Sardar Udham

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sardar Udham
Official release poster
Directed byShoojit Sircar
Written by
Produced by
  • Ronnie Lahiri
  • Sheel Kumar
StarringVicky Kaushal
CinematographyAvik Mukhopadhyay
Edited byChandrashekhar Prajapati
Music byShantanu Moitra
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon Prime Video
Release date
  • 16 October 2021 (2021-10-16)
Running time
162 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguagesHindi
Punjabi
English

Sardar Udham is a 2021 Indian Hindi-Punjabi-English language biographical historical drama film directed by Shoojit Sircar, and produced by Rising Sun Films in collaboration with Kino Works. The screenplay is written by Shubhendu Bhattacharya and Ritesh Shah, with Bhattacharya also writing the story based on team research, and Shah also writing the dialogues, while playing a supporting role. Based on the life of Udham Singh, a freedom fighter from Punjab who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer in London to avenge the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar,[1] the film starred Vicky Kaushal in the title role, along with Shaun Scott, Stephen Hogan, Amol Parashar, Banita Sandhu and Kirsty Averton in supporting roles.

The film was officially announced in March 2019, with principal photography began on April. In a marathon schedule of 7 months, the makers completed the shooting of the film in December 2019. Set in India and England, principal photography took place in Russia and India, with few sequences in United Kingdom and Ireland.[2] Sardar Udham features musical score composed by Shantanu Moitra, cinematography handled by Avik Mukhopadhyay and editing done by Chandrashekhar Prajapati.

Initially being delayed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the makers headed for a direct-to-digital premiere through the streaming service Amazon Prime Video. The film released on 16 October 2021, during the Dusshera weekend and eventually received widespread critical acclaim, with praise directed on Kaushal's performance, direction, screenplay and technical aspects. The film was also noted for its realistic portrayal of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, being depicted in an extended and graphic sequence. Sardar Udham was listed by several publications as one of the best Hindi films of 2021, and subsequently won five National Film Awards including Best Feature Film In Hindi, as well as nine Filmfare Awards.

Plot[edit]

The film follows a non-linear narrative, going back and forth from the present, where Sardar Udham Singh is in London, to his past when he was part of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) and explores his reasons for assassinating Indian Civil Service officer Michael O'Dwyer. Udham (known as Sher Singh) is released from prison at Punjab in British India. He is constantly being watched by the colonial authorities. He leaves India and goes to the USSR during what appears to be winter. From there, he makes his way to London by ship. Even though the British authorities are on the lookout for him, he successfully evades them and lives in London, making a living as a salesman and then a welder. He is shown in front of Caxton Hall, making his way inside where O'Dwyer is giving a speech on his time as Lt. Governor of Punjab and how he had suppressed a major uprising. Udham makes his way to O'Dwyer and shoots him, and is arrested.

Udham is appointed a lawyer who slowly gets Udham to tell his backstory. Udham is brought to court and in spite of a good lawyer, the judges sentence him to death. Upon hearing this, Udham makes an impromptu speech where he denounces British rule in India and reaffirms his support for the Indian freedom movement. Udham protests the conditions of his detention and goes on a 42-day fast, but is force-fed to break it. He slowly opens up to the investigating inspector and tells him the reasons for the assassination. Udham also got the title of Shaheed-E-Azam.

In 1919, Udham is a young adult working in a textile mill near Amritsar, with a girlfriend who is mute. On 13 April 1919, in favour of O'Dwyer, General Dyer opens fire on a crowd of 20,000 peaceful protestors inside Jallianwala Bagh. Udham is sleeping unaware of the massacre, until his friend wakes him up, mortally wounded and bleeding profusely. He hears about the massacre and rushes to the grounds to help. It is shown that along with a few other volunteers, Udham finds survivors and gets them to a makeshift hospital which is overwhelmed itself. He is later executed and shown to have a photo of Bhagat Singh, taken when Bhagat was in prison during his final days.

After the independence of India, Udham's ashes are brought to the country upon the request of Punjab Chief Minister Giani Zail Singh, and were immersed in the Sutlej river. His ashes were immersed in the same place as his idol, Bhagat. In the final scene, Dyer and O'Dwyer give their own accounts to the Hunter Commission.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Development[edit]

A film based on the life of the Indian revolutionary Udham Singh was announced in March 2019, with Shoojit Sircar directing the film and has Vicky Kaushal playing the lead character.[3] Sircar decided to cast Kaushal in the lead, because he wanted an "actor who is ready to give his heart and soul to the film" and the latter, hailing from Punjab, similar to Udham Singh, also a native of Punjab.[4] Kaushal stated it as his dream project as he admired of Sircar's filmography, further saying "The way he is looking at the character (Udham Singh) and the world is extraordinary as well as beautiful. Plus, it's also a big honour for me that finally, I am going to be directed by him. Honestly, that's something that will take time to sink in".[5] The film marked the second Indian project to be based on the life of the Indian revolutionary after the Raj Babbar-starrer Shaheed Udham Singh (2000).[6]

Shoojit Sircar initially wanted Irrfan Khan to play the lead, but due to health issues,[7] he stepped out working on the film and had insisted to cast Vicky Kaushal in the lead.[8]

The film's storyline traces from Singh's age of 20 to 40, showcasing the events of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, to the assassination of Michael O'Dwyer, the Governor of Punjab who was responsible for the incident.[4] The idea was initially pitched to be presented in mid-1990s, after Sircar read about the events and life of Udham Singh, when he was a student at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh College in Delhi, but had waited for two decades due to his extensive research about Udham Singh, with Sircar wanting to showcase Udham's life to the current generation of younger audiences.[9][10] Initially, the role was offered to Irrfan Khan,[11] and his son Babil Khan was reported to play the younger version of Udham Singh.[12] However, due to the former's health issues, he stepped out doing the role and insisted Kaushal to play the lead.[13][11] Kaushal had undergone physical transformation to represent the younger version of Singh, losing 15 kilograms within two months.[14] In November 2019, Banita Sandhu who worked with Sircar in October (2018), confirmed her presence, saying that she would play an important role in the film.[15] Television and theatre actor Amol Parashar was assigned to play the role of Indian freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.[16][17] Parashar told in an interview with The Indian Express, saying "I didn’t have to copy any other actor’s interpretation because nobody knows how tall he was, how he walked. It’s only through the written accounts, which mostly are about his ideas and thought process. Now we needed to create a person who’s believable. It was more about his energy."[16] The film also has British actors Shaun Scott, Kirsty Averton and Stephen Hogan playing prominent roles.[18] Originally titled Sardar Udham Singh, the title was later changed to Sardar Udham.[19]

Filming[edit]

On the centennial year of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, on 13 April 2019, principal photography began in London (with a 25–day schedule being filmed); the team then moved to Russia in late-April, filming several sequences in Saint Petersburg.[4][20] Since the film is set in the pre-independence era, Sircar wanted to recreate the settings, characters and other things related to that period.[1] Being his first period film, he noted the difficultly he had doing in research, saying "there are few records available and those there are were speculative".[4] He gained ideas on recreating that period by watching American and European cinema, documentaries, and pictures from online archives.[10] Four days before filming started, Kaushal faced injuries while shooting for another film and had 13 stitches on his cheek. But Sircar advised him to come with the shoot saying that Sardar Udham will also have stitches, and shot for his portions with a real scar in his face.[21]

The filmmakers shot a month-long schedule in Russia and the team headed to Ireland and Germany during mid-June 2019.[22][failed verification] With a three-month shooting in parts of Europe and other countries, the team returned to India to commence a schedule in Amritsar, Punjab in October 2019.[23] The schedule went on for 25 days, where sequences featuring the massacre and its aftermath being shot.[24] Vicky Kaushal stated in an interview on the recreation of the incident that "it was physically exhausting, heart-wrenching and emotionally numbing as an individual, but as an actor, we have to be prepared at all sorts. To be thrown into that reality, almost a reality, to imagine yourself in that space. I had to react to dead bodies and all that bloodshed and bloodbath."[25][26] Since the crew were not allowed to shoot the incidents at Jallianwala Bagh, the makers recreated few portions in empty sets in Punjab. Some scenes were also shot at Hoshiarpur.[10] The team later returned to Europe to shoot a few sequences in November.[27] Filming wrapped up on 27 December 2019, after consecutively filming for 6–7 months.[28] The portions set in London were recreated in Russia, excepts for a few sequences which were shot in United Kingdom and Ireland.[10][29]

Post-production[edit]

The film's post-production was scheduled to begin during mid-March 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 lockdown in India.[30] On 8 June 2020, the makers decided to begin post-production activities for the film, with Sircar activating a four-phase plan, starting with the editing process, which would go on for 15–20 days.[31][32] Chandrashkehar Prajapati was the editor of the film, and during the editing process, only the director, editor, and his assistants were allowed inside the editing room, working while strictly adhering to social distancing protocols, and had to complete all editing works before the night curfew at 7:00 p.m.[33] He also felt grateful that the film industry has developed an app that allowed them to share edited content, frame by frame, with explanatory comments, back and forth through the internet.[34] Sircar wanted to resume visual effects in the second phase of post-production, but this was pushed back, as this required a larger crew of about 150–200 people.[35][36]

Composer Shantanu Moitra worked on the film's score during June 2020.[32] During mid-September 2020, the filmmakers resumed work on visual effects.[37] Work on the sound design resumed in October, as the last phase in the post-production process. A part of the sound design was done in Europe, and another part took place in-house in Kolkata.[35] Other activities such as digital intermediate, color grading and pre-visualization eventually began during early-2021.[32] As per the suggestion of cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay and other crew members — executive producer Kumar Thakur, art directors Mansi Mehta and Dmitriy Malich — the filmmakers focused on the use of colour palettes with a gray-colored theme during the foreign sequences, and a sepia-colored theme for the sequences in Amritsar.[10] Vicky Kaushal completed dubbing for his portions in September 2021.[38]

Music[edit]

Sardar Udham is a song-less film; its soundtrack featured six instrumental compositions used in the film score curated and composed by Shantanu Moitra,[35] which was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown period in June 2020, and were produced by George Joseph.[32][39] The soundtrack was released by Zee Music Company on 2 October 2021.[40]

Release[edit]

In June 2019, Shoojit Sircar announced that the film would be released theatrically on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti (2 October 2020),[41] while also rumoured to be clashing with Satyameva Jayate 2 and Jayeshbhai Jordaar.[42][43] However, the film was later rescheduled for release on 30 December 2020,[44][45] which was also postponed, since post-production was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[46] Despite the delays, Sircar decided to release the film in theatres, unlike other major Hindi films, which debuted on digital streaming platforms ever since the closure of theatres across the country due to the pandemic.[47]

In September 2021, the producers headed for a direct-to-digital release, considering that theatres were reopened but only in limited states,[48] and also the government did not allow permission to resume operations of theatres in Maharashtra until 22 October 2021.[49] The producers later sold the distribution rights of the film to Amazon Prime Video,[50] which scheduled for a release date of 16 October 2021, coinciding with Dusshera weekend.[51] On 27 September 2021, the filmmakers released the teaser of the film, which introduced its theme and premise in a unique way.[52][53] Three days later, on 30 September, the official trailer of the film was launched at an event in Mumbai, with the presence of Vicky Kaushal and Shoojit Sircar, along with the film's crew.[54][55] The trailer received positive response from fans.[56][57]

Kaushal shared his working stills of the film prior to the release, and also shared facts about Udham Singh, in his Instagram account.[14][58] On 15 October 2021, a day prior to the release, a special screening of Sardar Udham was conducted to the press, critics and celebrities at a theatre in Mumbai.[59][60] On the night of the same day, Amazon Prime Video released the film earlier ahead of the scheduled release of 16 October, in more than 240 countries and also in Hindi, Punjabi and English languages.[61]

Reception[edit]

Vicky Kaushal received high critical acclaim for his portrayal of Udham Singh

The film received widespread critical acclaim, praising the performances of Kaushal and the supporting cast, realistic portrayal of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the setting of pre-independent India, technical aspects, script and direction. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 18 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10.[62]

Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave a positive review stating it as "a long, unhurried re-creation of a turbulent slice of India’s colonial past, going back and forth from Punjab to London, with a few detours here and there".[63] Anna M. M. Vetticad of Firstpost also gave a positive review stating "Shoojit Sircar has chosen to recount a remarkable (and painful) true story with a reliance on facts and facts alone", and further stated "The atrocities committed by the British colonisers in India are epitomised by the cruelty of Jallianwala Bagh. It is nothing short of a feat that Sircar has managed to chronicle that tragedy and its aftermath without turning his film into a call for vendetta. Both in terms of artistic merit and the political statements it makes, Sardar Udham is a landmark for Indian cinema."[64]

Namrata Joshi of National Herald India wrote "Shoojit Sircar’s biopic of the patriot is a stunning slice of history mirroring our fractious present and cautioning us about the pitfalls of the future".[65] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV stated "The brilliantly lensed biopic also draws power from lead actor Vicky Kaushal's intense and intuitive performance. Sircar combines a portrait of shocking brutality with a depiction of one man's determination not to back off from his risky stratagem. There is a phenomenal degree of craft in Sardar Udham but none of it is employed for mere effect. There is great deal of soul, too, in this magnificently crafted film."[66] Renuka Vyahare of The Times of India stated "This film is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode but beware; the wait tries your patience. The intention is to give a lull before the storm treatment to storytelling. The non-linear, non-verbose narrative struggles to hold your attention even an hour into the movie. The re-enactment of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is unsettling to watch and that is the very reason why this story needed to be told."[67] Writing for The Week magazine, Aishwarya Venugopal stated "For the biopic of a revolutionary, the film does not throw punch dialogoues or the over-used trope of jingoism. Instead, Sircar takes the viewer smoothly, yet painfully, through his turbulent life".[68] Anuj Kumar of The Hindu stated "Shoojit Sircar explores contentious definitions and concerns, as India continues to grapple with the idea of dissent, and Section 144 remains a repressive tool in the hands of the government of the day".[69]

Soumya Srivatsava of Hindustan Times wrote "Sardar Udham, if there was ever any doubt, also proves once again that Shoojit Sircar is in top form and among the most dependable filmmakers in Hindi cinema right now. From slices of lives to biographies on historical heroes, he has been able to give his distinct stamp to any idea he has picked up. Hope the streak continues another 20 years."[70] Nandini Ramanath of Scroll.in stated "Sardar Udham follows a handful of biopics about a historical figure whose colourful life readily lends itself to fictionalisation. The creators, bravely but also puzzlingly resist the temptation to include what might have been a shoo-in. The non-linear screenplay by Shubendu Bhattacharya (who also has a story credit) and Ritesh Shah is based on facts but takes creative licence with them."[71] On the other hand, Syed Firdaus Ashraf of Rediff gave a mixed review saying "You neither get goosebumps nor the adrenaline rush of desh bhakti (patriotism), which a film like Sardar Udham should give every Indian. But a story of an unsung hero is needed to be told and hats off to Shoojit Sircar for doing that."[72]

Several publications listed Sardar Udham as one of the best Bollywood films of 2021, which includes: The Indian Express (Shubhra Gupta and Minnasa Shekhar),[73][74] Film Companion (Anupama Chopra),[75] Hindustan Times (Devarsi Ghosh),[76] The Hindu (Anuj Kumar),[77] India Today (Anandita Mukherjee)[78] and Firstpost (Subhash K. Jha).[79] Forbes named it 2021's Best Hindi film with a social message.[80]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Award Date of the ceremony Category Recipients Result Ref.
IIFA Awards 3–4 June 2022 Best Film Rising Sun Films, Kino Works, Amazon Prime Video Nominated [81]
Best Director Shoojit Sircar Nominated
Best Actor Vicky Kaushal Won
Best Cinematography Avik Mukhopadhyay Won
Best Editing Chandrashekhar Prajapati Won
Best Special Effects NY VFXWALA Won
Filmfare Awards 30 August 2022 Best Film Rising Sun Films, Kino Works, Amazon Prime Video Nominated [82]
[83]
Best Director Shoojit Sircar Nominated
Best Film (Critics) Won
Best Actor Vicky Kaushal Nominated
Best Actor (Critics) Won
Best Screenplay Shubendu Bhattacharya, Ritesh Shah Won
Best Dialogue Ritesh Shah Nominated
Best Production Design Mansi Dhruv Mehta, Dmitrii Malich Won
Best Cinematography Avik Mukhopadhyay Won
Best Costume Design Veera Kapoor Ee Won
Best Editing Chandrashekhar Prajapati Nominated
Best Sound Design Dipankar Chaki, Nihar Ranjan Samal Won
Best Background Score Shantanu Moitra Won
Best Special Effects NY VFXWALA Won
National Film Awards 24 August 2023 Best Feature Film in Hindi Sardar Udham Won [84]
Best Cinematography Avik Mukhopadhyay Won
Best Audiography Sinoy Joseph Won
Best Production Design Dmitri Malich-Konkov, Mansi Dhruv Mehta Won
Best Costume Design Veera Kapur Ee Won

Controversies[edit]

Copyright issues[edit]

A biopic was made on the revolutionary Udham Singh, as Shaheed Udham Singh (2000) before Sardar Udham was conceptualised.[6] The film's producer Iqbal Dhillon sent a public notice to Kaushal and Sircar claiming over the copyright of the film's biopic. The notice had stated "We, Surjit Movies and Iqbal Singh Dhillon are the producers and the sole, exclusive and absolute owners of copyrights and all other rights and to all the works of the Punjabi and Hindustani film Shaheed Udham Singh: Alias Ram Mohammed Singh Azad."[85] In defence, few sources had stated that team did not borrow anything from that film and further added that by 2000, all his life's work is copyright free and the team will not have any trouble for the film, unless the family of Udham Singh have any issue with the content.[85]

Academy Award submission[edit]

The film was shortlisted among 14 other Indian films to be submitted at the 94th Academy Awards under the nomination of Best International Film category.[86][87] However, it was not selected. The jury members — Bengali music composer-director Indraadip Dasgupta and production designer Sumit Basu — criticised the length of the film and its delayed climax, which was the reason for not being selected to the nominations.[88] The latter, however, stated that the film projects "hatred towards the British".[89][90] The decision from the jury members received some backlash, calling their reasons "baseless".[91] However, the director Shoojit Sircar and Vicky Kaushal respected the jury's decision as "a personal and subjective opinion".[91][92] They however supported the Tamil film Koozhangal, which was selected as the official entry to the award ceremony, but that was also not nominated.[93][94][95]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Vicky Kaushal kicks off Sardar Udham Singh, details of his character and shoot schedule revealed". Bollywood Hungama. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Vicky Kaushal's look from Shoojit Sircar's film Udham Singh revealed". Mid-Day. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Vicky Kaushal to play freedom fighter Udham Singh in Shoojit Sircar's next". India Today. 2019. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Bhattacharya, Roshmila (2019). "Shoojit Sircar: Vicky Kaushal's intensity and anger convinced me he was Udham Singh". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Vicky Kaushal to play Udham Singh in Shoojit Sircar's next". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Vicky Kaushal to play freedom fighter Udham Singh in Shootjit Sircar's next". Cinema Express. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Vicky Kaushal: Irrfan Khan was Supposed to Play Sardar Udham Singh, Nobody Can Fill His Shoes". News18. 13 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Vicky Kaushal dedicates 'Udham Singh' to Sardar Udham Singh and Irrfan Khan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  9. ^ Sudevan, Praveen (13 October 2021). "Why Shoojit Sircar had to wait for two decades to make 'Sardar Udham'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e Jhunjhunwala, Udita (8 October 2021). "How Shoojit Sircar travelled back in time for his Udham Singh biopic". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  11. ^ a b "21 year wait to Irrfan Khan being the original choice, 5 revelations about Vicky Kaushal starrer Sardar Udham". PINKVILLA. 9 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Babil was supposed to play Irrfan Khan's younger version in 'Sardar Udham', says producer". Deccan Herald. 10 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  13. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Shoojit Sircar and Vicky Kaushal on Irrfan Khan and Sardar Udham: 'Moving on was difficult'". PINKVILLA. 7 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Vicky Kaushal's extreme transformation for 'Sardar Udham' will make your jaw drop". DNA India. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  15. ^ ""Yes I'm doing Sardar Udham Singh," October actress Banita Sandhu is back in Shoojit Sircar's Udham Singh". Bollywood Hungama. 19 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 December 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Amol Parashar on playing Bhagat Singh in Sardar Udham: 'I didn't have to copy any other actor's interpretation'". The Indian Express. 30 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  17. ^ Maheshwri, Neha. "Amol Parashar to play Bhagat Singh in Vicky Kaushal's 'Sardar Udham Singh'". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  18. ^ "Vicky Kaushal and Sardar Udham actor Shaun Scott's unseen BTS pic gives us a glimpse of their friendship". PINKVILLA. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Sardar Udham Trailer: Vicky Kaushal and Shoojit Sircar FINALLY REVEAL the truth about the title change". Bollywood Life. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Sardar Udham Singh first look: Vicky Kaushal returns as an intense freedom fighter". India Today. 2019. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  21. ^ "Vicky Kaushal on shooting for Sardar Udham after injury: 'I had 13 stitches on my face'". The Indian Express. 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  22. ^ "Vicky Kaushal goes black and white for his latest Instagram post; shares an intense look". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  23. ^ "'Sardar Udham Singh': Vicky Kaushal seeks blessings at Golden Temple ahead of film's second schedule in Amritsar". DNA India. 4 October 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  24. ^ "Vicky Kaushal visits Amritsar's Golden Temple before start of next schedule of Sardar Udham Singh. See pic". Hindustan Times. 4 October 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  25. ^ "Vicky Kaushal on shooting Jallianwala Bagh scene in Sardar Udham: 'I had to react to dead bodies and bloodshed'". Hindustan Times. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  26. ^ "India Today Conclave 2021: Vicky Kaushal says shooting Sardar Udham's Jallianwala Bagh scene was numbing". India Today. 2021. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  27. ^ "Vicky Kaushal witnesses snowfall for the first time on the sets of 'Sardar Udham Singh'; shares picture on social media". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  28. ^ "'Sardar Udham Singh': Makers call it a wrap for the much awaited Vicky Kaushal starrer". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 October 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  29. ^ Mankad, Himesh (17 June 2019). "Shoojit Sircar's Udham Singh biopic to release on October 2, 2020". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Vicky Kaushal announces post-production of Shoojit Sircar's 'Sardar Udham Singh' to start from tomorrow!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  31. ^ ""There Is A Call Again": Shoojit Sircar To Begin Post-Production Of Sardar Udham Singh". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  32. ^ a b c d "After wrapping up 'Sardar Udham Singh' in December, Shoojit Sircar resumes post-production with a four-phase plan". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  33. ^ Kanyal, Jyoti (8 June 2020). "Sardar Udham Singh: Post-production of Vicky Kaushal film begins today". India Today. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  34. ^ "Sardar Udham Singh: Vicky Kaushal shares a BTS picture and reveals the post production resumes from tomorrow". PINKVILLA. 7 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  35. ^ a b c Bhattacharya, Roshmila (2020). "After wrapping up Sardar Udham Singh in December, Shoojit Sircar resumes post-production with a four-phase plan". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Vicky Kaushal-starrer 'Sardar Udham Singh' not hugely affected by pandemic". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Vicky Kaushal's Sardar Udham Singh team to work in 4 phase plan, Shoojit Sircar says Jan 2021 looks difficult". PINKVILLA. 9 June 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  38. ^ Srivastava, Samriddhi (10 September 2021). "Vicky Kaushal completes dubbing for Sardar Udham Singh, says it with a pic". India Today. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  39. ^ "Vicky Kaushal reveals how he found the state of mind of Udham Singh as he unveils BG score of Sardar Udham". PINKVILLA. 3 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  40. ^ "Sardar Udham – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack". Jiosaavn. 2 October 2021. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  41. ^ "Sardar Udham Singh: Vicky Kaushal, Shoojit Sircar's period drama to release on 2 October, 2020". Firstpost. 17 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  42. ^ "Shoojit Sircar's Udham Singh biopic to release on October 2, 2020". The Indian Express. 17 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  43. ^ "'Sardar Udham Singh' to be released in October 2020". Scroll.in. 17 June 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  44. ^ "Sardar Udham Singh: Vicky Kaushal film to release on January 15, 2021". India Today. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  45. ^ "Vicky Kaushal's Sardar Udham gets postponed, will release in January 2021: 'His story deserves justice onscreen'". Hindustan Times. 13 March 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  46. ^ "Vicky Kaushal says post-production of Sardar Udham Singh to resume on Monday, shares throwback pic from set". Hindustan Times. 7 June 2020. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  47. ^ "Vicky Kaushal starrer Sardar Udham Singh biopic to release in theatres". filmfare.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  48. ^ "Vicky Kaushal's Sardar Udham to Have OTT Release in October, Actor Announces With New Poster". News18. 24 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  49. ^ "Vicky Kaushal's Sardar Udham Singh aiming for OTT release?". The Indian Express. 12 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  50. ^ Keshri, Shweta (24 September 2021). "Vicky Kaushal's Sardar Udham to release on Amazon Prime Video in October". India Today. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  51. ^ Jha, Lata (24 September 2021). "Vicky Kaushal-starrer 'Sardar Udham' to premiere directly on Amazon Prime Video". mint. Archived from the original on 4 November 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  52. ^ "Sardar Udham Singh Teaser: Vicky Kaushal Has "One Mission" And "Many Faces"". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  53. ^ "Sardar Udham Teaser: Vicky Kaushal Has 'One Mission, Many Aliases'". TheQuint. 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  54. ^ "Sardar Udham trailer launch: Vicky Kaushal greets audience with folded hands". Hindustan Times. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  55. ^ "'Sardar Udham' trailer launch: Vicky Kaushal, Shoojit Sircar open up about tracing Udham Singh's story as they spill secrets from the sets". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  56. ^ "Sardar Udham trailer: Vicky Kaushal is a patriotic avenger in Shoojit Sircar's new Amazon film". Hindustan Times. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  57. ^ "Sardar Udham Trailer: Vicky Kaushal Brings The Story Of A "Man Unforgotten" To Life". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  58. ^ "Vicky Kaushal looks intense in Sardar Udham's new photo, shares story of the revolutionary". The Indian Express. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  59. ^ "Sardar Udham: Vicky Kaushal's Film Screening Attended by Babil Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Malavika Mohanan". News18. 15 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  60. ^ "Katrina Kaif joins Vicky Kaushal for Sardar Udham screening, Kiara Advani, Sidharth Malhotra also attend". Hindustan Times. 16 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  61. ^ "Vicky Kaushal starrer Sardar Udham to premiere On Amazon Prime Video on October 16; teaser unveiled". Bollywood Hungama. 27 September 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  62. ^ "Sardar Udham". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  63. ^ Gupta, Shubhra (17 October 2021). "Sardar Udham review: A turbulent slice of India's colonial past". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  64. ^ Vetticad, Anna MM (18 October 2021). "With Sardar Udham, Shoojit Sircar shows how a patriotic film can be made sans lies, loudness or hate". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  65. ^ Joshi, Namrata (16 October 2021). "'Sardar Udham': A dedication to dissent". National Herald India. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  66. ^ Chatterjee, Saibal (16 October 2021). "Sardar Udham Review:Vicky Kaushal Delivers His Best Performance To Date". NDTV. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  67. ^ "Sardar Udham Review: Sardar Udham is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode", The Times of India, archived from the original on 30 October 2021, retrieved 30 October 2021
  68. ^ "'Sardar Udham' review: Vicky Kaushal delivers his best performance to date". The Week. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  69. ^ Kumar, Anuj (16 October 2021). "'Sardar Udham' movie review: Nuanced portrait of the pride and pain of a revolutionary". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  70. ^ "Sardar Udham movie review: Vicky Kaushal is bewitching in one of the boldest, most traumatising Hindi films ever made". Hindustan Times. 16 October 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  71. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (16 October 2021). "'Sardar Udham' review: A portrait of a man of history and mystery". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  72. ^ Ashraf, Syed Firdaus (18 October 2021). "Sardar Udham Review". Rediff. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  73. ^ "Shubhra Gupta's list of the best movies of 2021, and why no Bollywood biggie made the cut". The Indian Express. 7 January 2022. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  74. ^ "Best and worst Bollywood films of 2021: Sardar Udham, 83, Radhe on the list". The Indian Express. 29 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  75. ^ Best Hindi Films of 2021 | Anupama Chopra | Film Companion, archived from the original on 9 January 2022, retrieved 9 January 2022
  76. ^ "Best Indian films of 2021: Karnan and Sherni to The Disciple and The Great Indian Kitchen". Hindustan Times. 31 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  77. ^ Kumar, Anuj (25 December 2021). "Hindi cinema in 2021: From '83' to 'Sardar Udham' and more". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  78. ^ Mukherjee, Anindita (29 December 2021). "Year-ender 2021: 83 to Shershaah, best Bollywood films of the year". India Today. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  79. ^ "First Take | Movies that made the year 2021 worth it". Firstpost. 9 January 2022. Archived from the original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  80. ^ "Sardar Udham 2021's Best Hindi Film With A Social Message". Forbes. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
  81. ^ "IIFA 2022 Awards full winners list: Vicky Kaushal-Kriti Sanon win big, Shershaah awarded Best Picture". The Indian Express. 5 June 2022. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  82. ^ "Nominations for the 67th Wolf777news Filmfare Awards 2022". Filmfare. The Times Group. 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  83. ^ "Winners of the Wolf777news Filmfare Awards 2022". Filmfare. The Times Group. 31 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  84. ^ "69th National Film Awards 2023 complete winners list: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun win big". The Indian Express. 24 August 2023. Archived from the original on 25 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  85. ^ a b "Udham Singh in controversy". Deccan Chronicle. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  86. ^ Rishita Roy Chowdhury (21 October 2021). "Sherni and Sardar Udham shortlisted for India's official entry to Oscars 2022". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  87. ^ "'Sherni', 'Sardar Udham' among 14 films shortlisted for India's official entry to the Oscars". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  88. ^ "Sardar Udham 'projects hatred towards British': Jury member on not sending film to Oscars, fans say 'truth is bitter'". Hindustan Times. 26 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  89. ^ "Indian jury rejected film as Oscar entry for projecting 'hatred towards British'". The Independent. 26 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  90. ^ Maru, Vibha (26 October 2021). "Sardar Udham shows hatred towards British, jury on not sending film to Oscars. Fans are furious". India Today. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  91. ^ a b "Vicky Kaushal reacts after 'Sardar Udham' was not sent for India's official entry for the Oscars". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  92. ^ "Shoojit Sircar terms decision to not send Sardar Udham for Oscars 'very subjective', jury member had said film 'projects' hatred for British". The Indian Express. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  93. ^ "Vicky Kaushal reacts to Sardar Udham-Oscars row: 'We should now root for Koozhangal'". Hindustan Times. 29 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  94. ^ "'Koozhangal is the perfect choice': Shoojit Sircar responds to Sardar Udham-Oscars row". The News Minute. 30 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  95. ^ "Controversy Surrounds Rejection of 'Sardar Udham'". Rwmedia. 20 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.

External links[edit]