Sanak Explained

Sanak
Director:Kanishk Varma
Music:Songs:
Chirantan Bhatt
Jeet Gannguli
Background Score:
Saurabh Bhalerao
Cinematography:Pratik Deora
Editing:Sanjay Sharma
Distributor:Disney+ Hotstar
Runtime:117 minutes
Country:India
Language:Hindi

Sanak is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Kanishk Varma and produced by Zee Studios and Sunshine Pictures. It stars Vidyut Jammwal, Rukmini Maitra, Neha Dhupia and Chandan Roy Sanyal.[1] [2]

Principal photography began in January 2021.[3] [4]

Sanak was digitally released in Disney+ Hotstar on 15 October 2021 to mixed reviews from critics.[5]

Plot

Vivaan Ahuja, a skilled MMA trainer, learns that his wife Anshika Maitra's heart can stop at any time and an operation is required. The operation is successful. As Anshika recovers in the hospital, a terrorist group led by Saju Solanki attack the hospital to retrieve their illegal arms dealer and leader Ajay Pal Singh, who was actually responsible for the deaths of 18 INA soldiers due to his supply of faulty weapons and was moved to the hospital for emergency surgery after his pacemaker was tampered in prison. The hospital patients are taken hostage, including Anshika, while Ajay is unconscious under anesthesia after his surgery. ACP Jayati Bhargav and her team are tasked to free the hostages.

Vivaan, who is just leaving after visiting Anishka is in the hospital basement, oblivious to the invasion until he is attacked by one of the terrorists, where he manages to kill him. Shocked, Vivan takes the black pouch belonging to the terrorist, which contains a walkie talkie and a remote detonator and sneaks back into the hospital. Vivaan meets a hospital guard named Riyaz and a child named Zubin who had been hiding, and befriends them. Jayati is stunned to see that her daughter Aanya is being used by the terrorists, strapped to a bomb. Saju blackmails her, saying that he will blow up the hospital unless she supplies a chopper and a bus to them. Jayathi agrees, but secretly plans to attack them.

Vivaan learns about the hospital's layout with Riyaz's help and plans to attack the hospital's control room so that Saju can't see him coming. Vivan is attacked again but with Zubin's help, he kills the terrorist. The bodies of both terrorists are found and Saju orders Vivaan to be killed. Vivaan manages to contact Jayati intermittently and informs her about Saju. Vivan continues to kill and evade the terrorists stationed around each floor and is finally able to take control of the control room with Riyaz and Zubin. Vivan frees the patients held hostage on the ground floor. Saju, who is on the ninth floor realizes that Vivaan is related to one of the hostages and tries to figure out who it is. Unable to do so, Saju kills a nurse to force Vivaan out of hiding. Ajay wakes up and they plan for their escape.

Vivaan realizes during a conversation with Riyaz that Saju was lying to the police; he was never going to use the bus and chopper he had demanded, but rather escape through the sixth floor. He is actually planning to blow up the stairs and the elevator in order to erase evidence by killing the hostages. Vivaan relays this to Jayati, who decides to trust him and play by his information. Jayathi and her team enter the hospital where they free Aanya and deactivate the bomb. Vivaan kills Saju's accomplice and finally defeats Saju. Saju is eventually killed after the falling elevator collapses on him, and Jayati shoots Ajay to death. Jayati thanks Vivaan for his help, remarking that he should be given a medal for his work but respects his wish to keep his identity away from the media.

Cast

Reception

Critical response

Sanak received mixed reviews from critics.[6]

Bollywood Hungama gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Sanak majorly rests on Vidyut Jammwal's presence and the novel and exciting action scenes."[7] Archika Khurana of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Overall, Vidyut Jammwal's slick kicks, punches and backflips raise the stakes of this action-packed drama."[8] Shubham Kulkarni of Koimoi gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Vidyut Jammwal is the biggest reason to watch Sanak, but cannot be the only attention-grabbing point of the feature length film.[9] Udita Jhunjhunwala of Firstpost gave 2/5 stars and wrote "Sanak over-emphasizes the action, leaving the story and the emotional core under-developed."[10]

Soundtrack

Sanak
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Chirantan Bhatt and Jeet Gannguli
Released:12 October 2021[11]
Recorded:2021
Genre:Feature film soundtrack
Length:14:08
Language:Hindi
Label:Zee Music Company

The film's music was composed by Chirantan Bhatt and Jeet Gannguli while lyrics written by Sameer Anjaan, Manoj Yadav and Rashmi Virag.

The song "O Yaara Dil Lagana" is a remake of the song of same name from the 1996 film Agni Sakshi sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy, composed by Nadeem–Shravan and written by Sameer Anjaan.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Neha Dhupia joins Vidyut Jammwal in 'Sanak'. IANS. 27 January 2021. 12 April 2021. Mid-Day.
  2. News: Sanak: Hope Under unleashed the teaser poster. 25 January 2021. 12 April 2021. Asianet News. 12 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210412075939/https://newsable.asianetnews.com/entertainment/sanak-hope-under-seige-unleashed-the-teaser-poster-ank-qnhpel. live.
  3. News: Veteran producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah begins work on two contrasting projects – Sanak, and Human!. 5 February 2021. 12 April 2021. Zee News. 12 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210412074402/https://zeenews.india.com/people/veteran-producer-vipul-amrutlal-shah-begins-work-on-two-contrasting-projects-sanak-and-human-2339896.html. live.
  4. News: 'Sanak': Vidyut Jammwal to reunite with Vipul Shah for their next actioner. PTI. 28 January 2021. 12 April 2021. The Times of India. 26 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126080248/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sanak-vidyut-jammwal-to-reunite-with-vipul-shah-for-their-next-actioner/articleshow/80462504.cms. live.
  5. News: 29 September 2021. Vidyut Jammwal starrer Sanak to release on Disney+Hotstar on 15 October 2021. Bollywood Hungama. 29 September 2021. 29 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210929065221/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/vidyut-jammwal-starrer-sanak-release-disneyhotstar-15-october-2021/. live.
  6. Web site: Sanak Twitter Review: Netizens hail Vidyut Jammwal-starrer; call it 'Power-Packed action thriller'. Jagran English. 15 October 2021. The film received mixed reviews from critics and audience. 3 October 2022. 3 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221003054447/https://english.jagran.com/entertainment/sanak-twitter-review-netizens-hail-vidyut-jammwalstarrer-call-it-powerpacked-action-thriller-10033640. live.
  7. Web site: Sanak – Hope Under Siege Movie Review: Vidyut Jammwal starrer SANAK rests on Vidyut Jammwal's presence and the novel and exciting action scenes. Bollywood Hungama. 15 October 2021 . 3 July 2023. 9 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221209061712/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/sanak-hope-under-siege/critic-review/sanak-hope-under-siege-movie-review/vidyut-jammwal-starrer-sanak-rests-on-vidyut-jammwals-presence-and-the-novel-and-exciting-action-scenes/. live.
  8. Web site: Sanak Review: Story is predictable, but Vidyut packs a punch. Archika Khurana. The Times of India. October 15, 2021. October 25, 2021. en. 26 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211026000712/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/sanak/ottmoviereview/86671811.cms. live.
  9. Web site: Sanak Movie Review: Vidyut Jammwal Retains The 'Biggest Action Star' Tag, But Loses Hold Of The Plot. Shubham Kulkarni. October 15, 2021. October 25, 2021. Koimoi. en. 25 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211025182707/https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-movies/movie-reviews/sanak-movie-review-vidyut-jammwal-retains-the-biggest-action-star-tag-but-loses-hold-of-the-plot/. live.
  10. Web site: Sanak movie review: Vidyut Jammwal's latest is a hastily put together, Die Hard-inspired mess. October 15, 2021. October 25, 2021. Udita Jhunjhunwala. Firstpost. en. 15 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211015203110/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/sanak-movie-review-vidyut-jammwals-latest-is-a-hastily-put-together-die-hard-inspired-mess-10057401.html. live.
  11. Web site: Sanak – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. 12 October 2021. Jiosaavn. 12 October 2021. 16 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211016044401/https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/sanak/Bj8C5SNS4cw_. live.
  12. Web site: Sanak first song 'O Yaara Dil Lagana' featuring Vidyut Jammwal & Rukmini Maitra out!. India TV News. 11 October 2021. 12 October 2021. 29 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029170716/https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/music/sanak-first-song-o-yaara-dil-lagana-featuring-vidyut-jammwal-rukmini-maitra-out-739762. live.