Pippa
- Director
- Raja Krishna Menon
- Studio
- RSVP MoviesRoy Kapur Films
- Release Date
- 9 November 2023
- Running Time
- 139 min
- Language
- Hindi
- Country
- India
- Budget
- ₹70.00 Cr
Review
Pippa attempts to dramatize a significant chapter of Indian military history, but stumbles in its execution where it should soar. Sreesanth's directorial venture follows the Mehta siblings through the 1971 Bangladesh War, and while the premise—three family members serving in different capacities during wartime—offers rich thematic potential, the film dilutes its impact through uneven pacing and a narrative that never quite decides whether it's a character study or a war spectacle. Ishaan Khatter carries the film with a restrained performance as the conflicted Captain Balram, but the supporting cast feels underutilized, particularly in developing the parallel storylines of Major Ram and Radha's cryptography work. The film needed the taut focus of something like Raees or the intimate character work of The Burning Train to justify its sprawling canvas.
What works is the technical framework—the period detail is convincing, and there are moments where the moral ambiguity of war surfaces genuinely. However, the screenplay often resorts to heavy-handed dialogue to explain what could have been shown through action, and the climactic sequences, meant to be cathartic, feel rushed and emotionally hollow. Compared to other Indian war dramas like Border or Lakshya, Pippa never establishes why we should deeply invest in these particular characters beyond their military rank. The film doesn't falter catastrophically enough to be dismissed entirely, but it lacks the conviction and coherence
Storyline
When East Pakistan descended into brutal military crackdown in 1971, India found itself drawn into a devastating conflict. The Pakistani Army's violent suppression of Bengali nationalists sent millions of refugees fleeing across the border, while countless women fell victim to systematic atrocities. Against this backdrop of regional turmoil, one family becomes entangled in the machinery of war through their military service.
Captain Balram Singh Mehta, a headstrong junior officer in the 45th Cavalry, yearns for combat but finds himself sidelined to administrative duties due to his chronic insubordination. His older brother Major Ram, a more disciplined soldier, heads toward the conflict zone while their sister Radha discovers her talents in cryptography and joins an intelligence unit focused on intercepting enemy communications. The three siblings and their mother navigate the uncertainties of wartime from different vantage points across India.
As tensions escalate and the military mobilizes for battle, Major Ram receives covert orders to infiltrate enemy territory and coordinate with local resistance forces fighting the Pakistani occupation. Meanwhile, Captain Balram must overcome his troubled reputation and personal demons if he hopes to contribute meaningfully to the impending campaign. The film traces how these characters find purpose and redemption amid one of history's bloodiest conflicts.