But even as the actors perform with conviction, other departments of filmmaking let SOS down. In particular to blame are the writers. For a film that advocates the line, “sardaar pe joke karna par use joker mat samajhna” (Joke on a Sardaar but don’t treat him like a Joker) the film goes on to present its protagonist (a Sardaar) and most characters in the same light. Comedy is more than just gags and slapstick. Sadly SOS gets it wrong.