The ambitious film “Operation Valentine,” under the direction of newcomer Shakti Pratap Singh Hada, ambitiously takes to the skies as it claims the title of the first Telugu aerial action thriller. Capturing the narrative of a clandestine Indian Air Force mission, the film draws inspiration from genuine events, particularly the Balakot airstrikes in response to the Pulwama attack in 2019. Notably, the lead star, Varun Tej, makes his foray into Hindi cinema with “Operation Valentine,” which was shot concurrently in Hindi to cater to a broader audience in a cinematic landscape where linguistic barriers are rapidly dissolving.
However, for audiences already familiar with “Fighter,” another recent Hindi movie on a similar topic, “Operation Valentine” may unfortunately ring the bells of redundancy. The resemblance to “Fighter” extends not just to the subject matter centered around the Pulwama attack retaliation but also envelops the conventional narrative archetypes so pervasive in the action thriller genre. Varun Tej’s character, Arjun Dev, is drawn from the familiar cloth of a top-notch pilot who defies orders, battles personal demons, and grapples with troubled personal relationships. Sadly, even classic tropes such as these lose their luster, as the film’s script only skims the surface, leaving viewers little to become emotionally invested in.
Arjun Dev is visibly marked by his service, scarred physically and emotionally from past operations, and we watch as he is frequently plagued by nightmares. His bond with his wife, Aahna (portrayed by Manushi Chhillar), a radar officer, stretches taut with worry over his daredevilry in the face of duty, and although we get glimpses into their professional dynamic, their marital subplot lacks the substance needed to firmly establish the stakes and tension.
Much could have been explored regarding the camaraderie amongst the fighter pilots and their kinship during critical junctions, yet these aspects are under-delivered. The fleeting portrayals by Ruhani Sharma and Paresh Pahuja as fellow pilots are enjoyable but just too ephemeral to resonate, while Navdeep’s promising cameo is similarly underutilized. This pattern of superficial character development extends to the assortment of other military personnel depicted, offering them negligible impact on the storyline and depriving the film of much-needed emotional depth. Such lackluster writing and underwhelming visual effects, though partly explainable by budget constraints, significantly inhibit the film’s ability to engage its audience.
In the face of these shortcomings, Varun Tej delivers a committed performance. Yet, his display of quiet suffering and moistened eyes does little to compensate for the script’s lack of complexity. Manushi Chhillar is likewise earnest but constrained by the limitations of the material. Even the cinematic sections devoted to the Pulwama attack and the resulting Balakot airstrikes, intended to pay tribute to the bravery of soldiers, fail to invigorate the viewer, receding into the commonplace rather than elevating the narrative.
As a cinematic experience, “Operation Valentine” aims for the stars but ultimately fails to soar beyond the familiar territory. Despite a promising premise and sincere intentions, the film struggles to distinguish itself, leaving the audience yearning for a fresher take on a story of valor and action above the clouds.
