Spoiler alert!: War Chhod Na Yaar, funny yet formulaic

The movie is a great first attempt at shedding a satirical light on the concept of war but it lacks a decisive point.

We have seen movies that glorify war as a “necessary evil”. Then there are ones that bring Picasso’s anti-war painting Guernica to mind. With the concept of “militainment” emerging to the forefront, especially in Hollywood, war movies often come across as tools of propaganda. In the midst of such macabre representations of war, a movie like War Chhod Na Yaar, billed as being the first to depict the oxymoron “war comedy” in Bollywood, is a breath of fresh air.

Directed by Faraz Haider, the movie is a political satire that comically depicts the gruesome concept of war. According to the Hindustan Times, the movie is set in an Indo-Pak border post and shows incidents that span over 24 hours. What can be termed as gallows humour, the movie shows how men on both sides “indulge in stray shooting to keep their hand in, play Antakshri, and trade locker-room insults”, according to a review by the Indian Express. By showing a cordial relationship between Indian army Captain Raj (Sharman Joshi) and Pakistan army Captain Qureshi (Javed Jaffrey), the movie sends a message en clair: The review also says, “It is the greedy generals and silly politicians in both countries that are interested in war, not the soldier.”



Apart from exploring Indo-Pak relations, Haider also touches upon international politics by bringing in global powers US and China as “complicit” actors in brewing regional tensions. However, Haider’s myopic knowhow of international politics is reflective in the set of clichés that he shows in the film. According to firstpost.com, in what is a clear reference to who is really in charge, Pakistan’s President (Dalip Tahil) is always accompanied by his video-game playing Army Chief (Manoj Pahwa). In addition, the US diplomat (Tahil again) is shown to be killing two birds with a stone by selling arms to facilitate war and make a profit. The “Made in China” jokes are incessant; the Chinese politician who promises to sell Chinese-made nuclear weapons to Pakistan is portrayed as a perpetrator of war. Soha Ali Khan plays the role of a TV journalist in the film and predictably makes eyes at Captain Raj.

War Chhod... is not free of stereotypes and distasteful partiality. While the Indian army officers are shown as disciplined, nourished and happy to be of service to their nation, their Pakistani counterparts appear “almost stupid, demotivated, and an aimless bunch under the weak leadership of an incapable Pak commander (Sanjay Mishra)”, states firstpost.com. It is a pity that a film with so much promise and a commendable message is laden with a grotesque interpretation of the Pakistani side.



While the actors, especially Dalip Tahil, have done a praiseworthy job, the film slows down just when it reaches its climax and eventually falls flat. Despite the stereotypes that the film showcases, it is an enjoyable and welcome change.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2013.

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