Whereas stories of courageous soldiers fighting for the country's boundaries are enjoyed with pride, there is another class of war heroes whose bravery goes unrecommended — the secret spies. Their intelligence, sacrifice, and patriotic tales remain a secret. Saare Jahaan Se Achha, a Netflix online series, brings to light these true heroes, releasing just before India's 79th Independence Day to revive respect and patriotism.

Storyline

Having been set in the early 1970s, at a time of the international race for nuclear superiority, the series is based on actual events. Nobel laureate scientist Dr. Homi J. Bhabha backed India's nuclear weapon programme for defense purposes but unfortunately passed away in a plane crash moments after publicly sharing this vision. RAW's genius agent Vishnu Shankar (Pratik Gandhi) was minutes from averting the accident a mishap which tormented him for years.

Soon after, RAW chief Kao (Rajat Kapoor) learns that Pakistan’s then-president Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, still reeling from the 1971 war defeat, is secretly working on developing a nuclear bomb. The mission is spearheaded by ISI’s sharp officer Murtaza Malik (Sunny Hinduja). Vishnu is tasked with sabotaging this plan, setting the stage for an intense game of espionage between two formidable minds.

Positive Points

• Engaging premise blending history, patriotism, and high-stakes spy action.
• Balanced character trajectories — Murtaza's character is constructed as strong and nuanced as Vishnu's, and the competition between them is compelling.
• Superlative performances: Pratik Gandhi is convincing as the stubborn RAW agent; Rajat Kapoor and Tillotama Shome make a lasting impression in every scene.
• Strong technicals — genuine production design, snappy editing, striking cinematography, and evocative background score.

Also Read: Mahavatar Narsimha Movie Review: Ashwin Kumar's Movie Redefines Indian Animation With Mythic Power

Negative Points

• The climax weakens Murtaza’s character, portraying him as helpless at a critical point.
• Over-reliance on Vishnu’s explanatory commentary interrupts immersion. 

Overall: Saare Jahaan Se Achha is a tightly wound spy thriller that pays tribute to the unbranded valor of intelligence officers. Featuring excellent performances, grounded backdrop, and fast pace, it is a good watch to observe Independence Day on Netflix, though with a disappointing climax.