Fighter Review: Hrithik-Deepika Film Offers Patriotism In Abundance, Depth In Short Supply

It is safe to say that Siddharth Anand appears to have found his niche. director's recent filmography hints that stylised action and choreographed bravo are his expertise. His latest cinematic outing, however, Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Pukone led Fighter, may push you to see him as capable of more.

Hot Take

For all that Fighter is not, film will surely give you bang for your buck. If Anand gets one thing correct, it is glory of being Indian Air Force officers. nobility, as a matter of fact, is palpable enough to translate through screen. It also helps that almost every character is played by a bona fide looker. Thankfully, patriotic fervour - right in time for Republic Day weekend - is not just mere tokenism.

Does Fighter live up to hype?

thing about Fighter is, that story les, Patty and Minni, short for Shamsher Pathania (Hrithik Roshan) and Minal Rathore (Deepika Pukone), could be absolutely anybody. This sly brings one to understanding that having names like Hrithik and Deepika on board is simply a checks and balances arrangement to justify hefty budget.

Performances lack strength and storyline falters on depth. That being said, Fighter is still quite visual spectacle.

Patriotism galore

Fighter's pulse is evident reference to 2019 Pulwama attack. cinematisation of collision induced blast is a painfully, goosebump-inducing moment, as is slowed down aftermath. impact of this segment in film stays with you for long, almost making up for ensuing bland bits to come. 

re are a few or pride-swelling moments to look out for as well. Two highlights in this regard are unit's helicopter crossing paths with a CRPF convoy as y both wave Indian flag at each or and Patty's climax monologue about Kashmir, moud as he beats Azhar (Rishabh Sawhney)- film's primary antagonist, to bits.

Deepika Pukone's performance is a let down

Deepika Pukone's Minni, does not have much role except for simply being re. ditionally, she appears conscious on screen, something that does great disservice to whole point of her character - gender-discrimination informed social messaging. While Hrithik as Patty works towards emanating an eventual warmth, not lost on audience, Deepika fails to make any impact at all.

In her defense, re is not much for her to do, something that can be blamed on way in which character of Minal Rathore has been conceptualised. But n again, one cannot help but wonder why Deepika's recent career trajectory seems to display a marked move away from content-driven roles to a self-brand building campaign of being part of biggest films, doing bare minimum.

Siddharth Anand steps out of his comfort zone

One thing is for sure, Siddharth Anand knows how to present his heroes. aestic montages of dashing unit going about ir day at Air Force base camp has an undeniable charm to it. However, sheer amount of times se montages are injected as fillers feels like overkill, almost to masquere gaping gaps in a sturdy storyline.

Why Anand feels so dependent on stylisation when he very clearly possesses sensitivity and clarity to craft  something like Pulwama attack segment in film, is a question that is yet to be answered. flair and pizzaz acts almost like a crutch, one he keeps rushing to in abundance, between gaps of some serious storytelling.

Watch it or skip it?

Fighter is certainly a Republic Day weekend watch. You will feel patriotism in your heart and renaline in your nerves, but also be prepared to feel slight frustration on lost potential of a film that with some more focused direction, could have paralleled an Uri: Surgical Strike (2019).

Deepika fans, however, must take note - she is particularly bleak in this one.

Bottomline

Hrithik's Patty will grow on you while Deepika herself is down right drab. Siddharth Anand very consciously tries to strike a balance between cinematic flair fit for big screen and heart-touching storytelling - but former evidently overpowers latter. Karan Singh Grover deserves a special mention as jovial and charming yet fiercely patriotic Sartaj Gill.

Rating: 3/5