The Expression Hub

Starring: Adivi Sesh, Saiee Manjrekar, Sobhita Dhulipala, Revathi, Prakash Raj, Murali Sharma

Directed by: Sashi Kiran Tikka

Genre: Biographical/ Action

” I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.”

-Maya Angelou

There are films that entertain. There are films that inspire. And then there are films that make you sit in silence long after the credits roll. It fills your throat with a lump in the throat and a sense of gratitude for the same. After all, guarding your nation with your life is not an easy task.

Not every hero wears a cape. Some wear a uniform. But amongst those there are very few that have a unshakeable sense of purpose. A purpose so unshakeable that no bullet, no terrorist, and no amount of darkness can ever extinguish.A man whose name you may have heard in passing. His full story-the love, the laughter, the losses, the last breath — very few truly know.That is exactly what this film set out to change.This week’s pick revolves around the story of one such hero. A hero who laid down his life during a terrorist attack that rattled the financial capital of the country. Who was he and why is his story a great one ? Read on to find out .

Storyline: Major narrates the life story of Sandeep Unnikrishnan. From an early age, Sandeep was fascinated by the military. This spark was lit by when his father took him to a Navy ceremony as a young boy. He went on to join the Indian Army, rose through the ranks, and eventually became a trainer for the elite 51 Special Action Group of the National Security Guard (NSG).

But here’s the thing about Sandeep’s journey that the film captures so honestly — it wasn’t a straight line. There were setbacks. There were moments of self-doubt. There were doors that shut before they opened. But Sandeep had this rare quality about him — he didn’t quit. Not because he was fearless, but because his love for what he did was simply bigger than any obstacle in his way.

And that is the heart of this film. This movie tries to celebrate the man he was- a son, a husband, and above all — a human being who chose duty over everything.

Scrutiny:What makes Major stand apart from the usual wave of patriotic biopics is its choice of focus. Rather than leading with a chest-thumping nationalist tone, the film asks a quieter, more profound question: Who was Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the person?

If there is one reason to watch Major, it is Adivi Sesh. The actor, who also wrote the screenplay, doesn’t just perform — he transforms.

The supporting cast deserves equal praise. Prakash Raj as K. Unnikrishnan is quietly devastating — a father who holds himself together while his heart breaks. Revathi as Dhanalakshmi brings a gentle warmth to every scene she’s in. Saiee Manjrekar as Isha — the woman who loved Sandeep deeply, perhaps without ever fully understanding the world he lived in — is both convincing and emotionally resonant.

Director Sashi Kiran Tikka too demonstrates remarkable restraint throughout the film. He keeps the film grounded in character. The romance sequences in the first half feel genuinely youthful and sweet, while the tension-filled sequences inside the Taj in the second half are masterfully staged.

The music by Sricharan Pakala elevates the film significantly. The background score during the action sequences is pulse-pounding, while the quieter emotional themes underscore the personal tragedy of the story with great sensitivity. Shot across 75+ locations in 120 days on a budget of ₹32 crores, the film punches well above its weight in terms of production value.

Sentiment: In an era where biopics are churned out on an assembly line, often more interested in spectacle than substance, Major is a reminder of what the genre can be at its best. It humanises a hero at a time when we tend to either over-mythologise or forget those who sacrifice everything for us.

Films like Major remind us that heroism is not one dramatic act — it is a lifetime of quiet choices.

The film also forces us to reflect on the families left behind. The parents who watched the news and only then learned their son had run into a burning building. The wife who found out he never signed the divorce papers. These are the kinds of truths that no medal can ever fully honour.

Verdict: Major is an emotionally rich, skillfully crafted biopic that succeeds where many others fail.

It is imperfect in small ways, as most ambitious films are, but its heart is undeniably in the right place. This is a film that India needed, and one that Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s legacy richly deserves.

Rating: ****

Quote-Unquote: “Sandeep should be remembered not for how he died, but for how he lived.” (Sandeep’s father while addressing a commemoration)

Que : Name the bus stand where Isha meets Sandeep.

a. Hampi

b. Udupi

c. Gokarna

d. Kalasipalya

Share This Story — Because Some Heroes Deserve to Never Be Forgotten

If this post moved you, if it reminded you of a story you want more people to know, please share it. Share it with your friends, your family, your colleagues — anyone who deserves to know the name Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.

Use the buttons below or simply copy the link and send it to someone today. Because the best way to honour a hero is to make sure the world never stops talking about them.

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Did you watch Major? What scene hit you the hardest? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — I would love to hear from you. And if you have not then do give it a watch and then share what part of the movie appealed to you in the comments section.