'Fighter' Movie Review: Fasten Your Seatbelts For Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone's Action Spectacle

'Fighter': Story

The story of 'Fighter' is based on the Balakot airstrikes post the Pulwama attack in 2019. A Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed carried out a terror attack on Pulwama with the help of a terrorist gang led by Azhar Akhtar (Rishabh Sawhney). To avenge the attack, commanding officer Rakesh Jaisingh aka Rocky (Anil Kapoor) forms a unit called Air Dragons in Srinagar. He forms the best team with combat aviators including Squadron Leader Minal Rathore aka Minni (Deepika Padukone) Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania aka Patty (Hrithik Roshan), Squadron Leader Sartaj Singh aka Taj (Karan Singh Grover), and Squadron Leader Basheer Khan aka Bash (Akshay Oberoi) among others. Will the elite force be able to avenge the terror attacks and come out victorious? That forms the crux of the story. 

'Fighter: Performances

Hrithik Roshan- the Greek God of Bollywood steals the limelight and how. It's great to see him on the big screen after two years of gap. He has mastered style, swag and sass with elan. There is a little room for disappointment if I talk about his performance. The 50-year-old unapologetically flaunts his age and I am not at all complaining about his wrinkles. I loved him in 'War', also directed by Siddharth Anand but he delivers an honest performance in 'Fighter'. 

Deepika Padukone doesn't let her screen time go wasted. She owns every second of it with her panache. Deepika as Squadron Leader Minal Rathore delivered a jaw-dropping performance apart from looking drop-dead gorgeous. All marks to the captain of the ship for utilising her talent to the T. 

Anil Kapoor, as the commanding officer Rakesh Jaisingh has stood out with his riveting act. He has a gripping screen presence and his sincere performance is visible on screen. Kapoor has yet again reinvented himself as a terrific actor and shines throughout the movie. 

Not to miss, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi deserve a special mention. I was honestly not expecting much from the supporting actors but they did a fabulous job.

I am slightly disappointed with the screen presence of Sharib Hashmi who was also part of the mission. His talent has been totally wasted in 'Fighter'. Ashutosh Rana (Deepika's on-screen father) and Sanjeeda Sheikh (Karan Singh Grover's on-screen wife) somewhat justify their screen time with whatever little comes their way.

'Fighter': Script, Direction & Technical Aspects

We have already seen Hindi films based on India-Pakistan conflicts and wars. There is nothing new in the plot but what makes it worth watching are the appealing aerial stunts. It's quite predictable what's going to happen next yet the aerial combat portions are clapworthy. For a second, I felt like I was sitting in the cockpit. Siddharth has passed the test in this department. However, the action part disappointed me as it's not as par with the standards of Anand's previous films like 'War and 'Pathaan'. Only in the second half, there were a few action sequences and that too didn't leave up to the mark. The pace of the second half is a bit slow but the last fifteen minutes will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

'Fighter' has not-so-amazing dialogues and a patriotic bent addressing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and India’s surgical strikes was obvious. Siddharth Anand has co-written the script with Ramon Chib. Most of the dialogues penned by Hussain and Abbas Dalal, we have heard a million times in patriotic movies. However, I am in awe of the shayari mouthed by Hrithik's character and it will surely give you goosebumps for sure. 

The cinematography by Satchith Paulose is the cherry on the cake. It saves the film to a great extent. It wouldn't be wrong to say that it is one of the film's best parts. 

Bollywood films are incomplete without songs. Shekhar Ravjiani and Vishal Dadlani delivered their best as music composers. 'Heer Ashmani' song evokes a sense of patriotism when it plays in the film. 'Fighter' album is a mixture of catchy, foot-tapping and heart-touching songs. You can't get enough of Hrithik and Deepika's hot dance moves in the party song 'Sher Khul Gaye'. Not to miss, the background music is a total bang-on and it feels in sync with the scenarios and situations. 

'Fighter': Cast & Crew

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, Akshay Oberoi, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Rishabh Sawhney, Talat Aziz, Shareeb Hashmi, Ashutosh Rana

Available In: Theatres

Duration: 2 Hours 46 Minutes (approx)

'Fighter’: Can Kids Watch It?

Yes

Outlook’s Verdict

Let's agree that this is not Siddharth Anand's best work but not the worst either. He deserves applause for treating the audience with this larger-than-life first-ever aerial drama. Nothing new was presented plotwise but the breathtaking aerial action sequences are something the audience will witness for the first time on the big screen. Hrithik and Deepika totally wow with their sizzling chemistry and it doesn't feel like they have shared the screen for the first time. 

'Fighter' combines elements of high-octane aerial stunts, suspense, and emotional depth that make it an engaging cinematic experience and big spectacle. It's a full paisa vasool movie. I am going with 3 stars.