Fighter Movie Review: Hrithik Roshan Flys High In This Thrilling Aerial Action Film, Deepika Padukone Takes A Backseat
Go, grab a popcorn and enjoy!
3.5 / 5
India’s first aerial action film Fighter directed by Siddharth Anand has hit the theatres. It stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in lead roles. This film is a tribute to our brave Indian Air Force fighter pilots. Barring, the plot’s predictability, Fighter effortlessly manages to grab your attention with the class-apart performance by the cast, thrilling aerial action sequences and the hard-hitting emotional bits. Here’s the detailed review of Siddharth Anand’s Fighter for you to decide whether to watch or not, umm, except, do give it a watch!
Plot
Siddharth Anand’s Fighter is a story about a group of the best Air Force fighter pilots including Squadron Leaders Patty (Hrithik Roshan), Minnie (Deepika Padukone), Taj (Karan Singh Grover), Basheer (Akshay Oberoi), and their Commanding Officer Rocky (Anil Kapoor). The plot is also loosely inspired by the Pulwama attack and how the Indian Air Force retaliated to it with full force and power. Rishabh Sawhney (Azhar) plays the antagonist and the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks. The first half of the film is largely focused on showing the camaraderie among the Air Force pilots which in turn also builds the emotional connection between the audience and the film’s characters. The storyline further progresses with the agonising Pulwama attack and the surprise air strike that India launches soon after the attack. In the second half of Fighter, the storyline focuses more on Patty’s life and the consequences of his decisions but does not deviate from the real motive of the film which is to show the final fate of Azhar, the terrorist whose fight with the the Indian Air Force gradually becomes a little more personal!
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Performances
Hrithik Roshan- Hrithik Roshan as Samsher Pathania AKA Patty is arrogant, aggressive, and confident and comes with his own set of insecurities as a character. Patty is not a larger-than-life character but showcases some very relatable vulnerabilities in his personal and professional life. Hrithik Roshan nails his role as Patty. He is effortless in his action sequences as well as the angry and emotional bits. Hrithik Roshan carries the uniform of an Indian Air Force pilot with grace and makes it look even more charming on the big screen. As an audience, you cannot help but praise Hrithik’s expressive eyes, in both, emotional and aggressive scenes.
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Deepika Padukone- Deepika Padukone as Squadron Leader Minal Rathore AKA Minnie does a phenomenal job in playing the determined and fierce female fighter pilot on-screen. Her character reflects the story of every woman who has gone against all the odds to fulfil her dream of joining the armed forces. Deepika shines in her vulnerable moments as Minnie. However, she does not have much role to play in the intense action sequences of the film. The fact that Deepika is underutilised in the film is hard to ignore. Deepika’s character of a female fighter pilot does not have moments that keep you on the edge of your seat, and more than a lead actress, she pivots the role of a secondary character in the film.
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Anil Kapoor- Anil Kapoor as Commanding Officer Rakesh Jai Singh AKA Rocky is impressive and the actor is a delight to watch on-screen. The actor is bang-on with his dialogue delivery and expressions. He adds so much life to the character of Rocky that you start resonating with his emotions once you are into the film. The love-hate relationship between Patty and Rocky is a chemistry that I loved watching on the big-screen.
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Karan Singh Grover as Taj and Akshay Oberoi as Basheer have aced their performances too. The actors did amazing work in portraying the aggression, nationalistic feelings, and quirky nature of their characters. Karan, Akshay, Hrithik and Deepika’s camaraderie looks very natural, and all of their scenes together leave you with a big smile on your face.
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Also Read Fighter Star Deepika Padukone Shares Her Take On Feminism: “Men Can’t Succeed Without Women And Vice Versa”
The Positives!
Fighter is a thrilling action film that is high on patriotic values. The aerial action sequences keep you hooked throughout. Siddharth Anand also tries to stick to the technicalities while telling the story of Indian Air Force Fighter pilots. The first half of the film is impactful and strikes the right balance between the emotional and action sequences. The plot also focuses on showcasing the background story of each character which helps the audience to connect with them and feel their emotions. The performance by the ensemble cast is not something that will leave me with many complaints. Deepika and Hrithik’s chemistry is flawless, both their characters are sarcastic AF and make you giggle every time with their fun banter. Their sarcastic banter was as sharp as the turns they took with their jets in the air! The romance between them brews very organically but that does not make the film lose its seriousness at any point in time. Fighter does not feel exaggerated in terms of the actions, dialogues, characters or even the plot. The music tracks used as background scores also help to elevate the impact of the scenes.
The Negatives!
The predictability and repetitive nature of Fighter’s plot might bother you. The same old story inspired by terror attacks, the India-Pakistan narrative, and a hero with a strong patriotic nature are some elements that feel so done and dusted! Also, the abrupt addition of the song Sher Khul Gaya can leave you confused. This is solely because this song does not fit the narrative and breaks the continuity of an intense scene. Another disappointment comes from Deepika Padukone’s character because you won’t see the actress doing much of the action in this film. Her character’s short-lived impact on the audience is kaafi unexpected!
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Verdict
Siddharth Anand’s Fighter has more positives than negatives. Even after being a very cliche plot that attempts to arouse patriotic feelings in every Indian’s heart, the film keeps you engaged with its fresh aerial action sequences, interpersonal relations of the characters, and, of course, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone’s classy romance. Siddharth Anand’s Fighter is currently running in theatres. You should go watch the film as it is worth the rollercoaster ride it will take you on!
First Published: January 25, 2024 5:50 PM
