India’s freedom from British rule is a story we’ve all grown up hearing and retelling. It is one of the most important aspects of our history and there have been many courageous people who were a part of it. One such braveheart was Usha Mehta, who, along with her college friends, started a secret radio to amplify the Quit India Movement in 1942. Kanan Iyyer’s Ae Watan Mere Watan is a narration of how the movement came into being and how Usha and her friends became an important part of the movement. But does this film do justice to Usha Mehta’s incredible story? Read this review of Ae Watan Mera Watan to find out.

The peak of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Do or Die’ movement

In 1942, Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Do or Die’ was at its peak and it gained a lot of attention and followers. It brought a wave of change and started the Quit India Movement by the Congress party. Ae Watan Mere Watan highlights the people associated with the movement and how they contributed to the cause. One such freedom fighter was the fearless Usha Mehta played by Sara Ali Khan. Her determination and courage to lead the country to its independence is a story that hasn’t been told often.

Usha along with Fahad (Sparsh Shrivastav) and Kaushik (Abhay Verma) were a part of the Congress party. But Usha’s father Judge Hariprasad Mehta (Sachin Khedekar) was never in favour of her involvement. Even after his continuous reprimand, Usha never backed down and left her home for the sake of the country. She started a secret radio channel along with Fahad and Kaushik to spread awareness about the movement and to get more people to join the cause.

Sara Ali Khan’s bland portrayal of Usha is a letdown

Ae Watan Mere Watan could have been a brilliant movie only if the makers knew who to cast for the protagonist’s role. Sara Ali Khan is a major letdown as she is unable to show Usha’s courage, fear, excitement, or success. Sara’s acting falls flat and it looks like she is trying too hard to fit into the character’s shoes. Her inability to bring Usha to life makes Ae Watan Mera Watan an extremely slow and unimpressive tale. But Sara’s fellow co-stars Abhay Verma as Kaushik and Sparsh Shrivastav as Fahad deliver fine performances and do justice to their respective characters.

There are other characters like Ram Manohar Lohia (Emraan Hashmi), the leader of the Congress who escapes the police. His character and story bring an equally important angle to the Quit India Movement. But he barely gets any screen time and Sara’s below-average portrayal of Usha Mehta’s heroic character takes centre stage.

Ae Watan Mere Watan is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Can you watch it with your family?: Yes.

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