it’s 2008, he has been posted in Manesar, Haryana as the training officer of the 51 Special Action Group of National Security Guard (NSG). He’s so dedicated to his work that he’s unable to give time to Isha. On November 26, 2008, he gets a letter from Isha that compels him to fly to Bengaluru immediately, where she’s based. However, he has to cancel the ticket when he learns that Mumbai gets rocked by terrorist attacks. He flies with his regiment to Mumbai and heads to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to rescue the citizens and eliminate the terrorists. What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Adivi Sesh's story is a bit clichéd and yet, works. Adivi Sesh's screenplay (script guidance by Abburi Ravi) is quite effective, especially once the 26/11 track commences. He peppers the narrative with some exciting and touching moments. Akshat Ajay Sharma's Hindi dialogues are conversational while a few one-liners are hard-hitting.

Sashi Kiran Tikka's direction is first-rate. He faced a tough challenge as MAJOR is in the same space as SHERSHAAH [2021], which is also a biopic of a brave, deceased soldier, with special focus on his love life. The director, surprisingly, comes out with flying colours as he ensures MAJOR doesn’t give a déjà vu of the Sidharth Malhotra-Kiara Advani starrer. He has treated the film in a very commercial manner. Also, while he succeeds well in the action and thrilling scenes, it’s the emotional aspect which works big time. On the flipside, the first half does not hold too well, especially the love story, as it does not seem organic. The romantic track in the second half, meanwhile, acts as a roadblock. The second half also seems a bit stretched.

MAJOR starts off on a fine note. The childhood and romantic portions are okay. The training scenes initially seemed routine. Thankfully, the scene where Sandeep hands over the glass of water to his colleague and when he bends his knee down in respect in the army mess are quite novel. The intermission point comes at a great juncture. Post interval, except for Isha’s flashback, the film is engaging. The track of Pramoda Reddy (Sobhita Dhulipala) adds to the tension and is well woven with the main narrative. The last 20-25 minutes are superb. The film ends on a very emotional note, though the end speech by Prakash Raj could have been more impactful.

Saathiya – Major | Adivi Sesh & Saiee M Manjrekar  

Adivi Sesh delivers a smashing performance. He looks dashing and also convincing as a trained soldier. Unlike Allu Arjun or Prabhas, he’s not yet known to the Hindi audiences through the dubbed versions of his films. However, after MAJOR, he’s sure to get a lot of prominence across the country. Saiee M Manjrekar looks cute but her performance is not upto the mark. Prakash Raj is dependable as always. The scene where he runs to give the form to Adivi is memorable, thanks to his superb acting. Revathy is first-class. Sobhita Dhulipala is quite good in a supporting role. Murli Sharma (Shera) is fine. The actors playing Sandhya, the foreigner girl Shirley and the villainous army colleague Harsh also deliver good performances.

Sricharan Pakala's music is poor. 'Oh Isha' and 'Saathiya' are well placed but these tracks won’t have a shelf life. Sricharan Pakala's background score is quite powerful and enhances impact.

Vamsi Patchipulusu's cinematography is splendid as its neat and uncomplicated. Avinash Kolla's production design is rich. Sunil Rodrigues' action is one of the USPs of the film. The violence is kept in check and is not gory at all. Rekha Boggarapu's costumes are realistic while the ones worn by Saiee M Manjrekar are glamorous. Annapurna Studios's VFX is first-rate. Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi and Kodati Pavan Kalyan's editing is sharp.

On the whole, MAJOR pays a fine tribute to the fearless hero of the 26/11 terror attacks. The film is embellished with an engaging second half and bravura performance by Adivi Sesh. At the box office, it might not open huge, due to limited buzz and awareness. However, it has the potential to grow big with positive word of mouth.

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