Director Suresh Triveni has described his new film, Subedar, as a tribute to the mainstream cinema of the 1980s, the cinema he grew up watching. He also described it as a tribute to the legacy of actor Anil Kapoor's famous character, "Munna" (from the film Tezaab), a time when Hindi film heroes were often pugnacious, vocal against injustice, and capable of single-handedly confronting a host of people.

Subedar is a film in the same vein. The only difference is that the protagonist here is not a young man but a retired army subedar. However, despite several interesting ideas, a convoluted script and incomplete character development prevent the film from being fully effective.

What is the story of Subedar?
The film's backdrop is the illegal sand mining operation in a small town. Babli Didi (Mona Singh), who is imprisoned, runs the illegal sand smuggling business from outside. This entire network is managed by her stepbrother, Prince (Aditya Rawal), and his partner, Safety (Faisal Malik). The deaths of 15 children within a year due to illegal mining have further fueled public anger. Meanwhile, retired Army Subedar Arjun Maurya (Anil Kapoor) is grieving the loss of his wife, Sudha (Khushboo Sundar).

Amidst adverse circumstances, the former soldier proudly declares that he can take a bullet but cannot tolerate humiliation. His daughter Shyama (Radhika Madan) is angry with him because his father was not there for her mother when she needed him.

The story takes a turn when Arjun and Prince argue over car parking. This conflict gradually turns into a battle of ego and revenge. Meanwhile, Babli is trying to secure her bail, while Shyama is grappling with her own struggle. A boy in college constantly harasses her and sends her obscene videos. Shyama faces this situation on her own and does not speak to her father. The film ultimately culminates in a growing conflict between Subedar and Prince.

The film doesn't dwell deeply on any one theme.
Directed by Suresh Triveni, this film covers several social issues, such as the sand mafia, abuse of power, oppression of the vulnerable, women's safety, and friendship. The problem is that while the film touches on all these themes, it fails to fully delve into any one. As a result, the story feels scattered in various directions.

In the script, Subedar's anger is primarily evident when something goes wrong with his car or his daughter, while he appears relatively calm during many instances of injustice. This diminishes the impact of his character. Similarly, Babli's character is not fully developed. The way her power and influence are depicted doesn't translate as effectively on screen. The story doesn't provide much insight into Safeti's past. The layers of Prince and Babli's relationship are also not fully revealed.

The film's technical aspects are relatively strong. The background score effectively heightens the tension in many scenes. The small-town cinematography is beautifully executed and adds to the story's authentic atmosphere. The climax and some key action sequences are also effectively shot. However, the overall tone of the film remains quite serious and heavy. The lack of light humor is felt in the action-packed and confrontation-filled story.

Anil Kapoor's Performance Will Win Hearts
In terms of acting, Anil Kapoor proves to be the film's biggest strength. He strengthens the character of Subedar Arjun Maurya with his restrained performance. As an aging soldier, his discipline, self-respect, and suppressed anger are effectively conveyed. His energy is also impressive in the action scenes.

Aditya Rawal is unique in his portrayal of Prince. He portrays this arrogant and unpredictable character with confidence. Radhika Madan also delivers a sincere performance. Saurabh Shukla and Faisal Malik make an impact in supporting roles, although their characters could have been more fleshed out. Mona Singh stars as a mafia boss, but her character isn't particularly compelling due to poor writing. Khushboo Sundar also makes a strong cameo appearance.

Despite several important ideas and a strong cast, Subedar ends up being a film with immense potential but lacking the space to fully realize it. The film even hints at a possible sequel at the end.

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