Tubelight (2017)

Tubelight is at its best when it dares to be gentle: a war-time drama that believes empathy can be louder than gunfire, and builds its emotional pull through sincerity rather than spectacle. Set against striking Himalayan vistas, the film’s warm cinematography and soothing music create a quietly luminous mood, while Om Puri and the wonderful child actor Matin Rey Tangu bring texture, humor, and real tenderness to every scene they touch. Salman Khan plays Laxman with an earnest, open-hearted simplicity that makes the story feel like a fable about faith—sometimes naïve, often moving, and occasionally disarming in its optimism. It won’t work for viewers expecting a gritty war film or a fast-paced blockbuster, but if you’re in the mood for something heartfelt, visually pleasing, and unabashedly hopeful, it’s an easy film to root for.

Tubelight is clearly aiming for a gentle, faith-driven anti-war fable with a big-hearted message and a sentimental, small-town simplicity. The problem is that the script and direction often feel thin and meandering, so the emotional beats don’t land with the force the story keeps promising. Salman Khan’s childlike portrayal is a make-or-break choice, and for many it comes off unconvincing enough to pull you out of the film rather than draw you in. If you’re expecting a gripping war drama or sharp storytelling, this can feel bland and tedious, but if you’re in the mood for a slow, earnest moral tale with a few warm moments, you may still find something to like.