Director: Sarvesh Mewara
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anshul Chauhan, Varun Mitra, Ashish Vidyarthi, Vishak Nair, Kashyap Shangari, Sunit Tandon, Rio Kapadia, Mohan Agashe, Mushtaq Kak, Lovlesh Khaneja
Rating – 1 
 
"Tejas," directed by Sarvesh Mewara and starring Kangana Ranaut, unfolds as a propaganda film aligning with Right-wing politics, echoing the sentiments of the current regime in India. The film attempts to blend patriotism, nationalism, and communal messaging, resulting in a cinematic disaster that fails both as a narrative and a piece of propaganda.
 
The film's narrative relies on predictable tropes, introducing a token Muslim character portrayed as a patriot to convey a message about communal harmony. The plot emphasizes the demonization of Pakistan and subtly inserts a subplot about the 2011 Mumbai attacks to further its polarizing agenda. Kangana Ranaut's character, Tejas, is portrayed as an embodiment of the nation and nationalism, capable of doing anything.
 
Despite its overt political intent, "Tejas" falters in execution, making it a poorly made film that struggles to register its offenses. The film's attempts at propaganda become laughable due to its lack of coherence, toothless storytelling, and morbid detachment from reality. The portrayal of the Supreme Court judgment on Ram Mandir lacks historical context, reducing a complex issue to a simplistic depiction of communal peace.
 
Transition between scenes in "Tejas" lacks coherence, leaving the audience confused about character motivations and relationships. The film fails to provide context for Tejas' passion and profession, relying on assumptions rather than establishing a compelling narrative.
 
In the realm of jingoistic films, "Tejas" stands out not for its political messaging but for its sheer incompetence. The film's inattentiveness is highlighted by instances of characters referring to each other by the wrong names and the overall lack of attention to detail. The cinematic experience is so poorly executed that it elicits laughter in relief, overshadowing concerns about the manipulation present in certain filmmakers' personal agendas.
 
"Tejas" becomes a testament to the challenges faced by Hindi films, especially when political agendas overshadow storytelling. The film's failure, both as propaganda and entertainment, reinforces the importance of thoughtful filmmaking and responsible storytelling over superficial political messaging.
 
In conclusion, "Tejas" crashes and burns as a propaganda film, leaving audiences with a cinematic experience that is anything but a film.