Major (2022)

Major earns its power by refusing to turn heroism into a slogan; it treats Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan as a full human being first, and that’s why the courage hits so hard. Sashi Kiran Tikka directs with a steady, grounded hand, balancing intimate moments of love, doubt, and family with action sequences that feel tense and purposeful rather than showy, while Adivi Sesh delivers a performance that’s quietly magnetic and deeply felt. The film’s vibe is earnest, patriotic without being preachy, and designed to leave you moved—less a chest-thumping war movie than a heartfelt tribute to a life of service. It is long and emotionally heavy, so if you’re not in the mood for a tearful, reverent biopic, it may not be your pick, but if you want a stirring true story told with sincerity and craft, it’s absolutely worth your time.

Major is clearly trying to be a respectful, chest-thumping tribute to Sandeep Unnikrishnan, mixing a personal love story with the urgency of the 26/11 attacks and a soldier’s sense of duty. When it works, the action is tense and the sincerity is hard to dismiss, and Adivi Sesh brings committed, likable intensity to the role. But the film often leans into hero-worship mode, with heavy-handed speeches, emotional cue cards, and a glossy action-movie style that can feel more like myth-making than lived-in realism. If you prefer grounded biopics that trust the audience and avoid sentimentality, this may test your patience; if you’re up for an unabashed patriotic drama designed to make you feel proud and devastated in equal measure, it’ll likely land.