When homeland tears the heart apart: the emotional battleground of Sarzameen

Streaming on JioHotstar since 25 July 2025, Sarzameen promised to be a soul stirring father son story entwined with patriotism. It stars Prithviraj Sukumaran as Colonel Vijay Menon, Kajol as his wife Meher, and Ibrahim Ali Khan as their missing then militant son, Harman. With Dharma and Star Studios backing it, expectations were sky high. But reality crashed down.

The trailer had lit social media ablaze. Indian audiences buzzed about Ibrahim’s intense new look, long beard, angry eyes, a radicalised young man caught between homeland and hate. Fans called it “fire” online. The premise felt potent: a child stolen, raised by extremists, returning to a family that might not even recognise him.

Why viewers hit pause before the climax

But once streaming began, reactions across Twitter and Reddit turned blunt. Many admitted they simply stopped watching halfway, citing predictable drama, sluggish pacing, and emotional disconnect.

One viewer tweeted:

“Stopped Sarzameen half way. Prithviraj’s performance is bland too among all other issues.”

Another lamented:

“Watched this just for R10. No logic, no emotion, just a boring watch. Predictable story, poor casting & average performances.”

So where did Sarzameen unravel? Critics pointed to thin writing, under developed execution, and tonal confusion. Prithviraj and Kajol tried to inject emotional weight, but were shackled by a screenplay that dragged them down. Ibrahim Ali Khan, despite showing improvement over his 2025 debut Nadaaniyan, was seen as ill fitted for the emotional demands of this material.

Hidden twist: the mother was the real martyr

If you push through the early slow burn, the film finishes with a twist that tries to pack emotional punch. It turns out Meher (Kajol) was actually a covert Indian intelligence agent, leaking information all along in service of the nation. She sacrifices herself, defeats the terrorist mastermind Kabil, and sends life saving codes to Vijay before dying. Meanwhile, Harman redeems himself, defuses a bomb, and reunites with his father. Both haunted. Both grieving.

This “soldier sacrifices for family” reveal lands like a thunderbolt. But its power fizzles because it isn’t deeply earned in the earlier narrative. Critics called it bizarre, illogical, undermining the father’s image as a decorated officer. Many felt it shifted the film into absurd territory.

Prithviraj, Kajol, Ibrahim: star value vs story value

Prithviraj Sukumaran

As Vijay, he tries to balance being a strict soldier and a grieving father. Many praised his presence, and critics said he “can ratchet emotion” when given space. But he wasn’t given much here.

Kajol

Meher is torn between duty and maternal love. Kajol’s performance is the emotional anchor, and some viewers nodded to her intensity bringing the scarce emotional life into the script.

Ibrahim Ali Khan

From a hyper trolled debut in Nadaaniyan, Ibrahim has showed noticeable polish. But many netizens still called him miscast. A young actor breathing life into a militant role far beyond his comfort zone. Prithviraj even came out in his support. He said, criticize him all you want, it’s part of the game.

What Sarzameen says about Indian cinema today

This is an OTT world where regional cinemas are breaking through, and audiences expect tighter tension and smarter stories. Prithviraj himself, on the same day Sarzameen dropped, voiced belief that Odia cinema and other non mainstream industries are on the verge of pan Indian success.

Films like Sarzameen show that star power and nationalism alone no longer guarantee engagement. Indian viewers want emotional stakes, believable characters, and stories that challenge rather than comfort.

Still curious? Three reasons you might click play

See Kajol and Prithviraj in earnest roles. Even a film this flawed can’t erase their on screen intensity

Witness the twist about Meher’s identity. Jarring, under cooked, shock value but bold

Form your own opinion. With so much backlash, it’s rare to find a film that divides so sharply in tone and promise

Final thoughts

Sarzameen is a film built on a powerful concept and a capable cast, but it feels like every story beat was filtered through a patriotic checklist. The core emotional engine misfires in the early scenes, and the twist, while surprising, lacks proper impact. The result is a film that tries too hard to be about duty, patriotism, and sacrifice but ends up feeling distant from its own characters and from its audience.

If you value emotional complexity and storytelling precision, Sarzameen may frustrate. If you’re curious about what went wrong and want to see Kajol and Prithviraj in heavy emotional modes, it may still be worth a look.

Whatever you feel about it, Sarzameen is now part of a bigger conversation about where Indian OTT storytelling is headed and whether patriotism alone can carry a film in 2025.